Pop-rock appeal

Michael Patrao, Nov 25, 2012, DHNS :

Muse are an English rock band who have got wide exposure recently as the band behind the official 2012 Olympics theme song.

It was formed by school friends Matthew Bellamy (lead vocals, lead guitar, keyboards), Christopher Wolstenholme (bass, vocals) and Dominic Howard (drums, percussion). ‘The 2nd Law’ is their sixth studio release.

Supremacy stomps out with a monstrous guitar riff. Bellamy begins his vocals like a narrative, gradually working his way up to that patented hell-shriek. Madness, a stripped down track with electronic bass line, does not have much to demonstrate. Panic Station is an aggressive track with Bellamy screeching and some good riffs.

Survival (Prelude) is the familiarly symphonic Muse music deployed before the follow-up track, Survival, the official 2012 Olympics theme song. The song stands on its own steam aided by a ‘play-to-the-gallery’ music-sweeping intro and screeching electric guitars and triumphant lyrics.

Follow me is layered with synthesizer-like sound and flirts with dubstep. Animals has hypnotic guitar lines and a well-crafted ambience, but ends with what sounds like a prison riot in full swing. Explorers is a tender lullaby to Bellamy’s new-born son (from his wife Kate Hudson).

Save Me is the first-ever Muse song sung by bassist Chris Wolstenholme, a song that could have been best avoided. However, Liquid State, the second of Wolstenholme’s songs is in the Muse tradition, but still does not stand out.

The 2nd Law: Unsustainable has some skrillex sound and dubstep incorporated in it. The last track, The 2nd Law: Isolated System, is not what can be termed as a fitting finale, but that should not undermine their other good tracks.