Why is it that when a group tries to do something different, everyone jumps on the “oooh its nothing like the last album” bandwagon and spends the next few weeks/months competing in the “I want to slag them off better than you can” Top 40? 

That is all that seems to have been happening to Muse over the last month, since “Supermassive Black Hole” was first given airplay and the promo album started doing the rounds.  I am sick of seeing write ups from both fans and critics alike that contain the stock phrases such as “well, it disappointed me because it sounds nothing like “Absolution” etc, etc, etc.  Well, for all you so called critics I have one piece of advice ……If you want to listen to something that sounds like Absolution, then listen to Absolution….. if you want to listen to a band that are experimenting, maturing, growing up, making themselves more accessible, then listen to BHAR in its correct context within the back catalogue of Muse albums. 

I seem to remember other groups veering away from what their cult fans considered to be the norm and taking huge amounts of stick for it…. how about Queen, Genesis etc etc. Did their change in direction send them down the slippery slope to obscurity?  I think not.  Look at how many times David Bowie has change direction (and make up)!  Grrrrr, lets praise the band for trying to broaden their horizons, not slate them for being forward thinking. 

BHAR delivers all that is expected from Muse, with the first track “Take A Bow” showcasing the traditional space rock that is now synonymous with Muse.  Next on the list is “Starlight” which leads you into the rest of the album which has the usual eclectic mix of electronic space rock/progressive rock with full on guitar riffs and meaty bass that Muse usually supply, but this time they have also added a range of Synthesizers and vocal arrangements that would not be out of place on any Queen album.   

BHAR is a more easily accessible, slightly poppy album that still manages to showcaser the epic themes that Muse are well known for.  It isn’t as dark as Absolution but still manages to deliver the serious classic Muse feel which can be heard throughout and I feel that even the most die-hard Muse fan will grow to love this release after 3 or 4 plays.  For me I needed to go no further than the first play before I was hooked. My hair literally stood on end when I listened to the haunting “A Soldiers Poem” and when “Knights of Cydonia” finished I couldn’t keep my finger from pressing the rewind button to listen to it again.  Who else but Muse could start a track with horses galloping and lasers shooting off! 

This album goes nowhere near falling into a black hole and, overall, is a revelation.  A definite contender for my album of the year so far.

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Track List

Take A Bow
Starlight
Supermassive Black Hole
Map Of The Problematique
Soldier's Poem
Invincible
Assassin
Exo-politics
City Of Delusion
Hoodoo
Knights Of Cydonia

Line Up

Matthew Bellamy - Vocals/Guitars
Dominic Howard - Drums
Chris Wolstenholme - Bass