Absolution - Muse > Reviews > The Hysteria is justified!

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics	Thought-provoking
Quality and consistency of tracks	Flawless
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Good
Value for Money

Advantages:	Grandiose magic .  Simply sublime .
Disadvantages:	Tad commercial, it's no 'Origin of Symmetry' !

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

After the flawless masterpiece 'Origin of Symmetry', Muse could do anything. Matt Bellamy created schizophrenic brilliance time after time, his voice and instrumental ability beyond reproach. Both the album, and 'Origin...' b-sides were just superbly arrogant and twisted, passionate and tormented, but most of all original and inspired.

Muse decided to draw on their past on this album. It's a funny record. About half of the tracks (Stockholm Syndrome, Sing for absolution, Endlessly, Ruled by Secrecy, Blackout, Apocalypse please) are unlike any previous Muse songs, and blaze a trail with their uniqueness and power, while others (Hysteria, The small print, Thoughts of a dying atheist, Butterflies and hurricanes), no matter how good, seem like extensions of previous Muse work. This is not necessarily a criticism, but for such an incredible band, you may expect something totally different.

No matter, the album itself is just great. It seems a tad like a concept album, but is not. Speaking of concepts, with Muse's obvious affinity to prog. rock, a concept album could be on the cards next. Could be very good. As for this offering, Muse have taken a less 'abrasive' route here. Some tracks are soft and astounding, others are a bit too commercial for my tastes. I never thought Bellamy would write cliched lyrics, but they crop up once or twice here, especially on 'Time is running out'.

The album is the first to credit all of the band with writing the music, although Bellamy still writes lyrics alone. The artwork portrays a suited man/casual woman staring up at the sky in awe. Shadows of what appear to be flying people are cast on the concrete below.

1) Intro.
We open to the progressively louder sound of marching footsteps, as if from an army marching to Armageddon.

2) 'Apocalypse please'
The marching footsteps are soon joined with, then drowned out by, Muse banging their instruments; bass, piano and drums. The 'crashing and banging' vibe continues, with Bellamy hysterically hollering the clever lyrics about, basically, blind panic in the face of adversity! As Bellamy declares; "It's the end of the world!" Some marvellous lyricless wailing showcases the richness of Bellamy's vocal tones.

3) 'Time is running out'
The first sale release single, and a big hit. I know some Muse fans, especially female, who will adore this. The only way i can really like this is to imagine Bellamy singing it to George W. Bush. It is passionate and has a great message behind it about taking our future for granted, but it is just too commercial. I can't believe the generally simplistic lyricism from Bellamy, who normally strains his vocabulary with his bizarre wordplay. The lyrics; "You will suck all the life out of me" first made an appearance on the b-side 'Twin', and are recycled here. The structure is a bit too formulaic too, with a predictable chorus, and Bellamy's incredible voice sounds nasally and dare i say punky! Great fuzzy intro. though, and nice piano break. Super video too, but i'm not a fan.

4) 'Sing for absolution'
Now this is more like it! Beautiful whispered verse vocals from Bellamy, the like you may not have heard on a Muse single since 'Unintended'. These verses are offset by a curiously slow and lingering chorus of singing to cleanse your soul before Judgement day. A nod to classic prog. artwork for the video still on the single cover too, and although simple, the melody is soothing and driving in equal measure. Just when the song appears to have ended, Bellamy delivers a couple of masterful end lines with straining passion in his frantic voice as the piano twinkles away;
"Our wrongs remain unrectified!
And our souls won't be exhumed!"
Beautiful, and ever-so-slightly unsettling.

5) 'Stockholm Syndrome'
The first release on download only, i advise you to see the video for this. Directed and shot by Muse themselves solely on thermal cameras, it is the band performing, but with numerous suggestive images appearing that we can't quite make out. It is available as a CD-Rom bonus feature on one of the 'Time is running out' singles. As for the actual track, it is a stone-cold Muse monsterpiece about a condition where hostages develop empathy with their captors. A torrent of harmonics and ferociously hard-edged riffs are delivered as Bellamy wields his guitar like the sword of Excalibur. Chris Wolstenholme's bass is like a beast possessed, and Dom Howard beats his drums until they cry for mercy. Dreamy pianos also make their way in (only Muse!) on the chorus, and Bellamy's voice is bellowed and passionate, while the instruments thrash to a thunderstorm climax!

