To tell the truth, I already had a decent idea of what I was in for before I gave Muse's The Resistance a listen.
I was expecting about eight power ballads with a modern twist and two mellow numbers for the sake of variety.
This is the formula that has worked rather well for Muse over their recent releases and it would seem they have proven me correct in sticking with this winning formula. My smug glow grows warmer as the opening track and lead single Uprising greets me with a riff possibly stolen from the Tardis' tape deck.
This lead single gets the album off to a lively start with a call to action for whoever's listening: "They will not force us, they will not degrade us, they will not control us, we will be victorious." All very stirring stuff, although I do wish more bands would identify who "they" are.
By the time I have heard enough piano keystrokes and smashing synthesiser specials to last an eternity, or 55 minutes later (whichever comes first), I am practically baking in my own smugness.
Despite unearthing Muse's formula, I am reluctant to label The Resistance more of the same.
Rather, what we have here is Muse to the extreme. The highs are higher and contrasting lows are even more surreal. The best example of this is United States Of Eurasia. Muse do a superb job of moving from high to low, hectic to calm and back again in the one song. Twisting in many directions, their contemporaries could do well to take note.
I think you know exactly where I am heading here. If you like what Muse have done before, you will like this album. If you do not like what Muse have done before, odds are you will not like this album.
It's not their best work but a good album in its own right - and some of these numbers will sound superb when Muse bring their revered live act to the Big Day Out in January.
7/10
