Muse

★ 7.0

album

Black Holes and Revelations

“This album is ambitious, theatrical, and often electrifying, even if it occasionally stretches its ideas a bit thin. The album leans hard into dystopia, conspiracy, and political unease. Matt writes in broad, sometimes cryptic strokes, more mood than message. Lines hit with urgency and paranoia, but clarity isn’t always the goal; it’s about creating a world rather than explaining it. The band blends alt-rock, electronic textures, and even spaghetti-western flair into something that feels huge and propulsive. The guitar tones are razor-sharp, the basslines groove harder than usual, and the drumming carries a tight, almost mechanical precision. There’s less of a strict narrative and more a unified atmosphere. The album holds together through tone rather than story, which works, though it can feel a bit scattered in places. It’s not flawless, but when it hits, it really hits, an expansive, stylish record that thrives on energy, scale, and vibe more than lyrical depth. Fav Track Knights of Cydonia”

Cole

@colabunga

★ 8.0

album

Absolution

“This feels like a band staring directly into the end of the world and choosing to make it sound massive. The concept loosely orbits apocalypse, judgement, and existential dread, but it’s less a strict narrative than a sustained emotional state: paranoia, fear, and a desperate reach for meaning under pressure. It leans into grand, almost biblical imagery, Matt trades subtlety for intensity, but when it hits it lands with urgency rather than cliché. The interplay between Chris and Dominic creates a dense, propulsive foundation, while the guitar and piano work swing between delicate and explosive. Tracks surge with dynamic shifts, balancing control and chaos in a way that feels both calculated and volatile. It’s not perfect—there are moments where the scale overwhelms the nuance—but Absolution succeeds because of its sheer conviction. It doesn’t just depict the end of the world; it sounds like it. Dominic Howard’s precise, driving drums creates a dense, propulsive foundation, while Bellamy’s guitar and piano work swing between delicate and explosive. Tracks surge with dynamic shifts, balancing control and chaos in a way that feels both calculated and volatile. It’s not perfect, but Absolution succeeds because of its sheer conviction. I mean, it sounds like the end of the world. Fav Track Stockholm Syndrome”

Cole

@colabunga

★ 8.0

album

Origin of Symmetry

“The concept feels less narrative than emotional (a descent into paranoia, control, and fractured identity) held together by a constant sense of pressure that rarely lets up. It’s lyrically opaque but evocative. Matt trades clarity for intensity, leaning into dystopian imagery, bodily invasion, and existentialism. The words often feel like fragments of a larger, unknowable system, which suits the album’s tone even if it sacrifices precision. Musicianship is where the record truly explodes though. The guitar work is jagged and operatic, the basslines are thick and driving, and the drummer provides relentless propulsion. The interplay is tight but volatile, constantly teetering between control and chaos. Tracks surge with distorted riffs, classical flourishes, and sudden dynamic shifts that feel both excessive and exhilarating. If there’s a flaw, it’s that the album’s intensity can become overwhelming. Still, that same suffocating consistency is part of its identity. Fav Track Plug In Baby”

Cole

@colabunga