Muse

Muse are a British rock band who formed in Teignmouth, Devon in 1994, with Matt Bellamy - vocals and guitar, Chris Wolstenholme bass and Dom Howard drums. The trio incorporate many different genres in their music - blending modern, classical and even Latin themes into songs. They have over-exposed themselves, proving their ability and throwing catchy tracks on each record. They are very proficient and in short time have won fans over, however still remain unknown to many. The band has been compared to Radiohead, very unfairly, but also Queen, in the amazing, sometimes rare, vocal harmonies.

Track Listings

1. Take A Bow

2. Starlight

3. Supermassive Black Hole

4. Map Of The Problematique

5. Soldier's Poem

6. Invincible

7. Assassin

8. Exopolitics

9. City Of Delusion

10. Hoodoo
11. Knights Of Cydonia

'Black Holes And Revelations' is Muse's fourth album and is one of the years most overblown record including huge doomy soundscapes and space age effects. To a lesser band, the album would sound silly and ironic with songs such as "Starlight", lyrically about spaceships. Matthew Bellamy exaggerates his lyrics with things like injustice, death and "superstars sucks into the supermassive." Not so surprising, coming from Muse. It is surprising, however, that most of the time, the band can make room for melody in seductive songs such as "Invincible" in Coldplay-style, almost like pop music. The album contains a few sci-fi anthems like "Knights of Cydonia" and "City of Delusion", although ridiculous as they're names may be, definetly hit it. "Take A Bow", repetitive to begin with but as it speeds into double time and plays several great guitar parts becomes exhilerating but somewhat sinister. This track about the beginning of a journey into space. In the past Bellamy's lyrics has been accused of being obscure, no doubt, but there is no disguising his intended political nature of "cast a spell on the country you run… risk all their lives and their souls", Proving less opaque then Radiohead's lyrics, obviously taking it out on the failings of world leaders. Really quite interesting when you get into it. As i see it, Musically, 'Black Holes And Revelations' seems to be taking a more compassionate and arty approach, quite comfortably.

Black Holes and Revelations finds Muse finally achieving, I believe, their full potential, producing an album that is their biggest yet. Its an epic album and it even sounds huge. Just listening to it I find it very hard to remember that Muse are only a trio. Muse are a band who would use absolutly any sound effect and turn it into something amazing. For Muse, this is just another example of why they are one of the most inventive rock bands of modern times. They may never quite get as popular or well-known as other bands, but the music is all that matters and with infinitely more exciting and unrivalled music, true fans will to continue to listen.