Absolution - Muse > Reviews > Time is not running out for Brit rockers Muse!

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Groundbreaking
Lyrics	Sublime
Quality and consistency of tracks	A couple of weak links
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Outstanding
Value for Money

Advantages:	Overall bulk of album is excellent, Piano, guitars,vocals, drums all excellent !  Top class musicians .
Disadvantages:	couple of songs that arent quite up to par with the rest of the album .

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

INTRO:

Brit rockers Muse have generally always been about two things.

The operatic whiny, but tuned vocals of lead singer Matt Bellamy, and the chunky intelligent riffs of guitarist....Matt Bellamy(he does both, clever man)

Muse came to the scene with their debut album 'showbiz.
It got healthy review from the critics, but it wasn't until 2001 that the band became popular nationwide, with the storming album 'The Origin Of Symmetry'
Now the band are back with their third effort entitled 'ABSOLUTION' and for the most part its another complete success story.

I always say first impressions matter, thats why with any album a good flowing intro is important to give the listener an idea of whats to come, Absolution does this perfectly.

First off theres a little 20 odd second intro which is some sort of war march, classic marching drum beat here.

But what it leads onto is far far better.

The first song of the album is 'APOCALYPSE PLEASE' and I give dull credit to Muse for being able to incorporate Piano into rock music so well.
Whereas other bands might use the piano or keyboard in a song, but it gets overshadowed by the guitars or lyrics or whatever it might be, Muse manage to make the Piano the main instrument for the first part of this song. It starts off with a thumping set of piano chords, before Matt rolls in with some powerful vocals. Coupled with the thumping piano and drums, Matt crooning 'now its time we saw a miracle, now its time for something biblical' works really really well, you tend to think it may actually be the end of the world. I hope not though because theres still 13 more tracks on this album.

After the previous track you are left in a satisfied mood and you instantly want more, 'TIME IS RUNNING OUT' gives you just that, it's the first single on the album and you can easily see why. First off theres the catchy bass line that starts this song off, then theres the excellent System Of a Down like sonics and drum beats to couple it, and the guitars now feature properly and they are well done with an excellently sung chorus that fits the Riffs perfectly. A very catchy song that has understandably become a hit.

'SING FOR ABSOLUTION' is the next track, and once again the flow of quality does not end here.
The song starts off with a piano/drum piece and Although at first the tune might not appeal to everyone right away, once the Vocals join in the song starts to show its full colours, some excellent melodic operatic vocals here. The chorus however is first class, 'sing for absolution, I will be singing', Matt croons over a guitar/Piano piece that is among the best melodic rock has to offer. Nice little guitar solo in the bridge of the song too that leads into the final chorus and rounds off one of the best songs on the album.

It doesn't seem long ago I last reviewed a song named 'STOCKHOLM SYNDROME', oh yes those pop punkers blink 182 had it on their latest album, Muse however got there first and did it better. First off neither are related, theres no copy or cover here just pure coincidence. This track has to be the most riff orientated song on the album, as it starts off with a fairly heavy one that leads onto some good vocals and a chorus that mixes all of the instruments that we have so far heard.
The only problem with this song is that its a bit repetitive and because the riff just before each chorus is so good you tend to get bored of the chorus and skip to the best bits. The closing Riff is chunky and energetic and has to be about the heaviest Muse have ever done, it closes the song off in style.

'Falling away from you' is a little less exciting. It starts off much in the same say 'SING FOR ABSOLUTION 'did but fails to turn into as good a song. It does burst into a heavier chorus, but it doesn't really have the tune or effect to make this song stand out.
That being said it has its moments, they just don't show themselves very much.

'INTERLUDE/HYSTERIA'

This pair of titles is the second single of the album and its intro. The intro is a grinding guitar riff obviously inspired by System of a down, with its middle eastern sound. After 38 seconds this leads into probably the second best song on the album, 'HYSTERIA'. It starts off with a heavy bass line and soon explodes into a brilliant heavy riff with a little middle eastern tint, probably the best riff on the album in fact. The chorus is fairly strong, it appears to be about a women of some sort with lyrics of 'I want you now, I want you now, I want your heart and your soul'.
The bridge in this track is also top quality, more of those middle-eastern riffs and solos with an even better sound than before.

After all that 'hysteria' if you like, could this album just keep getting better? Unfortunately it doesn't get any better then that now. 'BLACKOUT' is a soft pappy song that sounds like 'magic moments' at times, theres no guitars to speak of and hardly a drum beat, so you're supposed to focus on Matts vocals, but they dont work so well on this song.

'BUTTERFLIES AND HURRICANES' is next, interesting name but not nearly as interesting on the cd player. Like blackout it starts off very slow and melodic, it doesnt always stay that way, the choruses are slightly louder, and theres an excellent piano bridge. Other then that though its a mediocre song compared with the bulk of the album.

'TSP' or 'THE SMALL PRINT' is more of a rock monster with a classic Muse guitar riff with some thrashy drumming that leads onto a semi-uplifting, energetic type of song that will surely get you jumping.
Theres some great guitar solos in here too mixed in among the heavier bits. The albums back on an up, but its still not quite as good as the first bunch of songs.

'ENDLESSLY' is a great little song really, its so pappy and quiet but it works really well for once. It starts off with a little drum solo then the most of the song is played out with drums and synth pads, theres a little guitar piece now and again, But its just the overall melody that is good on this track.

'THOUGHTS OF A DYING ATHEIST' FOLLOWS UP, and although I worried about the pretentious sounding title, the song turns out to be fine. Its a mix of energetic drum beats, guitar solos and fine vocals that puts this song on the better half of the album, the chorus is actually similar to 'SING FOR ABSOLUTION' in structure.

Now we come to the end of this fine album 'RULED BY SECRECY' is the final track, and it starts off fairly strong , but soft. In a sense it ends where it started, on a mostly Piano piece, but unlike the opening track it doesnt quite do such a good job, but theres probably no better way to end this album, as the guitars, drums and synth pads fade away you start to reflect on all what you've just heard.

Absolution has brought out the best in Muse yet, and has shown us how capable this threepiece are at producing heavy riffs, melodic pieces, grinding solos and some downright stunning vocals. Those who fell in love with Showbiz and T.O.O.S may feel the band has leaned into the mainstream genre, but for those of us who liked the previous albums but weren't entirely swept away this album should do it for you!

If you're a fan of soft rock/punk rock/ metal you should give this album a try, its dramatic, heavy in parts, and intelligent. Maybe thats them being British? or maybe its them being one of the best things to happen to rock since System of a down.

-89%-Rating-Excellent.