Billboard requires a JavaScript enabled browser to get the full experience

Criminally 'Vulgar'

"It has taken me 15 years to find guys that want to skip the BS and make something that is really gestalt -- it's the sum of the parts," frontman Josh Homme says of Queens Of The Stone Age bandmates Troy Van Leeuwen's and Joey Castillo's contributions on "Era Vulgaris," due this week via Interscope.

As usual, the group delivers songs jam-packed with fast, powerful riffs ("Sick, Sick, Sick" featuring the Strokes' Julian Casablancas) and psychedelic, boogie-ish rhythms ("I'm Designer"). On-again/off-again contributor Mark Lanegan returns for "River on the Road," while QOTSA also reworks "Make It Wit Chu," which Lanegan previously sang on volumes nine and 10 of Homme's long-running Desert Sessions releases.

"That's just a song that really puts the finishing touches on the shape of the record," Homme says. "And also, it's the best song about screwing that I've ever been able to play on."

QOTSA will visit primarily small markets this summer on their Duluth tour, which begins July 22 in Costa Mesa, Calif. Says Homme, "We want to play to people who hardly ever get shows and just burn the house down."

Up for Discussion

Connect with

More Features

All features

All of Billboard.com's Great Lists

Billboard chart app

Billboard archives

Thanks For Joining Billboard

Log in to create your profile, speak your mind and connect with listeners like you.

Why Join ?

Don't just hear it. Live it. Go deeper than a casual listen: Voice your feelings, build a profile around your favorite music, connect with people who share your passions and discover new ones. Sign up for free.

Complete Your Registration at Billboard.com!

Haven't Joined Yet ?

For the full Billboard experience, you need to be a member. Sign up. It's free.

Join Billboard

Forgot your password?

Enter the e-mail address you used to sign up and we will email you the password .

Email Sent !

Your password has been sent to the email address you provided. Please sign in below :

Log In

Forget your password ?

Action Successful

We'd love to hear your feedback on the new Billboard.com!

Whether it's a feature request or a bug

We want to hear from you. Please use this form to anonymously give us your input.