Twitching synths, rock-hard guitars and melodies for the masses: With their ninth studio album "Will Of The People", Muse provide the right soundtrack for the global walk towards the abyss.
For almost 30 years, Muse have been among the international spearheads when it comes to musical metamorphoses. After almost every new album, fans of the previous studio work shrug their shoulders in confusion, while newcomers and career changers throw their arms in the air cheering. Even in midsummer 2022, the men around drama prince Matthew Bellamy will not deviate from their chosen rollercoaster course. Music lovers, who enjoyed dupstep 80s memories four years ago, are ringing their ears a lot these days.
Apart from the synth-heavy dancefloor hop "Compliance", all the forerunners of the new album rattle through the speakers with a distorted force, which means that those who know the band's history are immediately reminded of the early days. Beginning with noisy elegance, "Won't Stand Down" eventually mutates into a modern metal monster. The impulsive title track winks at Marilyn Manson. Grooving industrial vibes meet sustainable harmonies.
With the fourth single "Kill Or Be Killed" Muse up the ante. While the doomsday sirens howl in the background, Matthew Bellamy turns his extroverted guitar playing inside out and fires mercilessly in all directions. Does it feel embarrassing when a band like Muse eventually reaches into the Death Metal category and demolishes everything that gets in their way like a sluggish sound bulldozer? No, just the opposite. The musical free spirits from the island make music here at one of the highest peaks of their creativity, completely detached, open like a barn door and gripped by a joy of playing that sets standards.
The rest of the album presents itself as colorful as the ball pool area at Ikea. The distorted guitar moves a bit more into the background. But that doesn't change the consistently high energy level. Once again, Muse play all their trump cards. Matthew Bellamy ennobles Freddie Mercury's brilliant deeds with the pompously staged Queen homage "Liberation". The jittery "Euphoria" lives up to its title. Shimmering guitar effects combine with hectic elements from the electro-pop department.
"Ghosts (How Can I Move On)" is a pathetically escalating piano ballad that leaves a big mark even without instrumental bombast. Only the tiredly oscillating "Verona" and the completely overloaded sci-fi pop spectacle "You Make Me Feel Like It's Halloween" send the listener outside for a short breather.
With their ninth studio album, Muse just barely miss the top of their own discography. Dancing on a global stake in terms of content and sticking their fingers into all currently gaping wounds, the trio ignites a colorful firework of sound for the end of the world. Once again the band falls into the house with the door. "Will Of The People" is fodder for the critics who have been trying to force the band to halt development for decades. But muse do whatever they want. Good this way.
