Festival season: Download

Having been lucky enough to be going to festivals ever since I was 13, I decided this year it was time to expand my experience further and tackle two very different events, with most of the years being taken up by V Festival before it completely went to shit. In the red corner, we have Download Festival, the spiritual home of rock, and a festival I have spent countless hours watching videos of on YouTube and reading about over the years, and is living proof once more that rock will never die; I will be reviewing it in this post. In the blue corner, we have Glastonbury, the juggernaut of the music calendar with artists spanning just about every genre and a place to just cut loose and be chill, which I will review in a later post, otherwise this post will be even more dreary.

"The home of heavy fucking metal" - Rob Halford

After sampling the delights of Sonisphere last year, I knew I wanted to try a bigger scale festival that was committed to pleasing those who hold a candle for rock and metal music. Then I heard who was headlining and I knew it must be done; I had to see Slipknot again after losing my shit to them back in January at the NIA. I was quite keen on experiencing the infamous Kiss live show, and as for Muse, headlining Download is something I've wanted them to do for a long time, so I knew I couldn't pass up a trip to Castle Donington.

Wednesday and Thursday were as good as they could get. Apart from the almost four hours of queueing to enter the village, there wasn't much to complain about; good weather, brilliant company, but wait a minute, what's this? OH YEAH. The cashless system won't work for you and you can't eat or drink anything of ours for one day, because Sam, or Captain Beige as I had been affectionately referred to, you should fuck off back to V. After getting this fixed, safe to say I binged hard on liquids and burgers.

Rising and shining, excited for what was to come, Friday began with a group of excitable, tipsy young adults feeling as giddy as children on Christmas Day. The weather was a little more accommodating to those of us who would rather not be cooked alive, and the first band to receive my full attention were Lacuna Coil, who always have a strong following, but have never really been the most exciting prospect when it comes to the stage. However, they delivered a confident performance, with vocalist Cristina Scabbia (who I still can't believe is over 40) whipping the crowd into chant after chant, and their cover of Enjoy The Silence soared like a raven.
Staying on the Main Stage, blues rockers Clutch, unlike Lacuna Coil, have a sterling reputation for their live shows, and they definitely backed up these claims with a note-perfect set, with closer One Eye Dollar receiving one of the biggest crowd reactions the festival would see that day.
Five Finger Death Punch are not afraid of anything, whether it's getting three youngsters from the crowd onstage to bang their heads along to Burn MF, or even daring trying to upstage Clutch. They just about pull it off, which was no easy feat. They're on an upward trajectory, and we could be seeing future headliners in the making. One thing they don't do is manage to stop the almighty downpour that follows, which is more evidence that God is not a Judas Priest fan... who'd have thunk it?!
With the rain dampening camp spirits, we headed for the sanctuary of the third stage to witness the return of Fightstar. Unsure of their live prowess, but confident in their ability to write stellar rock songs, I went with an open mind. Opening with Paint Your Target was a brilliant move, and from thereon the crowd were on their side. The aforementioned song and an almighty Deathcar were the highlights of what was the set of the day. The tent may have been heaving because of the flood in progress outside, or everyone was actually there for Fightstar; whatever the reason, Charlie and co. left a big impression on everyone that day.

Not to be outdone, Slipknot were back after having a year off headlining Download. The stage setup was different, the masks were different, the line up was different... it felt like a new experience, and not the same stage shows, or even members they brought to Download in 2009 and 2013. Clearly a little miffed by the rain, Corey Taylor did his best to keep everyone warm, reminding everyone that the UK is the reason they are a band, and how nothing means more to them than Download, and it really did sound genuine. The set was very well chosen, with new single Killpop sitting nicely alongside oldies such as The Heretic Anthem and Eyeless (which was killer). The rain wasn't the only heavy thing at the main stage that night, and the 'knot left their mark once more to remind everyone that whatever the barrier, there is still plenty of fire in this monster's belly yet.

