THE 2ND LAW

New elements in an album that revisits sounds from the past and points new directions for the future of Muse.

Somehow I knew I was going to like The 2nd Law, without even knowing why. And well, my impressions were correct. Where The Resistance was a difficult effort of appreciation, and it is certainly his weakest album, this one is really an effort much more "digestible", which introduces new sounds for the band at the same time it shows a sense of familiarity revisiting some of sounds they have explored in the past.

There are other sounds too. No Muse album that was so much electronic, and dubstep may shock some (I personally do not like, but in the end did not bother me much). Although electronic music is not my cup of tea - and I have found it unnecessary for the song Follow Me - I have to admit that the beat of Madness is addictive. Speaking of which, I think no other Muse album was so influenced by Queen: there are some passages of Explorers' melody that remind me of the classic Don't Stop Me Now, Madness seems like a modern version of the album Hot Space (and ironically better than many of the songs from that album which is my least favorite of the Queen), and sexy tapping bass-line from Panic Station that opens me back immediately to funky Another One Bites Dust.

And talking about bass ... nothing surprised me in The 2nd Law as Chris Wostenholme assuming the leadership of the vocals on two songs. He sings very well! His voice is fresh, friendly and somehow soft, though sing the heaviest song on the disc, Liquid State. As other members have pointed out, Chris is the member who brings the heaviest ideas to the albums. Besides Liquid State, he sings Save Me, which is my favorite song on the disc and perhaps the most beautiful they've done (besides Falling Away With You). Both deal of his victory against alcoholism, and I must say I'm proud of you Chris! I sincerely hope he will have more opportunities to sing other songs in the next album, bringing the Muse a bit of momentum the Queen, which saw Brian May and Roger Taylor - both excellent vocalists - taking lead vocals on some of the band's songs.

Overall, The 2nd Law to hear it was a very pleasant experience for me. Tied with Origin of Symmetry in the position of my 2nd favorite album, it can alienate some with their electronic elements and some sections that seem derived from other bands or the very old stuff from them, but it is a masterpiece and I'm not ashamed to take this. My favorite songs are: Supremacy, Madness, Panic Station, Survival, Animals, Save Me, Liquid State and the two parts of the title track (the second one I had heard in the film World War Z).

4.5 stars.

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