Muse: fail or sail?… again

   So Muse are back, which brings back the memories of cranking up the radio when ‘Knights of Cydonia’ comes on and bashing your head repeatedly until it actually starts to hurt a little.

   They seem to have brought a dubstep mash-up of what they usually bring, which to first ear wasn’t that appealing to me. Like all Muse LP’s it tends to grow on me, at first it’s just an annoying bass line you repeatedly re-play in your head, but it gradually turns into something you acknowledge everyday and see it as an album that once again has turned into something great. But as usual it’s not all the same, ranging from the techno twists of ‘Madness’ to the funky bass line of ‘Panic Station’ that I cant help but wiggle my hips to. Although Muse will never ever write a better album than ‘Origin of Symmetry’ they’ve got to give it a go haven’t they.

   ‘2^nd law’ has its twists and turns. It is as much genius as it is versatile. It kicks off with the anthemic ‘Supremacy’, which gives off promising vibes to fans for the rest of the album. The usual riff and enticing solo are mashed up with newly introduced orchestral chimes, but are just so sublimely produced and mixed that every note fits no matter what the style. Then my stand-out tracks ‘Madness’ and ‘Panic Station’ come along. Each individual but both as epic as the other. Once again, the mood is switched to more solemn tones through track 6 to 10, with some hints of the legendary Freddie Murcury (which unlike others, Bellamy pulls off very well if I’m honest). The mood switches back to more upbeat beats through the rest of the album, which in my opinion are the weak ends of the album. All in all, I think that Muse have yet again managed to pull off an album that I don’t yet love, but can see the elements of songs that will ultimately make me fall for it as I have done the past albums.

   

   Honestly, I think Muse are possibly the best band in the world (bar Foo Fighters) at the moment and I sincerely regret turning down that ticket a few years ago. Seeing them play that legendary set at Reading and Leeds festival in 2011 ignited my passion for Muse, as Matt Bellamy’s voice used to rattle my brains just as much as Thom Yorke’s pre-pubescent whine (Radiohead). Seeing this made me realise that this band are astonishing, and have imprinted themselves into my top bands of all time. Matt Bellamy owns the stage like a futuristic Jesus, with his disco-ball jacket and his god-must-have-created Manson guitar. He will always be an idol and Muse will definitely become a band cemented in time as one of the greatest bands ever.

   Muse are returning to Manchester again in November, but as usual, I won’t be one of the lucky people that will be graced with their presence. Not a very happy kid.

Charles.