The disc kicks right off with "Supremacy" a gritty, orchestral sounding track that does a great job of introducing the different sounds we can expect to hear on this album, with a somewhat ominous overtone being out on display by frontman Matt Bellamy who does a great job of spreading his vocal power throughout all the components of this track. My favorite song off the disc is the album's first single and futuristic sounding "Madness" a distorted, jumbled up electronic lovers' delight that does a beautiful job of blending in alternative rock rhythms with electronic components that when combined, are a sight to behold and to hear on record as well, an all around terrific track. "Panic Station" features more prominent guitar riffs and takes a more rock oriented approach that the previous tracks tended to shy away from, and shows off the band's diverse and creative side with their ability to dabble in other areas that makes them a more full featured and long lasting group in the long run. "Follow Me" tones it down a notch with an apocalyptic sounding track featuring dark undertones that do a great job of capturing the emotional overtone of the album pretty accurately and ensures that the listener pays attention all the way throughout to fully grasp the message behind the song as well.
The second half of the album begins with "Explorers", a toned down composition that features the implementation of piano melodies that blend in nicely with Matt's calm and comforting vocal presence that presents a different side of the band that we haven't seen before on the album up until this point. "Big Freeze" features more upbeat melodies that feature a slight electronic edge to them that doesn't sound too overwhelming when you first hear it, creating a clear distinction between the two sounds that strike a perfect balance. "Liquid State" pumps up the velocity substantially with a hard nosed rocker that captures the essence of the tracks we heard in the beginning stages of the album, and shows off the fervor and excitement of it all with blazing guitar riffs and a pure alt-rock sound that caters to listeners who favor a certain genre more than the others. The album's end approaches with "The 2nd Law: Unsustainable", the first of a 2 part opus that features dazzling electronic beats that may sound like a little bit too much for some listeners, but for diehard electronic fans this is heaven for them with a certain aura that the band captures so well on this record. "The 2nd Law: Isolated System" is a more toned down affair with simple piano arrangements and a more voyeuristic style that the band have experimented with so much in the past that works to a great degree on this track, and ensures that the album comes to a good stopping point that the listener will find satisfactory and to their liking. When I first came across Muse back in 2004 after they first released the song "Time Is Running Out", I was impressed with how different it was from the other songs that were on alternative rock radio at the time, and how the song didn't take chances and let it run its course the way it was. Looking back, the band has evolved immensely from that song into a band that shares a parallel course with another fellow British band, Radiohead and how they evolved to their current musical status today. Muse are definitely following the same path Radiohead once did.
Wrapping it all up, a terrific and well thought out follow up effort from Muse, who continue their musical quest of electronic and symphonic melodies that ushers in feelings that the end of the world is upon us (especially those who believe the world will end in 2012 like the Mayans predicted), and gives us a glimpse of a band currently in their element and on their way to greater success that is yet to come.
Album Score: 4/5
Track Listing:
- Supremacy
- Madness
- Panic Station
- Prelude
- Survival
- Follow Me
- Animals
- Explorers
- Big Freeze
- Save Me
- Liquid State
- The 2nd Law: Unsustainable
- The 2nd Law: Isolated System
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