Published by Mason Oldridge, 18 April 2024
Back on my holiday to Menorca, Spain in 2019, I remember walking up the waterpark’s slide tower in blazing heat, suffering from terribly painful sunburn on my shoulders. However, it was not that year’s summer anthem or some tropical house track playing through my head at the time but Muse’s Sunburn, single and opening track from Muse’s 1999 debut album Showbiz. Obviously the title was the primary reason I was drawn to that particular song but it still proves that it has stood the test of time to be enjoyable 20 years after its release. Another five years has passed and we now arrive at the 25th anniversary of Showbiz, so let’s take a deep dive into Muse’s cave.
Muse are an alternative rock band comprised of lead singer, primary songwriter, guitarist and keyboardist Matt Bellamy, drummer Dom Howard and bassist Chris Wolstenholme. Formed in Teignmouth, Devon in 1994, they won a Battle of the Bands competition under former name Rocket Baby Dolls. This would prove to be a turning point for the band as this encouraged them to take themselves seriously as a band moving forward. After releasing a couple of EPs, their debut album Showbiz was released in 1999.
Debut single Uno introduced us to the band’s angry lyrics and screamo vocals whereas Sunburn presented their trademark tinkering keys and Bellamy’s falsetto. Muscle Museum is the title of another single from the release, a unique metaphor for their failed recognition in the early days, created as muscle and museum are the words before and after muse in some dictionaries, respectively. The title track is deservedly the centrepiece of the album. Starting off slow and sinister, it gradually grows, making use of vocal distortion, into a wonderful unleashing of energy. Afterwards, Unintended is the one of the first slower songs of the band to show they excel at more than just rocking out. The record sees the band catch the back end of the emo grunge scene before entering the turn-of-the-century alternative rock era. Showbiz isn’t their best work, but, featuring some otherworldly sounds and planetary artwork, hints at the space elements and highlights the great potential of what was to come.
Origin of Symmetry is arguably their best album, embracing a space rock sound and demonstrating some serious talent. Opening track New Born is a lengthy piano-led ballad and lead single Plug in Baby is one of their most successful releases, making use of guitar scale ascension. Bliss focuses on the desire for “peace and joy in your mind” whereas Hyper Music features blunt lyrics rejecting a love interest. Space Dementia is an epic piece with rolling piano and angsty lyrics while Feeling Good sees Muse deliver a heavy rock take on the classic, including megaphone vocal effects on the second verse. Megalomania brings a nice close to the record, with a slower pace and organ sounds within. Origin of Symmetry is simply a masterpiece.
Joining OOS on the God tier is Absolution. There are apocalyptic themes on Apocalypse Please and Time is Running Out and religious themes are present on Sing For Absolution and Thoughts of a Dying Atheist, as well as lyrics in The Small Print and Fury, all further supported by the thought-provoking artwork depicting a man looking up at the ascendants of the rapture. Stockholm Syndrome is one of Muse’s heaviest songs and touches upon the titular phenomenon whereas Hysteria features one of the slickest basslines in music with a chorus shouting “last chance to lose control”. Blackout combines orchestral strings with distortion and Butterflies & Hurricanes features a classical piece as a bridge, showcasing Bellamy’s piano skills.
Black Holes & Revelations saw a certain musical progression with electronic influences, heard predominantly on lead single Supermassive Black Hole. Starlight is built around a keyboard riff and Map of the Problematique, seemingly a reference to global conflict, makes the resonating statement “when we bleed, we bleed the same”. Closing the album is Knights of Cydonia, an epic Western track with a two minute intro. BH&R also features interesting artwork as the cover depicts four men sitting round a table on Mars.
The Resistance is somewhat lighter in sound with lead single Uprising featuring a catchy keyboard riff reminiscent of the Doctor Who theme. Resistance opens on eerie sounds and chilling piano, focusing on the central theme of oppression. Classical music plays a big part on the record, with United States of Eurasia and I Belong to You incorporating a classical piece each. Furthermore, Exogenesis: Symphony is a three-part twelve minute long rock opera composition that closes the album.
The 2nd Law could be viewed as Muse’s most experimental album as they dabble in an array of different genres. Survival was written for the 2012 Summer Olympics and promotes strength and determination, with choral backing akin to Queen, Madness features electronic distortion by Wolstenholme’s drum pads, Panic Station is a fun song with an outrageously crazy music video, Follow Me delves into dubstep and Supremacy is strings-led, drawing heavy comparison to James Bond theme music (should have easily been the theme to Skyfall). Animals is Radiohead-like, a band Muse have fought to get out of the shadows from. Save Me and Liquid State features Wolstenholme on lead vocals, offering a fresh change up in the tracklist before the closing titular duo. Unsustainable also plays around with dubstep while Isolated System sounds like a downtempo dance track.
Drone is a concept album on drone warfare and saw the band return to their classic rock origins after previous albums of experimental work. Dead Inside features some atmospheric keys on the chorus before the drill sergeant introduces Psycho, a heavy rock song criticising the dehumanising and aggressive treatment of soldiers and their indoctrination into warfare, also showcased in the artwork.
Simulation Theory sees a return to electronic music with themes of science fiction and 80s pop culture, plus neon artwork designed by a Stranger Things artist. The album opens on synth-infused Algorithm, Pressure has a music video referencing Back to the Future, Something Human is stripped back with a chilled tone, Thought Contagion’s music video connotes Michael Jackson’s Thriller, Get Up and Fight is an inspirational song and Dig Down was written about Trump’s presidency with a music video referencing Max Headroom.
Muse are a truly incredible band. They prove that, despite being a trio, they still have unequivocal talent and can master any genre. Let’s hope the Muscle Museum stays open for business for years to come!