It's back to school for Idles. Six months after chomping down the chunky Brutalism, our five Bristol dropouts, standard-bearers for a no-frills punk revival, have spat out Joy As An Act Of Resistance. And once again, Joe Talbot's crew has done a good job. References to the classics (Love Song, Television), England's ills – immigration on Danny Nedelko which brings to mind the social satire Danny Darko, Islamophobia on Great and masculinity on Samaritans, Idles howl their disgust at a disgusting modern world. It's a (self-)portrait inspired by love, and it is itself modern. And above all, it's joy. There is no breathing space on the tragic Slow Savage ("Cause I’m the worst lover you’ll ever have") but plenty of "I fucking Love You"s. Even more striking still is the brilliant cover of Cry To Me by Solomon Burke, who is well worth his weight in gold. It's in the same vein as Brutalism, with big bass, broken-backed drums, overpowered vocals, guitars sidelined... This second work confirms Idles' raw genius, as well as a certain English disease which is also carried in the jaded yet fresh punk of Eagulls, Fat White Family, Insecure Men, Shame, Sleaford Mods and others. © Charlotte Saintoin/Qobuz