Just a few seconds into Museís third barnburner, Absolution, itís already quite evident this is going to be another album of nearly unmatched scale and grandeur. The bombastic metal operettas from 2001ís Origin Of Symmetry have been toned down a touch, but there are still skyscraping moments aplenty. The forceful piano intro to ìApocalypse Pleaseî sets the tone for the rest of the album, the events of 9/11 evidently shaping the lyrics and moods of the brilliant leader of Muse, Matt Bellamy. The man is like a tiny metal Mozart, able to pound out classical piano pieces and shred his six-string with equal aplomb. And when Muse want to rock, they are in the upper echelon of quality. The aural pillaging of ìStockholm Syndromeî would place Absolution in my year-end top 10 all by itself, the raging guitars and soaring vocals forming the perfect soundtrack to the end of time; when The Four Horsemen come, it will be to the strains of ìStockholm Syndrome.î Other standouts are next single ìHysteria,î the onslaught of ìThe Small Printî and ìThe Thoughts Of A Dying Atheist.î On the not-cranked-up-to-11 side of things, the back-to-back placement of ìTime Is Running Outî and ìSing For Absolutionî are a left-right punch that may not be topped in 2003 and ìFalling Away With Youî is one of the prettiest songs Iíve heard in ages, Bellamyís fragile guitar lines echoing with emotion. Unlike Symmetry, this album is now finally released in the US, after Muse attracted the attention of many labels, deciding on Warner Bros. Get a hold of this record treat yourself to one of the most amazing listening experiences of the year

Muse
Warner Bros/Taste Media

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