Ok come on, you all knew that I had to have my say on this.
The release of a new Muse record is required to split the opinions of music lovers around the world. In one corner we have the fans, which include the obsessive ERMAHGERD fanboys and girls, the new fans who heard 'Madness' on the radio and are of the opinion that Muse produce electropop instead of mind-blowing boundary-pushing rock music, and the old school fans who still adorn their 'Showbiz' posters in their bedroom and play 'Origin of Symmetry' on repeat, constantly moaning on the Muse Messageboard with whines like "this song sounds nothing like 'Hyper Music', 'Citizen Erased' or 'Bliss'. Impeach Bellamy!". And in the other corner we have the haters of the band who for a variety of reasons aren't rejoicing at the news, whether it's because Matt Bellamy's voice cuts right through them, the music is illegally too similar to the very artists it is influenced by, or maybe they think that Drake is a musical genius and they make fake accounts of One Direction and Olly Riley on Twitter.
Here I am about to go track by track on this bitch. Hold tight:
1. Supremacy - A cracking opener to the album. This is Muse at their finest, with metal riffs and a sweeping orchestra in the backdrop, it's a staple Muse sound, and wouldn't feel out of place on 'Absolution'. It's the song that James Bond would kick ass to and make love to a woman to at the same time. Compare this to the previous album opener 'Uprising' and it's a no-brainer; Supremacy and it's fancy schmancy moves will defeat it with aplomb. The best introduction to a Muse album since 'New Born'. 8/10
2. Madness - Seriously Muse, I know you like to do diversity, but why oh why did you release this as one of the singles? Giving a completely different and unfair perception of Muse from what people are used to, they suddenly strip naked and play about as minimal as they can get. Until over 3 minutes in that is when the song really picks up with it's electropop sound. Bellamy's vocals are stirringly beautiful and heartfelt, but a recurring problem which continues throughout the album is present: the plagiarism police discover that it sounds like 'I Want To Break Free' as soon as the guitar hits it's solo. Nonetheless, a good song but one of the weakest on the album. 6/10
3. Panic Station - What the funk? Step aside James Brown, here comes the hip-thrusting sexy Muse that we discovered when they released 'Supermassive Black Hole' 6 years ago. Yes the beat is a shoutout to 'Another One Bites The Dust', and the vocals scream of 'Thriller', but it is still distinctive enough to be Muse. The brass section really brightens up the sound, and the lead guitar compliments it nicely especially with the Hysteria-esque riff and melodic solo. When this is released as the next single, it will surely be played on indie club dancefloors everywhere. The product of a one night stand Alex Kapranos had with Freddie Mercury. 7/10
4. Prelude - Beautiful and brief instrumental introduction to 'Survival' that echoes of the 'Exogenesis' symphony. Leads nicely into the former, but doesn't really need rating.
5. Survival - To say this song is viciously dry-humping Queen would be to say the words of truth, with elements of Brian May's solos and Freddie Mercury's vocals a constant throughout. Comparisons with Queen continue as the operatic choir vocals carry their soprano tones throughout the second verse. A bass-heavy verse climaxes in a maniacal Rage Against The Machine riff-fest. I am literally drooling at this point - I have not wanted to headbang and/or fistpump this much since I heard the ending to 'Stockholm Syndrome'. Guitar orgasms aside though, these lyrics are atrocious. I mean it, they're shite. Bellamy, who is a talented songwriter and lyricist, I expected to do better. Did he give a piece of paper to his baby boy and let him write it? Nonetheless, this is a fucking awesome song and when played live it is going to kick many asses, and since hearing it when it was released for the Olympics, it has grown on me like a beard. 8/10
6. Follow Me - Muse have heard of Nero! Nero's input on this track is as clear as a sky with no clouds. It surely stands out as a track you think Muse didn't write the music to, but with this they wrote it as a three-piece rock band, and asked Nero to re-record the music electronically. A song about Bellamy's fatherhood (even featuring the heartbeat of his baby boy at the beginning of the piece), it is an ode to responsibility for another human being, and counts as another genre poignantly touched by Muse. Definitely won't be skipping this, it's like epic electronica with a hint of 'Where The Streets Have No Name' at the climax. 8/10
7. Animals - My word... what a song. Hold on, is that a Fender I hear? By the beard of Darwin it is. This all shapes up perfectly in what is a throwback to Muse's early days, and shows us that they can still make three-piece music without the aid of backing musicians. A political offering inspired by fatcat Wall Street bankers, it sounds like 'Paranoid Android' initially, until the volume hits 11 and the riff at the end screams of their heroes Rage Against The Machine, in some way resembling the riff from Muse rarity 'Fury'. A perfect mix of light melody and girth. 9/10
6. Follow Me - Muse have heard of Nero! Nero's input on this track is as clear as a sky with no clouds. It surely stands out as a track you think Muse didn't write the music to, but with this they wrote it as a three-piece rock band, and asked Nero to re-record the music electronically. A song about Bellamy's fatherhood (even featuring the heartbeat of his baby boy at the beginning of the piece), it is an ode to responsibility for another human being, and counts as another genre poignantly touched by Muse. Definitely won't be skipping this, it's like epic electronica with a hint of 'Where The Streets Have No Name' at the climax. 8/10
