QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE
The Way You Used to Do ★★★★
Matador
When it was announced that Mark Ronson was producing Queens of the Stone Age's forthcoming new album, Villains, fans of the veteran rockers might have feared the pop hitmaker would come in and upset what is by now a tried and trusted formula. On this evidence, there is zero cause for concern. The album's lead single combines a sneery and a snarling vocal with a riffs so big and dumb it could be elected president of the United States. QOTSA play the 3Arena in Dublin on November 24th.

SLOW PLACE LIKE HOME
When I See You… Ice Cream ★★★
Strange Brew Rekkids Slow Place Like Home is the musical nom de guerre of Donegal electronica artist Keith Mannion. When I See You... Ice Cream is the follow up to his 2016 single Tiger Lilly. It's a dinky, unimposing and yet infuriatingly catchy track. He plays support to UNKLE at the Roisin Dubh as part of the Galway Arts Festival on July 27th.

AGE
Peaks ★★★
AGE are a Hackney-based "indie-electronic partnership", consisting of Irishwoman Jenny Cosgrove and Australian Gavin Dwight. Peaks is their intriguing debut single.

THE KILLERS
The Man ★★★
Island
I've got gas in the tank," boasts Brandon Flowers, on the lead single from The Killers' Wonderful Wonderful album. "I've got money in the bank / I've got news for you baby, you're looking at the man." In other words, ladies and gentlemen, please stand for the Douchebag National Anthem. "Okay, okay, so there's abundant evident, starting with the single cover art (depicting a child in an adult's clothing), to suggest the singer's tongue is at least partly in his cheek. But he's a rock star. So deep down, you just know he absolutely believes it.