English punk outfit IDLES have outdone themselves again, dropping their latest video for 2018 track ‘Never Fight A Man With A Perm’.
If you’ve even found yourself thinking about some stunning noisy punk rock over the last few years, then there’s a good chance you would be aware of Bristol’s IDLES.
Despite forming in 2009, the group didn’t release their first record until 2017, with Joy As An Act Of Resistance following just one year later. However, their tunes have been incredibly well-received, with widespread acclaim, and sold-out shows following them all around the world.
Now, almost a full year since the release of their second album, IDLES have unleashed a new video clip for the record’s fifth and final single, ‘Never Fight A Man With A Perm’.
Described as something of a critique of masculinity, frontman Joe Talbot explained that the song started off as “an exploration of the horrid corners of my past; the bit I felt shame from.”
“I think of my art as a way of being vulnerable, an exercise in catharsis, and a reflection of my ugliness that can exalt shame,” he added. “Here it manifested into something beautiful, as all catharsis should be.”
Paired with an animated clip by put together by the team behind Fluffer Records (Al Brown, Russell Taysom & Stella Belle Hex), the video provides an almost tongue-in-cheek look at the track, serving up a whimsical take on its content, pairing it with games like Street Fighter in the process.
“The idea for the ‘Never Fight A Man With A Perm’ video came directly from the lyrics of the song and how it tackles the subject of toxic masculinity,” explained the creators. “Using a British take on the classic arcade beat ’em up platform game seemed like a cool way to put this across visually.”
While there’s no word yet as to when IDLES will return to Aussie shores, here’s hoping that this visually-stunning clip will help tide you over until they make a triumphant comeback.
Check out ‘Never Fight A Man With A Perm’ by IDLES:
