“They will not force us, they will stop degrading us, they will not control us, we will be victorious” Come on, citizen! Join in 'The Resistance'. This is an apt name for an album seeking to politicize and unify with scale and grandeur. You will not be left wanting. Muse, yet again, succeeds in achieving an air of flamboyant and stunning majesty. From 80s synth beats to space age strings, guitars and even a metal re-write of Abba’s 'Lay All Your Love on Me'. This album has everything to offer.
 
 Muse kicks off with ‘Uprising,’ a glam-stomping beat reminiscent of Depeche Mode. Jumping on the band wagon with current 80s influence in popular music, Muse contradict the fashionable transparency of these 80s beats with socio-political messages, such as “Rise up and take the power back it's time the, fat cats had a heart attack”. Matt Bellamy goes on to explore his more romantic side with ‘Resistance’, a love letter to his fiancé and an epic tale of love conquering all. This makes you want to tap your foot with its drum beats and bass doodles. Both of these songs stand out on the album.

'Unnatural selection' is yet another one of Muse’s experiments in absurdity. A metal re-write of 'Lay All Your Love on Me' reminiscent of System of the Down, this re write is accomplished and utterly insane. This is what makes it stunning. I would recommend listening to Abba’s 'Lay All Your Love on Me' before you tune your ears to 'Unnatural Selection'. Then you will appreciate the song in its true context.
 
 The definite triumphs of the album are 'United States of Eurasia' and 'Exogenesis'. The former with its Queen inspired guitar riffs and solos. This song is homage to bohemian rhapsody; it is going to be a clear-cut crowd pleaser at Muse concerts, with its euphoric futuristic vibe, and classical and Arabic influences. The classical music theme continues through to the end of the album with 'Exogenesis', this 15-minute orchestral-rock symphony is monolithic, pretentious, and self indulgent with another fight the establishment message. It has front man, Bellamy stamped all over it. Yet who can blame him, it’s what he does so well.
 
Where the album 'Resistance' lets itself down is in songs like 'Undisclosed Desires' and 'I Belong to You'. These songs are somewhat confused, especially the RnB influenced former, which lacks clarity and conviction. 'I Belong to You' is a mess, with Bellamy’s bilingual grandstanding and a superfluous clarinet solo showing up the band as overreaching.
 
 This being said, Muse has made a mind blowing album of brilliance and beauty as well as insanity and absurdity. So resistance is futile, give it a listen!

Out now

Bethan Haycock

Member of the music team @ Pulse