Not to be outdone, the weather insisted on remaining as wet as my pants after that Fightstar show. Making an effort to get into the arena a bit earlier today, I caught a bit of Welsh emo stalwarts Funeral For A Friend. They've had a fall from grace it seems, and even though the opportunity to play the Main Stage is one that should not be taken lightly, they just didn't seem fussed. Nine years ago they would've tore Download a new arsehole when they sub-headlined just beneath Guns N'Roses, but like their good songs, those days seem to have sadly passed by.
Radio 1 poster boys Mallory Knox were next to grace the Main Stage, and it was certainly a step in the right direction. Determined to keep a hold of the impatient, wet crowd, vocalist Mikey Chapman keeps them engaged with some surprisingly political comments, and closer Lighthouse provides a ray of sunshine on an otherwise gloomy afternoon.
Cello metal? Those two words alone were enough to convince me to check out Apocalyptica on the Zippo Encore Stage, who claimed they were suffering from technical difficulties, which did not matter due to the fact that three cellists were playing heavy metal on orchestral instruments! As impressive a skill as it is, the show felt flat and rather average. For a band who started out playing Metallica covers, one of those songs might not have gone amiss.
The only time Parkway Drive managed to make me stand to attention was with their delightful cover of RATM's Bulls On Parade. It takes balls to cover Rage, but these guys just about nailed it. The rest of their set was your run of the day metalcore, and got the crowd moving on a very wet and cold afternoon.
Tim McGrath led his band Rise Against through a strong back catalogue with plenty of back and forth with the crowd, but their aggressive take on political punk lacked that little bit of oomph their live shows are usually credited with. Maybe they were suffering from the pathetic fallacy? By no means a bad set, but definitely not a great one.
Two years on since their last performance on the Zippo Encore Stage, A Day To Remember have been the band everyone thinks will next make the step up to headliner status soon; this is a fact that frontman Jeremy McKinnon even acknowledged between songs. A very random cover of Champagne Supernova both confused and delighted the crowd, and closer The Plot To Bomb The Panhandle left us yearning for more, but a nicely brewed setlist left many punters thrilled, even if McKinnon was running out of breath towards the end. But then again, who can blame him?
Then it was party time. Time to party. Party hard. It was Andrew W.K. time. Every song was introduced with "this song is about partying", and just when you think he'll drop Party Hard, he'll play another banger. Even a totally absurd rendition of O Come All Ye Faithful didn't stop the packed tent from having the time of their lives, but unfortunately we had to vacate the tent in order to pick up a decent spot for the next headliner.

A lot was said from both camps about Muse taking the top spot at Download. Many said that they were nothing more than a pop rock band who belonged at Glastonbury and Reading, some being far too ignorant to even give them a chance, whereas others who were perhaps more reliably informed insisted that they'd blow everyone away when they mix their heavy material with their hits. For casual listeners it was a questionable booking, but for the superfans it had been a long time coming. Did Muse pull it off? Of course they did. Right from the get go the capacity crowd was bouncing off the proverbial walls, and with a few rarities dropped in such as Micro Cuts and Citizen Erased mixed in with rockier songs from seventh album Drones, you get the feeling that there have been a lot of doubters eating their words after this gig. You only have to look at the reviews and the forums to see how well they went down. When Muse go heavy, they go hard, and they once again showed that they aren't a band who rely on a pretty stage show.

Sunday was the day I was least looking forward to, not just because it was the last day of the festival, but also because the line up is a classic rock fan's dream. Whilst I enjoy classic rock, I'm not sure a day of it on the Main Stage would gauge my interest. Nonetheless, I had a quick watch of both Cavalera Conspiracy and We Are Harlot. Both of these bands were shining examples of why most of the time, when you're the frontman and you're forming a new band, it won't cut the mustard when compared to your back catalogue. The former were abrasive and heavy, but not remotely interesting, whereas the latter were just plain boring.
There was a lot of excitement in the camp for the "secret" set from returning heroes of rock The Darkness. It took me two songs to make my mind up that Justin Hawkins was losing his infamous falsetto voice, and with a dragged out introduction, it just wasn't worth the hype.
The final trio of acts that would be witnessed at Download would all be on the Main Stage, kicking off with Slash. A set that mixed Guns N'Roses, Velvet Revolver and Slash's solo project with Myles Kennedy made for a very well received performance. Slash hasn't lost his magic at all, and Kennedy is easily one of the best rock vocalists out there. Ending on a triumphant Paradise City left everyone in buoyant mood whilst the dark clouds overhead decided we'd suffered enough this weekend.
Bearing down on us for their final performance at Donington were Mötley Crüe, the granddaddies of glam metal. It was awfully nice to see their backing dancers, and even though guitarist Mick Mars looks like he's about to disintegrate at any second, the man can still shred. Their gratitude to Donington was clear, and with a show laden with special effects, they were definitely out to steal Kiss' thunder. Their final UK tour is later this year, and this was the best possible advertising campaign for it.

