just before Muse Coming up, CHVRCHES’ ‘Clear Blue’ pushed hard across the field. It’s a weird choice to have this electro-pop before you’ve come out as a symphonic rock band, but it works because the whole field is turned on. As the last tones fade out, the ‘chant’ tones from the tapes and muse enter the stage. The band was covered in glass masks, which also played a role in the last album People’s willThe title track from the same album (which bears some similarities to Marilyn Manson’s ‘The Beautiful People’) immediately begins, while the album’s initials can be read in flames behind the band.
People’s will An album that was not well received by music critics. Several major sites at home and abroad (Pitchfork, OOR, Anthony Fantano, etc.) criticized the clumsy sound and social commentary message, which singer Matt Bellamy often goes a bit too far. The story of the latest long-player, overthrowing a government that wishes the worst for the people, is a frequent message in Maliweld, but this time not from right-wing extremists. A message echoed earlier in the album Drones And a little too Resistance. Because of this, the band received little stigma in some media ScaryVery bombastic and even Over the hill should be.
These stigmas are reinforced by the sometimes exaggerated visuals the band brings. Also in Mollyveld Larger than life Motto In addition to the aforementioned pyros, a year’s worth of confetti is hurled at the audience, Bellamy plays synth on a touchpad and a kind of Infinity Gauntlet from the Marvel movie obscured by mirrors on the head and shoulders of the new album’s hero. The mask appears as a kind of giant behind the tire. Lasers are reflected from these mirrors and occasionally things are projected. The band also performs some sort of magic trick, in a highlight of the production’s obscenity. The three walk down the catwalk and sink to the floor on a lift platform. But is it Matthew Bellamy? Because the moment the band sinks to the floor, the frontman sits on the aforementioned hero’s shoulders and plays a solo. Hans Clock Eat your heart out.
But that’s okay, if you’re doing a good show, production, reviews, normal albums are all secondary. So is the band. The setlist hits and the band drops a stitch. Bass player Chris Wolstenholme seizes his moment, sporting one of the most beautiful/falsely obscene moustaches, kicking off the bass part of ‘Hysteria’, or drummer Dominic Howard walks down the catwalk and interjects strong after electronic percussion. Insert slap bass-driven synthpop song ‘Unexpressed Desires’. The level is high and the musicians are very strong. Songs like Anandam, Time Passes by, Madness, Uprising all come and each song stands out. Muse has a live reputation to uphold and the band does it with ease.
No less prominent is live band member Dan Lancaster. Guitarist/keyboardist/jack of all trades plays a key musical role, playing lead now that Bellamy has less guitar. Someone should not be ignored, which is why the musician seems to have a solid role in the band.
