Pranav’s Nov. Music Corner: Muse “The 2nd Law” Review

By Pranav Trewn,

“The 2^nd Law”, the sixth studio album from Muse, is bombastic, expansive, and bold. The album is as grand in scope as their previous effort, “The Resistance,” which even included a three part symphony at the rear end of the disc. Once again, the most experimental tracks are tucked towards the end, including Muse’s dabbling into the world of dubstep. But in general, much of the entire album feels like the band experimenting with the limits of their sound.

Opening with what would fit comfortably on a James Bond movie soundtrack, “Supremacy” starts the album with a huge guitar riff and lead singer and guitarist Matt Bellamy’s signature wail. Throughout the disc, Bellamy’s vocals are exceptional. He croons at times tender, such as when he is assuring his newborn son that he will be there for him in “Follow Me”, and at times aggressive, such as in “Panic Station”, which borrows at length from Stevie Wonder’s superstition (even some of the musicians who performed on Wonder’s hit).

But Matt Bellamy does not exclusively hold down the vocals on “The 2^nd Law”. Bassist Chris Wolstenholme steps up as the lead vocalist on two tracks he wrote for the album, “Save Me” and “Liquid State,”  which both discuss his battle with alcoholism. Besides being responsible for two of the best songs on the album, Wolstenholme also continues to remind listeners of his ability behind the bass, with a particularly notable bassline in “Panic Station” that has a vague familiarity to “Another One Bites the Dust” by Queen.

            Much of the album seems to be influenced by Queen, from the wubby “Madness” to “Survival,” the official song of the London 2012 Summer Olympics, one of the finer moments on the album that shines outside of the pressure of being an Olympic song. In fact, much of the album seems to be Muse paying tribute to their influences, whether in the form of the Skrillex-inspired “The 2^ndLaw: Unsustainable” or the channeling of David Bowie in the lead single “Madness”.

            No one should complain about the non-Musiness of the newest Muse album, however, because that is exactly what makes it so intriguing. Each song stands out on its own and will surely be included in the set list of their upcoming tour. “The 2^nd Law” is a statement that well into the band’s career, the best is still yet to come.