To close the weekend, Kiss went out looking for new recruits for the Kiss Army. With lights and fireworks that would be more accustomed to a celebration of the millennium, Paul Stanley seemed to be feasting on the 80,000 smiling faces in front of him. They had all the old tricks, from Gene Simmons' bloody mouth, to Paul taking some sort of zipwire to a stage in the middle of the crowd, and it felt like the 1980's were back. Of course there were the songs too. Kicking off with Detroit Rock City, and encoring with the terrific trio of Shout It Out Loud, I Was Made For Lovin' You and Rock And Roll All Nite ensured that Sergeant Stanley would be welcoming thousands of new applicants to put their life on the line for rock n'roll. This is a band that will live forever. I also would like to know if Gene Simmons still really believes if rock is dead?

And so it comes to an end. Well done if you got this far... I started to get bored reading it back to myself. Download may just well be my favourite festival, even after going to Glastonbury a week prior to writing this. The music is solid, and the people are real music fans who may also be some of the friendliest people I've ever met. There's still plenty to do when there is no live music to enjoy; even if you want to get married to the burger you just bought, they'll do it in the inflatable chapel which turns into a rave cave after hours. Weather and initial cashless issues aside, Download 2015 was a killer experience, and I'm already packing for 2016.

Get a Download of this!

I don't know if anyone knows this, but apparently you can't please everyone. On 17th, 18th and 19th November 2014, the infamous Download Festival announced its first set of confirmed bands for the 2015 event. Lets go through each confirmed band, shall we?

Friday

The first day needs to be hard-hitting, and it needs to set the tone for the rest of the weekend. Who better than to send the happy campers of Download back to their tents in a hyperactive mood than Slipknot? This is the band's third headline appearance at Donington since 2009, which has given people reason to moan about how there is a lack of diversity amongst the headliners each year. I could understand people whinging about that if the headliner were an act who are infamous for having the stage presence of a courgette, but this is Slipknot we're talking about; arguably one of the most destructive live outfits around. With a rotating setlist and new album .5: The Gray Chapter out now, I see no reason why they can't slam Download to the ground once more.

Before the masked mayhem though, you have to go through Judas Priest first. A band that are undisputed legends of the heavy metal circuit, they will go down a proverbial storm at Download. Last time they graced Donington's hallowed turf, they played as special guests to Kiss in 2008, and I hear they were phenomenal. As veterans of the live circuit, they played back when this festival was called Monsters Of Rock, over thirty years ago, so it is time for them to show these young whippersnappers how it's done.
The main stage announcements are completed by Five Finger Death Punch. My girlfriend went to Download's 2013 event, and came away from it with nothing but good things to say about this band. With live performances as hard-hitting as their name, they'll be bringing their stateside heavy metal show to Donington for their fourth appearance. They have rightly earned their place high on the main stage, and with the anthems that gracefully adorn their back catalogue, they are sure to whip up a frenzy and get the circle pits going. Future headliners? We'll see.
For the Zippo Encore stage, Black Stone Cherry are your headliners. Now, this has set the cat amongst the pigeons, so to speak. Whilst Black Stone Cherry are a hugely respected band amongst the rock community, they are in the exact same position that they were in back in 2013, when they headlined the second stage against main stage headliners, you guessed it, Slipknot. They will definitely pull a big crowd on the Friday, but for those who have to choose between these two American heavyweights again, it's not an easy choice to make. That and, some people are a bit sick of them being at Download (this is their third year in a row here). I however, would like to see them on the main stage at some point. Their recent arena tour with Airbourne in tow suggests that there can only be bigger things on the horizon for Black Stone Cherry.

Saturday

Whether the ignorant masses incapable of accepting change like it or not, Muse are headlining the Saturday night. Regarded as the greatest live act around today, Muse will be showcasing their alternative rock to the metal masses, which is an environment that they're not entirely unfamiliar with. The minor backlash that they received upon announcement was totally unjustified. This is a band who can woo you and make your clothes mysteriously fall off with a delicate piano ballad, but can also burst your eardrums with an onslaught of riffs. With a rumoured "heavier" seventh album in the pipeline, I can guarantee that Muse will be one of the heaviest bands of the weekend, with more riffs than Donington will be expecting. If they play the right songs, they will go down an absolute storm e.g. playing Stockholm Syndrome, Dead Star and Hyper Music in favour of Explorers, Undisclosed Desires and Feeling Good will win over the doubters who have the band pigeonholed as Queen wannabees who write radio rock for teenage art students. This is a chance for Muse to shut everyone up who thinks they can't rock a cradle.

