Photo Credit: Tim Saccenti
It’s always an exciting thing when a band announces a new album, particularly when the band in question is as legendary as Muse. When this announcement comes after a streak of some less-than-well-received records, though, it carries with it the loaded question of “Will the fans actually like this one?”. Luckily, all concern can be put to rest, as Matt Bellamy & co. have accomplished their goals: not only have they got over this creative rut, but they’ve also released what can only be called one of the most complete Muse albums in over a decade: The Wow! Signal.
Opening with the heavily modulated guitars of The Dark Forest, listeners are instantly reminded of what was missing on Simulation Theory and The Will of the People. Add to that some dramatic orchestration and a spaghetti western-like feel and you almost get a dark, not-so-distant cousin of staple track Knights of Cydonia. The similitudes continue with the main riff in Cryogen, which sounds like the evil twin of yet another fan-favourite, Plug In Baby. A welcome addition to this track, though, is a gnarly bass solo at the end, courtesy of Chris Wolstenholme, with his bass chops taking centre stage yet again in ‘80s synthpop banger Nightshift Superstar.
Elsewhere on the record, the trio made sure that there were plenty of heavy moments in store. The Sickness In You & I keeps the riffs coming (while also showcasing frontman Matt Bellamy’s falsettos which, as yet, have failed to age), while the stellar Unravelling has one of the greatest breakdowns on a Muse song, and it’d be a shame to boil the song down to that alone.
The Wow! Signal wouldn’t be a proper Muse record without a standout riff that makes you go “Holy shit, what’s Matt doing again?”, and in this case it’s found in Hexagons. Replete with drums drowning in reverb like it’s the ‘80s (in the best way possible) and cascading synth arpeggios, this is yet another track that’s reminiscent of classic Muse. The church organ makes a return, too: Be With You builds from sounding like a worship song to crescendo in a guitar solo evocative of Brian May’s work on We Will Rock You, while Shimmering Scars’s power ballad sensibilities drive the track alongside the gospel-sounding keys and Dominic Howard’s drums.
The true surprise of the record, though, comes in the form of Hush. The track itself is pretty poppy at parts, while also heavier at others, so nothing groundbreaking there. Instead, it’s Ellie Goulding’s vocals that are the true “wow” factor (pun intended). Her voice blends with Matt’s really well, and the song ends up working quite well! And while it won’t melt your face off, it’s no Propaganda or We Are F*cking F*cked, either, so it’s definitely a win in this reviewer’s book.
So, to wrap up: While it can be a tiny bit disjointed or uninspired in some parts – see the latin chants in the opening track, and the closing track is nothing to write home about (can bands stop ending great albums with ballads, please?) – The Wow! Signal is a very welcome comeback from Muse, signaling that one of the most legendary British trios has still got it. Hats off, lads, we can’t wait to see you on your next tour!
8.5/10
Standout Tracks: Nightshift Superstar, Shimmering Scars, Cryogen, Hexagons, Cryogen, Unravelling
For Fans Of: Muse, Placebo, Royal Blood, Radiohead
Written by: Florin Petrut
