NME Reviews

Muse : Hysteria

Proving that the Big Bang was a pop thing

Suffice to say the title is the only thing understated about ‘Hysteria’. But then, what exactly did you expect? And more importantly, what exactly did you want? No need to confess, because Muse already understand better than anyone the guilty pleasure that is sitting alone in a darkened room listening to their button-pushing vocal theatrics, crescendo-exaggerated basslines and histrionic-metal speed-guitars. What's that you say? We're the only ones who do that? Liars. But there's no shame involved in being swept along in ‘Hysteria’’s self-indulgent warp-speed rock, because it somehow manages to wrap up Muse’s pomp and majesty in what is a fabulously transparent, bewilderingly unpretentious, pop-glam hit. And that's what makes Muse so clever they’ll be the only ones who’ve moved to Pluto before the asteroid hits.


Krissi Murison

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