Sophie Hong
It took Muse 3 years, but the British rock band’s fifth studio album, The Resistance, was definitely worth the wait. If you’ve been finding it increasingly difficult to differentiate one band from the other lately, this album certainly provides a breath of much needed fresh air.
The Resistance takes on a symphonic rock direction that’s rather different from their previous full release, Black Holes and Revelations, which has a more electronic, progressive rock sound. Containing 11 well-written tracks all completed by lead vocalist Matthew Bellamy, Muse does not shortchange with half-hearted mediocre music.
Their first single “Uprising” is a fast paced song consisting of a catchy hook and repetitive, easy to remember lyrics such as “They will not force us/ They will stop degrading us/ They will not control us”. It is the perfect formula for a popular radio hit except for its 5-minute duration. There were short spurts of unneeded guitar riffs throughout the track, which seemed like an open invitation for it to be edited into a shorter, more radio-friendly version
A noteworthy track is “United States of Eurasia”, in which Muse shows exactly why they have achieved a cult following over the last 10 years. Through the unorthodox mix of classical, operatic, and rock music, they managed to strike a right balance between all 3 seemingly diverse genres to produce a sound that’s reminiscent of rock legend Queen without sounding pretentious.
While 31-year-old Bellamy may have been criticised for having an unfeeling and emotionless voice, his sound worked just fine in tracks such as “Unnatural Selection” and “Undisclosed Desires”. In the latter, his cryptic emotions were cleverly hidden behind metaphors such as “I want to reconcile the violence in your heart/ I want to recognize your beauty’s not just a mask/ I want to exorcise the demons from your past”. Demonstrating a lyrical maturity that’s often lacking in younger bands nowadays, Muse has certainly grown from their “Starlight” days when Bellamy just wanted to “Hold you in my arms/ I just wanted to hold you in my arms”.
However, a sense of vulnerability was revealed with “I Belong To You”. This is the first time for Bellamy as he pours out his emotions in its entirety, crooning “I can’t find the words to say/ But they’re overdue/ I’ve travelled half the world to say/ I belong to you” against tinkling ivories. It is no wonder that a more upbeat, remixed version of this song is to be featured in the second installment of the Twilight movie series, New Moon.
The Resistance rounds out with “Exogenesis: Symphony”, a 3-part number which Bellamy reportedly took 4 years to compose. Along with the involvement of 40 other musicians for the recording, this 13-minute long epic is undoubtedly the highlight of the album, as well as a testament to Muse’s growth since they broke into the music scene 10 years ago.
While Muse is no Queen, their constant experimentation and pushing of musical boundaries is definitely commendable, making this chart-topping album worth multiple listens. They may have named their album The Resistance, but as far as mainstream music is concerned, Muse has struck the right notes.
Rating: 4.5/5
Title: The Resistance
Artiste: Muse
Language: English
Record Label: Warner Bros, Helium 3.
Release Date: Sep 14
Tracklist
1. Uprising
2. Resistance
3. Undisclosed Desires
4. United States of Eurasia
5. Guiding Light
6. Unnatural Selection
7. MK Ultra
8. I Belong To You (Mon Cœur S’ouvre À Ta Voix)
9. Exogenesis: Symphony Part 1 (Overture)
10. Exogenesis: Symphony Part 2 (Cross-Pollination)
11. Exogenesis: Symphony Part 3 (Redemption)