American rockers Queens Of The Stone Age are set to re-issue 'Rated R' on August 2nd.
By 2000, Josh Homme had already spent a decade in the music industry. As the leader of Kyuss he had helped spawn the so-called 'stoner rock' genre, adding Black Sabbath layers of sludge to the punk template.
Indebted to 70s rock, the group released a string of cult albums before splitting up. Forming Queens Of The Stone Age, the singer was determined to make something more accessible without losing his punk origins.
With 'Rated R' the band succeeded. A seminal rock release, the album pushed Queens Of The Stone Age into the mainstream without compromising on their savage sound.
Lead single 'Feelgood Hit Of The Summer' listed a range of illegal drugs, in keeping with the album's title. Mixing 70s rock influences with punk dynamics and a hefty dose of melody, Queens Of The Stone Age crafted perhaps the most influential American rock album since 'Nevermind' almost a decade before.
Since then, the band have splintered with bass player Nick Oliveri amongst those to leave. However Josh Homme remains, and he has overseen a lavish new re-issue for the seminal album.
2-disc edition 'Rated X' will be released on August 2nd, containing a re-vamped version of the original album alongside a host of B-sides and rarities. Also included is the audio to the band's stunning Reading festival performance from 2000 which helped break them here in the UK.
A pulsating live document, it contains the bulk of the band's early set, also containing material from their independently released debut. Without doubt one of the finest statements in American rock over the past decade, 'Rated R' has lost none of its potency. Handle with care!
Queens Of The Stone Age are to re-issue 'Rated R' on August 2nd.