Album Review: Muse - The 2nd Law

Frontman Matthew Bellamy stated that recording this, Muse's sixth studio album, was a bit like being in three different bands. Certainly the taster provided by the first two singles backed this up with the bombastic pomp and operatic fervour of Survival followed by the mellow electro pop departure of Madness. Muse have always pulled other styles and genres into their rock core, but for parts of the The 2nd Law they have taken this to extreme levels.

There are still some familiar moments, such as the album opener Supremacy, which sees grungy guitars initially calmed down by cinematic strings and Bellamy's haunting vocal before they all combine to create the kind of epic sound they relish. Album highlight and sure to be live favourite Follow Me is based around a poppy chorus with a strong electronic undercurrent whilst Big Freeze, with its heavy dance rock beat, impassioned vocal and massive chorus sounds purpose-built for stadium shows.

The more unexpected moments see Muse veer into almost Bee Gees territory with the disco funk of Panic Station and take on dubstep, though played with instruments, on Unsustainable. In another departure, bassist Chris Wolstenholme wrote and took lead vocals on a couple of tracks for the first time. Both have a personal theme (his battle with alcohol) with Save Me contrasting a monotone instrumentation and delivery with a passionate plea to create an effective symbolism and Liquid State providing the heaviest rock out of the album.

Despite the eclectic range of music, the album flows surprisingly well with a sense of excitement about where each track is going to go. This is their most diverse release to date as they continue to push rock boundaries. It's also their most rewarding listen.