The last decade of pop-filled hits has been rough for the kind of crunchy guitar rock Baby Boomers and Generation X grew up with, and it can be difficult to see where a band like Queens of the Stone Age belongs in today’s musical climate. On their new album, “Villains,” Queens proves rock ‘n’ roll is not in any way dead.

“Villains” is full of tense moments like the specific instance where a song injects rocket fuel into the veins of the listener. On the opening track “Feet Don’t Fail Me Now,” tension builds for two minutes as the sounds clash and grow before the hounds are released, resulting in one of the most explosive album openers of the summer.

Another standout is “The Evil Has Landed” which, in addition to having an incredible title, operates similarly to a great film villian, giving the album an antagonistic sound. The track opens with vocalist Josh Homme beckoning the audience to “come close.” The seduction in his tone almost works until the explosive guitar riff comes in. With Homme feverishly howling, “here we come, get out of the way,” in the outro, the song is sure to be a concert highlight.

Despite the sense of excitement, not everything on “Villains” works flawlessly. The percussion sounds light and tinny, which makes the album easy to dance to, but it lacks a little power.

While the album still employs some of the delirious lyrical imagery Homme mastered on their previous album “…Like Clockwork,” the words here feel less thought out. “Feel like a fool yeah, like a dancing fool, yeah,” from “Feet Don’t Fail Me” is hardly Homme’s greatest contribution to the American songbook.

The highlight of the album is the final track, “Villains of Circumstance” where Homme, in full romance-by-moonlight mode, brings in possibly the most beautiful melody he’s ever written. “Circumstance” feels haunted and desolate as a result of the eerie music before suddenly exploding to life like a surreal carnival ride of heartache near the bridge.

“Villains” reveals catharsis underneath the muscle and groove. Queens of the Stone Age are still one of the most colorful bands operating today, and more importantly, they demonstrate rock music hasn’t died, but rather, has grown some fangs, bought a motorcycle and put on a long dark cloak. So get out of the way.