The Resistance

Once upon a time, a fearless trio from Teignmouth embarked on a mammoth journey through space-rock, metal, rage against the machine, synths and Rachmanenov; now, ten years later, M– USE have released their fifth studio album entitled The Resistance and it suddenly becomes apparent how far they’ve come. Notorious for conspiracy theories and space themed lyrics, at first listen, The Resistance delivers the expected repressed struggle related lyrics; however, if you delve deeper, front man Matt Bellamy’s clever metaphors unravel to reveal a theme of all conquering love.

Uprising, the first single from the album, kicks in with some Dr. Who synths and a powerful baseline, an unlikely mix you might think. Bellamy’s lyrics show restrained anger in the verses but melt to a confident, authoritative tone in the chorus with simple lyrics such as ‘They will not force us. They will stop degrading us.’ The synths are soothing, provocative of the false sense of security Matt speaks of in our society, whilst drummer, Dom Howard, provides the contrast of a military beat and Green Day-esqe shouts of ‘Hey!’ which evoke an inspiring feeling of confidence, Uprising is an unexpectedly beautiful song that might make you want to join MI5.

Next track, Resistance, creeps in with a haunting intro; Howard’s drumming replicates the pounding beat of a racing heart as Matt sings ‘Is our secret safe tonight?’ This is a song about the purity of true love and its struggle to survive in modern society. Matt, for the first time, seems to be bearing his soul towards his feelings on love as he belts out ‘Love is our resistance’ in the chorus. His engagement to an Italian model, I’m sure is the key to this new found dynamic. There is a feeling in the song that pure love cannot exist without being protected and even hidden; this is the resistance against external forces, a man in love, who feels threatened by everything. A little extreme perhaps, but heart-rending nonetheless.

A ‘did I just hear that right’ song, Undisclosed Desires, is up next; R&B? Muse? Surely not you say. Oh yes! I applaud the boys for putting themselves on the line with this track and trying something out of their comfort zone – after all, what have they got left to prove in Rock? Yes, it does sounds a bit 80s, a bit camp, and at first, rather cringy. But give it a chance, and you’ll come to love it like a guilty pleasure. Another piano led intro guides us in to the misleadingly ‘ballad-like’ United States of Eurasia [+Collateral Damage], strange name you think? Wait till you’ve heard the song… At 1:18 it explodes into Bohemian Rhapsody vocals, a bit like a kick in the balls with a matching Arabian Nights solo. Confused? You should be. United States of Eurasia [+Collateral Damage] is one of the strangest and best songs I’ve ever heard – better than Queen themselves could have pulled off (yes I said it). But what’s this? A classical piano solo to end? If you listen hard enough, you can hear the sound of Teignmouth Seagulls and a rocket launch. Nuff’ said.

One of the ‘older’ sounding tracks, Unnatural Selection, is easily my favourite on the album – claiming a guitar riff to rival Newborn! Muse have really come together on this track, it would sound at home on their previous Absolution Album but have saved it for The Resistance to show they still have their original spark. Unnatural Selection nods its head at some of M– USE’s metal and heavy rocks influences; there’s a Metallica vibe about it somehow but screams authority without having to actually scream. As the line ‘I want the truth’ is repeated in the final chorus, I’m struck once again by Matt Bellamy’s voice, it inspires something great in me; it seems fragile but at the same time wholly powerful and completely heart-felt. I trust him, his words mean something and so I listen on intently.

Finally, we come to Exogenesis, a three part symphony composed by Bellamy and performed by the band with the help of a full orchestra. Given an opportunity they’ve worked so hard for, to do something difference, M– USE have managed to compose something beautiful and worth much recognition. Dom Howard’s drumming layers on the intensity of the track whilst Bellamy’s falsetto bleeds emotionally into the music; it’s just another instrument to get lost in. Exogenesis: Symphony Part 1 [Overture] reminds me of the outro to Megalomania on Origin of Symmetry, but listening back, the older album outros seem clownish and sloppy in comparison to what I can only describe as a modern masterpiece. M– USE’s sound has grown enormously over the years; the power which their music now commands is amazing when compared to their earlier work. Exogenesis: Symphony Part 2 [Cross-pollination] has taken the concept of Absolution’s Bliss one step further; it threads orchestral beauty into a rock song to create a boundary crossing and frankly incredible experience.

The Resistance is an album I urge everybody to buy, it deserves attention and praise; M– USE are artists as well as rock behemoths. The music is so incredibly diverse and the album itself will take you on a journey through your musical appreciation. M– USE continues to amaze and inspire me; this album has made my life better. The Resistance is undoubtedly the best investment you could make for your musical collection.

Amen.