7. Animals - My word... what a song. Hold on, is that a Fender I hear? By the beard of Darwin it is. This all shapes up perfectly in what is a throwback to Muse's early days, and shows us that they can still make three-piece music without the aid of backing musicians. A political offering inspired by fatcat Wall Street bankers, it sounds like 'Paranoid Android' initially, until the volume hits 11 and the riff at the end screams of their heroes Rage Against The Machine, in some way resembling the riff from Muse rarity 'Fury'. A perfect mix of light melody and girth. 9/10
8. Explorers - Am I listening to 'The 2nd Law' or is this the soundtrack to the latest Disney musical? Certainly a genre not exactly touched by Muse in the past, it has a soothing musical tone as Bellamy takes to the piano for one of the only times on this album. It's the sort of song you'd ballroom dance to (Strictly Come Muse anyone?). Not to detract from the tender music, the lyrics deal with dying crops and abused nature, which have been inspired by Matt Bellamy's concerns of business monopolies and industrial greed. This is the lullaby of the album, backed up by the lyrics "Go to sleep" at the end whispered oh so gently. I was looking forward to hearing this song based on the song descriptions prior to release, but sadly I expected it to be a bit more epic, not to say that it still isn't a good song; more could have been done in 5:48. 7/10
9. Big Freeze - Or 'Big Cheese' depending on your opinion. There has been much internet speculation about this song being the follow up to 'Guiding Light', the cheesiest song Muse ever recorded, a subject that gets Muse fanatics all touchy. Described as "80's rock, a stadium stomper", the interpretations screamed of 'Guiding Light', but on the first few listens, it was stadium alright, because it was essentially U2 featuring Matt Bellamy on vocals. The guitar effects and rhythm section were surely influenced by the supreme musical overlords of Ireland, and that is about as cheesy as it got, depending on your definition of cheesy. Not a standout track, but it is a grower, especially the chorus and the trademark Bellamy solo which saved it from a gentle panning by this critic. 7/10
10. Save Me - For those of you who are not fans of Muse because Bellamy's humongous falsetto voice and irritating inhalation patterns cause you to cringe so hard the throbbing vein in your forehead pops, then maybe this is a song for you. Written and sung by often overlooked bassist Chris Wolstenholme about his dependency on alcohol and his loving family, he emulates his heroes The Beach Boys in some style. A song will always be performed better if it is sung from the heart, and this song could prove to be an emotional rollercoaster for Wolstenholme, with sweet lyrics and music to make grown men cry. This is essentially what I'd like to call an atmospheric ballad that keeps on building, but maybe is a minute too long, but hey, it's still nothing short of mesmerising. 7/10
11. Liquid State - Ah Muse, I always knew that Chris was the one who loved to rock out the most. The second and final song written and sung by Wolstenholme, this is easily the heaviest song on 'The 2nd Law'. It showcases the violent side of Chris' alcohol addiction, with the vocals sounding like a cross between Rob Swire from Pendulum and Dave Grohl, but with music as heavy as a tour bus. A crushing detuned riff from Bellamy gives way to pounding drums from Dominic Howard and a pulsating bassline from Wolstenholme, and when the chorus kicks in with the lyrics "Warm my heart tonight", the heavy music doesn't ask that, it demands it. This is one for the moshpit, Muse go metal, but maybe the minute that was too long on 'Save Me' could've been lent to this song instead. 8/10
12. The 2nd Law: Unsustainable - The song that made it onto the Internet as a preview for the new album, it certainly got people talking; "Muse have gone dubstep!" they said. It was a frightening prospect for fans who yearned for three-piece rock. A nervous wait for the album ensued, and while the band laughed off the reaction from fans moaning about the brostep direction, they talked about how this one song was influenced by Skrillex, and noted how this song was played on guitar, bass and drums but laden with effects from their pedals. Beginning with a doom-opera vibe and a news reporter noting about how resources are depleting at a rapid rate, and suddenly "an economy based on endless growth is [robot voice] UNSUSTAINABLE". Then it drops, and Muse deliver their take on modern dubstep. Followed by a majestic bridge with a tempo to headbang to, Bellamy delivers probably my favourite vocal performance on 'The 2nd Law' as he just wails and wails like he used to. It climaxes with another dubstep section, and listeners are left baffled. This is one song I cannot wait to see played live, simply because of the carnage it will cause. 7/10
13. The 2nd Law: Isolated System - An instrumental closing to the album which is laden with clips of news reporters and ending with a loop of the woman from the previous track saying "In an isolated system, the entropy can only increase". With Exorcist-esque piano and a trance beat that wouldn't sound out of place on Radiohead's 'Kid A', it is the perfect way to end such an album, and Muse always deliver on album closers. It's as emotional and atmospheric as Muse songs get, and would be a suitable soundtrack to the demise of a planet, or someone rising to heaven. I can expect this being the soundtrack to a BBC show at some point, maybe Doctor Who. When played live this would work well with visuals, and I look forward to seeing how that turns out. 8/10
And there you have it. If you read all the way to what you're reading right now, I applaud you. To conclude, this album will please many fans and discourage others like any other album, but with such a mix of genres there is something for everyone, from musical lovers to metalheads. My only burning issue with this album is how it flows. Tracks don't fit together next to each other, for example 'Unsustainable' could maybe have opened the album, although it would be difficult to replace a song as wonderful as 'Supremacy', and I wouldn't say 'Madness' fits well next to 'Supremacy'.
