Muse: Black Holes and Revelations
I can remember a time when Muse were dismissed by many as Radiohead soundalikes; ironically at the time when the latter were moving away from the alternative rock and indie-based roots. four albums down the line, Muse seem to be following the same pattern in experimenting outside the guitar-orientated territory but in truth they have been pushing the envelope for some time now. In the case of Black Holes and Revelations the efforts of the Devon trio have crystallised into their most consistent and startling piece of work to date; crucially it still feels like a natural progression from their existing back catalogue.
The eclectic blend of alt-rock, metal, classical and electronica that has earned the band their reputation has continued to evolve, providing a backdrop for frontman Matthew Bellamy’s lyrics encompassing personal issues, politics, conspiracies and the supernatural. It’s a heady and volatile mix, which has over the years drawn criticism for being bombastic and pretentious; Muse have always kept their artistic excesses more or less in check but in this record they use this to their advantage. It’s their most ambitious and daring album so far but the gamble pays off.