6) 'Falling away with you'
A dreamy ballad here, calming us down after the gut-teasing adrenaline overdose of 'Stockholm Syndrome'. Some trademark fret-squeaking on the winding acoustic intro., as Bellamy warms up his fingers for the driving but mellow chorus. Some wonderfully strange noises are created on guitar, and Bellamy aches in his soft but effective delivery. Recommended listening.

7) Interlude
Incorrectly named on most DVD albums, this track is a swirling 30 second extension to 'Falling away with you', which seems to build, but then fades.

8) 'Hysteria'
Wow! Opening with a very fuzzy 'zapping' guitar, effect, this is a hypnotic single. Although not incredibly original in it's lyricism, it is a track that burrows into your mind and stays there. Crashing 'marching' drums, foot-stomping bass and a high-pitched squealing riff make this unmissable. The hazy chorus sees insane layers of synths and guitars moulded to Bellamy's spinning off-kilter vocals for a marvellous head-trip. Gorgeous high-pitched soloing on the middle-eight, this really lives up to it's frantic title, and won't leave you for quite a while.

9) 'Blackout'
Totally original from previous work, this adds to the highly impressive Muse portfolio. With a slow, ringing keyboard melody and background voices from what sound like classically-trained singers or a choir, this is a brilliant song, with Bellamy questioning existence to his lover;
"This life could be the last,
And we're too young to care"
The melody reminds me of the kind of soothing music you might hear on a gondola in Venice!

10) 'Butterflies and Hurricanes'
Named after the 'time travel' effect, this song really only sounds good loud. It has little effect otherwise, as it's main appeal is the grandiose layers of sound, with Bellamy and Wolstenholme breathlessly wailing chorus vocals. A rallying cry to wannabe leaders, there are twists and turns aplenty, with an out-of-the-blue piano solo in the middle. The single is edited, and adds layers of guitars, where as this relies mainly on keyboards and bass.

11) 'The small print'
Opens with a brilliantly sleazy 'chainsaw' riff, and soon quickfire double-handed drum beats crank up the volume. Breathless verses lead to a mean and moody chorus that builds in volume and intensity for maximum satisfaction.
"Say, it'll make you insane,
And i'm bending the truth,
You're to blame for the life that you'll lose"

12) 'Endlessly'
Inventively marvellous track, swishing and melodic. A pulsating, deep, organ synth lines the melody, while Bellamy suitably whispers in lush harmonies for a real triumph of a hopeless love song.

13) 'Thoughts of a dying atheist'
This could have been the most morbid title for a single ever, but has not been released unfortunately. A hook-laden rapid-tempo guitar jangle and more breathless verses lead to an emotional and panic-ridden chorus;
"Scares the hell out of me!
And the end is all i can see!"
More affecting lyrical passages in verses;
"Eerie whispers trapped beneath my pillow,
Won't let me sleep, your memories,
I know you're in this room,
I'm sure i heard you sigh,
Floating in between where our worlds collide"
Brilliant character expressed by such a short track, and an unforgettable chorus.

14) 'Ruled by secrecy'
A gorgeously flowing piano melody drowns out Bellamy's heavenly whispered verses for a track high on ambience and uneasy atmosphere, which alters slightly about halfway through to shatter the constant rhythm, but ends on a soft but slightly sinister note. A very mysterious climax.

By anyone else's standards, this is nothing short of a masterpiece, but, being Muse, this is a sidestep rather than a leap forward from the flawless 'Origin of Symmetry'. There is no bizarre track from out of nowhere like 'Micro Cuts', no prog. epic like 'Citizen Erased', and the instrumental sounds are more orthodox. Dare i say, Muse emit less misery now. Which is both a good and a bad thing.

This is widely available on e-bay and/or record stores, hopefully for a reasonable price. Here's to a magnificent fourth, possibly concept, album from the mighty Muse! And please, less commercial Matt!