Overall, this album is definitely an improvement on last effort 'The Resistance' (a good album, but for Muse they could've done better), and I recommend you purchase it when it is released Monday 1st October. If you want to listen to a perfectly legal album stream, click here.
Rating: 7/10
9. Big Freeze - Or 'Big Cheese' depending on your opinion. There has been much internet speculation about this song being the follow up to 'Guiding Light', the cheesiest song Muse ever recorded, a subject that gets Muse fanatics all touchy. Described as "80's rock, a stadium stomper", the interpretations screamed of 'Guiding Light', but on the first few listens, it was stadium alright, because it was essentially U2 featuring Matt Bellamy on vocals. The guitar effects and rhythm section were surely influenced by the supreme musical overlords of Ireland, and that is about as cheesy as it got, depending on your definition of cheesy. Not a standout track, but it is a grower, especially the chorus and the trademark Bellamy solo which saved it from a gentle panning by this critic. 7/10
10. Save Me - For those of you who are not fans of Muse because Bellamy's humongous falsetto voice and irritating inhalation patterns cause you to cringe so hard the throbbing vein in your forehead pops, then maybe this is a song for you. Written and sung by often overlooked bassist Chris Wolstenholme about his dependency on alcohol and his loving family, he emulates his heroes The Beach Boys in some style. A song will always be performed better if it is sung from the heart, and this song could prove to be an emotional rollercoaster for Wolstenholme, with sweet lyrics and music to make grown men cry. This is essentially what I'd like to call an atmospheric ballad that keeps on building, but maybe is a minute too long, but hey, it's still nothing short of mesmerising. 7/10
11. Liquid State - Ah Muse, I always knew that Chris was the one who loved to rock out the most. The second and final song written and sung by Wolstenholme, this is easily the heaviest song on 'The 2nd Law'. It showcases the violent side of Chris' alcohol addiction, with the vocals sounding like a cross between Rob Swire from Pendulum and Dave Grohl, but with music as heavy as a tour bus. A crushing detuned riff from Bellamy gives way to pounding drums from Dominic Howard and a pulsating bassline from Wolstenholme, and when the chorus kicks in with the lyrics "Warm my heart tonight", the heavy music doesn't ask that, it demands it. This is one for the moshpit, Muse go metal, but maybe the minute that was too long on 'Save Me' could've been lent to this song instead. 8/10
12. The 2nd Law: Unsustainable - The song that made it onto the Internet as a preview for the new album, it certainly got people talking; "Muse have gone dubstep!" they said. It was a frightening prospect for fans who yearned for three-piece rock. A nervous wait for the album ensued, and while the band laughed off the reaction from fans moaning about the brostep direction, they talked about how this one song was influenced by Skrillex, and noted how this song was played on guitar, bass and drums but laden with effects from their pedals. Beginning with a doom-opera vibe and a news reporter noting about how resources are depleting at a rapid rate, and suddenly "an economy based on endless growth is [robot voice] UNSUSTAINABLE". Then it drops, and Muse deliver their take on modern dubstep. Followed by a majestic bridge with a tempo to headbang to, Bellamy delivers probably my favourite vocal performance on 'The 2nd Law' as he just wails and wails like he used to. It climaxes with another dubstep section, and listeners are left baffled. This is one song I cannot wait to see played live, simply because of the carnage it will cause. 7/10
13. The 2nd Law: Isolated System - An instrumental closing to the album which is laden with clips of news reporters and ending with a loop of the woman from the previous track saying "In an isolated system, the entropy can only increase". With Exorcist-esque piano and a trance beat that wouldn't sound out of place on Radiohead's 'Kid A', it is the perfect way to end such an album, and Muse always deliver on album closers. It's as emotional and atmospheric as Muse songs get, and would be a suitable soundtrack to the demise of a planet, or someone rising to heaven. I can expect this being the soundtrack to a BBC show at some point, maybe Doctor Who. When played live this would work well with visuals, and I look forward to seeing how that turns out. 8/10
And there you have it. If you read all the way to what you're reading right now, I applaud you. To conclude, this album will please many fans and discourage others like any other album, but with such a mix of genres there is something for everyone, from musical lovers to metalheads. My only burning issue with this album is how it flows. Tracks don't fit together next to each other, for example 'Unsustainable' could maybe have opened the album, although it would be difficult to replace a song as wonderful as 'Supremacy', and I wouldn't say 'Madness' fits well next to 'Supremacy'.
Overall, this album is definitely an improvement on last effort 'The Resistance' (a good album, but for Muse they could've done better), and I recommend you purchase it when it is released Monday 1st October. If you want to listen to a perfectly legal album stream, click here.
Rating: 7/10
