From Bristol's dive bars to the top of the UK charts
In short: Formed in 2009, Idles spent eight years refining their sound before exploding onto the scene. What began as a struggle to find their footing transformed into a series of chart-topping albums and high-profile film scores, redefining the boundaries of modern post-punk through raw, relentless energy.
The journey of Idles began in Bristol, where frontman Joe Talbot and bassist Adam Devonshire met while studying at the University of the West of England. Before finding success, the band spent years struggling with their musical direction; Talbot admitted they were "fucking terrible" for a long time during their formative years. This period of experimentation included releasing the Welcome EP in 2012 and the harder-edged Meat EP in 2014, before guitarist Lee Kiernan joined the lineup in 2015.
Their breakthrough arrived in March 2017 with the debut album, Brutalism. The record, which featured Talbot's mother on the cover following her death, received widespread critical acclaim for its volatile energy. This momentum continued with Joy as an Act of Resistance in 2018, which earned the band a nomination for the Hyundai Mercury Prize and a win at the Kerrang! Awards. By 2020, the band achieved their first UK number one with Ultra Mono, a record that Louder Than War described as the "album of their career."
In recent years, the band has expanded their reach into cinema and high-concept visuals. They provided the score for Darren Aronofsky's 2025 film, Caught Stealing, a collaboration Aronofsky described as "main lining a punk sensibility" into his work. Their fifth album, Tangk, released in 2024, also reached number one in the UK. As they move toward their sixth studio album, expected in 2027, the band continues to push experimental boundaries, including using deep fake technology for music videos and collaborating with artists like Gorillaz.
Despite being frequently categorized as post-punk, Talbot has resisted the label, noting that while they possess a "motorik, engine-like drive," their songwriting is far more varied than the genre typically allows.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Idles
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