A Review of Muse’s The 2nd Law

By:Dylan Barton 10/30/2014

Muse have been increasingly growing in popularity worldwide since their formation in 1994. The band consists of lead singer/guitarist Matt Bellamy, Bassist Chris Wolstenholme and drummer Dominic Howard. These core members have also been aided by Morgan Nicholls, a multi-instrumentalist that joined them for live performances during their tours in support of their fourth album, Black Holes and Revelations.

The musical style of Muse has shifted and adopted new characteristics such as symphonics, choirs and the integration of electronic elements like keyboards, Korg Kaoss pads, and a custom made Key-tar(a keyboard integrated into the body of a guitar, with additional buttons built into the neck). These new additions to their sound reach their pinnacle on the band’s most recent and sixth studio album, The 2nd Law.

The theme, artwork and video content of the album are related to the 2nd law of thermodynamics, which in summary explains that in a closed system energy goes from being concentrated to being dispersed. This scientific law is used as a metaphor for our current ecological and economic crises and sets the tone for the album’s sound and lyrics.

1. Supremacy - 4:56 - The opening track for the album draws influence from guitar work of Jimmy Paige of Led Zeppelin. It also has symphonics resembling those heard on that band’s song Kashmir. The lyrics are a rallying cry for a mob of revolutionaries and a warning to tyrants that their time in power and their “Supremacy” has reached its end. While not  the heaviest rock song on the album, it is a close second place with high shrieking vocals, pounding drums, and a guitar/bass section that could melt all of the faces off of Madame Tussaud’s collection of wax celebrities.

2. Madness - 4:40 - A far departure from the raw energy of the first track, Madness begins as a soft love ballad. It was actually written by Matt Bellamy to win back his girlfriend Kate Hudson after an argument and it worked. Bellamy has said that the lyrics are those which he has the most pride in out of any previous Muse songs. The instrumental side of the song starts as a simple drum and bass melody, then adds soft guitar plucking and finally reaches a climax as all parts escalate toward the resounding final verse and chorus.

3. Panic Station - 3:05 - Another vast shift sound comes with the third track of the album. This song is also only the third studio track by Muse to include a curse word, with the line “Do what the f**k you want to, there’s no-one to repeat!” The lyrics create what is basically a riotous party during the end of days. An inclusion instrumentally are trumpet players that also featured on Stevie Wonder’s “Superstitious”, and they play a part that is very similar to their contribution on that song. The song is in my opinion, the funkiest on the album, reflected in the rather outlandish costumes worn in the video for the track.

4/5. Prelude/Survival - 5:16 - The fourth and fifth songs of the album flow together into one bombastic track, that was the official theme for the 2012 London Olympic games. The prelude section features a symphonic and choral piece hand written by Bellamy(who has also written a three part symphony on their fifth album and instrumental music for movies such as The International), which proceeds sweepingly as it builds for nearly a minute before the backing music gives way. Once Survival begins the track builds from snapping, the chorus huffing, and some light piano into an inferno of rock insanity. The lyrics of the song support it’s use as the Olympic theme with lines like “I choose to survive, whatever it takes, you won’t pull ahead, cuz’ I’ll keep up the pace, and I’ll reveal my strength to the whole human race!”

6. Follow Me - 3:50 - This song has a very personal touch from Bellamy and Kate Hudson, as the tempo of the song is based on the heartbeat of their son Bingham during a sonogram, which can also be heard at the opening of the song and throughout(if you have high quality headphones). The lyrics are a promise from father to son that he will always be there to protect and guide him through life’s struggles. The instrumental portion of the track is largely electronic and builds from light synths to a full on dance floor pounding jam midway through.

7. Animals - 4:22 - A full on indictment of the stock market and financial industry, this song sounds peaceful enough with it’s harpsichord opening, but becomes more menacing as it advances. This song is notable because the guitar featured in it has the cleanest tone, devoid of Bellamy’s usual “fuzz-factory” pedal driven tone. The lyrics detail stock brokers’ and bankers’ thirst for personal gain and lack of care for humanity. The track closes after rampaging guitar work with the sound of the riotous stock exchange floor, the closing bell, and then applause and cheering.

8. Explorers - 5:46 - Written as a lullaby of sorts, as noted from the soft tone of voice and the ending “shhhh go to sleep.”, this song is about the lack of un-owned land, industrial farming, and ruination of the ecosystem. the instrumentation is largely piano driven and peaceful, adding to the lullaby theme.

9. Big Freeze - 4:39 - This track is presumably about the impending ice-age after global warming runs its course. It is also about the eventual dead-end in a relationship where partners don’t share the same views. While these subjects would seem depressing, the song somehow manages to feel uplifting and upbeat.

10. Save Me - 5:08 - A first for Muse, this is one of two songs on the album both written by and sung by bassist Chris Wolstenholme. The song is a plea written from the viewpoint of a struggling alcoholic for someone to stand by him and help him to overcome his addiction. The reason Wolstenholme wrote a song of this type was because he sought treatment for his own alcoholism between the previous album and the making of this one. He was given an ultimatum by his band mates to sober up or they’d have to replace him, not wanting to see Chris continue to hurt his wife and children by not being himself, as well as not being the quality of performer he once was. While this is the first song not sung by Bellamy, it isn't a bad thing as Wolstenholme shows he is a talented singer and the song also evokes an emotional response. Musically, the song progresses from nearly a cappella to an atmospheric ballad.

11. Liquid State - 3:03 - The heaviest song on the album and another sung by Wolstenholme, the track is a roller-coaster ride from start to finish. The lyrics are a personification of alcohol as an abusive person harming the singer, who hopes to overcome the power of it. The musical portion of the song is not ordinary of Muse as the bass is the instrument at the forefront.

12/13. The 2nd Law: Unsustainable/ Isolated System - 8:49 - Largely devoid of vocals from any member of Muse, instead these tracks use sound clips from newsreaders speaking about the impending economic and environmental doom that will potentially end humanity. The instrumental content is an admirable attempt by the band to craft a dub-step song using real instruments instead of computers. The second portion is a piano and bass song that was used in pieces during the movie World War Z.