DRONES by Muse
Drones is a concept album, tackling the issues of drone warfare and the dehumanisation of conflict tied in with the abuse of power and the difficulty in challenging it.
Things started well in the run-up to the album's release with first single Dead Inside being Matt Bellamy, Christopher Wolstenholme and Dominic Howard's best mainstream track for years.
The good on the album is evident: Psycho gives new life to a long-standing live riff, and the tapping solos of Reapers and the Queen-inspired Defector provide a real rock foundation Muse had seemingly lost from previous albums, before The Globalist and its 10-minute mix of lilting guitar turns furious riffing into anthemic piano for one last glorious crescendo.
The gem of the album is hidden in the middle: the immense, dark behemoth The Handler, a vein of Muse thought long lost. This big, bold, passionate track mixes their fondness for big riffs with killer distorted bass lines, tortured guitar overlay, and the right amount of soaring tenor and falsetto to really convey the pure emotion and grandiose nature of the track - and is exactly how Muse should sound. With Drones, Muse have proven they can do better. More, please!
8/10 — Liam Sheasby
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