Album: Muse - Black Holes and Revelations
Black Holes and Revelations marked the much anticipated return of Muse. The British band released their fourth studio album in June and has since received outstanding professional reviews. And rightly so. Muse are one of the most unique bands in the trend-hungry musical jungle, intent on never settling into a specific genre and being comparable to bands that cross all boundaries of harmony.
Muse have kept their space and sci-fi theme as a carry on from previous albums Absolution, Origin of Symmetry and Showbiz, evident from both sound effects and album artwork on all four albums, and the album has kept close to previous album Absolution in terms of lyrical content. Opening lyrics to first track Take a Bow include “And burn, you will burn, you will burn in hell, yeah you’ll burn in hell. You’ll burn in hell, yeah you’ll burn in hell for your sins”, almost an equal of Absolution’s opening track Apocalypse Please.
Starlight seems an obvious choice for a single, given its catchy electro-pop melody and chorus consisting of the title to the album. However, the first single in the UK was the wonderfully bizarre stand out song Supermassive Black Hole, where lead singer Matt Bellamy explores his incredible voice with high pitched verses and robotic sound effects. The combined lyrics and video suggest an erotic theme to the song, and is the unique song of the album.
Black Holes and Revelations also demonstrates a political stance by the band, with the tracks Soldier's Poem, Assassin and the riff pounding Exo-Politics. When the Zetas fill the skies, it's just our leaders in disguise' – one of the fine examples of politically charged lyrics on display in this song.
Final track mention goes to the astute Knights of Cydonia, a gripping finale which sums up the entire album. It’s strange, clever, witty and meaningful. 'No one's gonna take me alive!' cries a defiant Bellamy as the 6 minute mini epic brings an end to Muse’s latest instalment of supernatural.
Verdict: Black Holes and Revelations is typically Muse, as it intertwines Britpop, rock, electro pop, prog and alternative. An album that can be appreciated by all and has contributed to Muse’s rise back to the top.