Muse can make light work of following many bands, but returning former headliners Faith No More are not going to be an easy band to follow. A very popular pick, they blew everyone away when they returned to the live circuit and headlined Download in 2009. Now though, they're bringing some new tunes with them, which will become part of the first album they have released in 18 years. The recently aired Motherfucker has fans pining for more, and at the same time has left every fan as confused as ever, as let's face it, Faith No More are at their best when they leave people feeling confused. Even if their new material somehow fails to deliver, you can bet your mortgage that songs like Epic and We Care A Lot will leave the crowd caring a lot.

A Day To Remember are guaranteed to draw a huge following to the main stage. They're currently coming to the end of a small UK tour, with the foundations being built for what could become one of the most successful acts to come over from across the pond in recent years. Having caught their main stage set at Leeds Festival this year, they're definitely at home on a big stage, with the crowd being in the palm of their hand. Thousands upon thousands of excitable punters were singing the guitar riff to 2009 single The Downfall of Us All before A Day To Remember had even taken to the stage; this is the kind of hype that the Download crowd will gladly provide too. A crossover of pop punk and modern metal appeals to many demographics, meaning that everyone from happy hardcore teenagers to the most metal dude you know will be keeping an eye on this band. Miss them at your peril.
And now, we have Marilyn Manson headlining the Zippo Encore stage. His recent appearances at Download gathered many critics, with claims that he was either "not bothered" or that he was too drunk to know his Antichrist from his Superstar; these criticisms were mostly related to his much maligned 2009 appearance on the main stage. Download Festival booker Andy Copping confirmed that he refused to book him after the calamitous 2009 gig, but since Copping recently observed Manson back in action in the USA, he explained that Manson is "back to his best". This will excite those who are holding out hope for the American to not have completely lost it, but will also provide those who aren't satisfied with Muse as a headline option, with something to get their teeth into.

Sunday

The final day of the weekend is very much as classic rock affair as the line up looks so far. Kiss will be closing the main stage, with what may be one of the biggest shows Donington will ever see. They're definitely showmen, but with Gene Simmons' big mouth not gaining him many fans (see my post before this), he may be prone to a bit of verbal from the local pundits. Maybe this his way of winning over his haters, and it may very well work; last time they headlined in 2008, if Donington had a roof, Kiss blew it off, and then some. Their anthems have the power of unite all masses, with what may prove to be one of the loudest singalongs of the weekend.

Signing off in style with their last ever UK festival appearance is Motley Crue. They're old hands at this, and since it's their final tour, they will want to go out with a bang. Kiss will have trouble following them, because when the ever so solid Crue are on form, they're untouchable. With a sold out tour of the USA behind them (with Alice Cooper in tow), and nine studio albums behind them, be sure to see them for what may be the final time, as each individual embarks on their own projects/consider retirement.

A mixture of Download favourites, Slash Featuring Myles Kennedy & The Conspirators combines the sexy Guns n' Roses riff machine with the soaring vocals of Alter Bridge frontman Myles Kennedy. These two rock n'roll juggernauts put Axl Rose's silly excuse of modern "Guns n' Roses" to shame. Rather than being all about Axl, with these two it's all about the music. New album World On Fire will get an airing, and you can guarantee a top notch atmosphere with the popular top-hatted veteran. Still to this day he is one of my favourite guitarists, and with his trademark Gibson Les Paul on display, Kennedy's Plant-style crooning will surely be one of the strongest and most popular performances of the event.

Finally, topping the second stage are techno-wizards Enter Shikari. They seem to be at Download every other year, but that's only because their live shows are such a draw. At Leeds 2014, they were easily one of the best performances I've seen at the festival, and I am lucky enough to be catching them on their upcoming UK tour. New album The Last Garrison is due for release in January, and if the title track is anything to go by, we're in for another groundbreaking effort from the St Albans quartet. There will be a large dose of youngsters who will be sacrificing their chance to see the painted ones on the main stage, but what they will get is a powerful light show complete with high intensity mosh pit action. There will be blood, and I warn you, there will be genre-bending.

We wait in anticipation for further announcements from the Download camp. Your move, Mr Copping.

Muse - The 2nd Law

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 

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