Black Holes and Revelations

Great album

Fantastic. Spacey and deep

What a great album. I think epic applies. Had heard a couple of songs before, but all of the album was good. Electronic feeling without losing the rock and organic.

que álbum tan perfecto

Heard it before, great album, one of the best.

This is one of my all-time favorites!! Incredible vocals, top-notch production, and melodies & lyrics that take me right back to my college days of discovering new music.

01) Take a Bow - 9,0 02) Starlight - 10,0 03) Supermassive Black Hole - 10,0 04) Map of the Problematique - 9,5 05) Soldier's Poem - 8,5 06) Invincible - 10,0 07) Assassin - 8,0 08) Exo-Politics - 8,5 09) City of Delusion - 8,0 10) Hoodoo - 9,0 11) Knights of Cydonia - 10,0 TOTAL: 9,14 (91/100) Current ranking: 40/634

knights of cydonia

Literally one of my favourite albums. Happy to listen to it again and it's still fantastic

Love how (super)massive every song feels. It's classic Muse, perfectly put together, just as they were in concert. Strings also add extra layer of epic

I really really like this album. I can’t think of any complaints. I feel like maybe I should have some, but nothing comes to mind. Therefore, a perfect score is in order, but it’s a low five just in case I’m overlooking something big. This is the first time I’ve listened to it the whole way through and I’m absolutely flabbergasted by how great I find it. Really great work. These songs were on the radio all the time when I was a kid, so it hit the nostalgia nerve. My least favorite song was “Assassin” and that was still a pretty good song. Fantastic opener. Epic closer. Beautiful songwriting. Excellent structure. Vocals are unique and perfect for their sound. Instrumentation and production are flawless. There’s a lot going on, yet it still feels cohesive. Amazing stuff. I enjoyed it thoroughly. 5/5

Good album but not my style always but I enjoy it

This review is biased. I was listening to Muse's new single when I revealed this album. Years ago when I bought my first guitar, the first song I learned was Supermassive Black Hole. This was, is, and always will be a 5 star album for me.

Not a single bad song in this album. Strong from start to finish.

love

LOVED!

I forgot how good this band was when they weren’t constantly being pushed on me by the radio. Ridiculously over the top in the best way. Some of the conspiracy themed lyrics are showing their age.

One of my favourite albums and bands!

Knights of Cydonia (live at Rome Olympic Stadium) is my all time favourite muse song! Super massive black hole is just perfect too.

this album brings back such amazing memories for me. back in the high school days, I used to play World of Warcraft with a ton of my hometown friends. that said, i was also pretty extroverted and out and about quite often. i used to have plans, come home, and then play WoW until like 2-3 in the morning or something on the weekends. it was so fun, and a really good time to remember. this album, I used to throw on and just listen to on repeat as I was grinding out quests or just dicking around for XP. when all the homies went to sleep, I had Black Holes and Revelations to keep me company. I listened to this album constantly, and I welcomed this album back with open arms on Friday. I remember air drumming to the great drum pattern on Starlight. I remembered the sick solo on 'Knights of Cydonia' (shout out Guitar Hero as well for this track). The beautiful melody of 'Soldier's Poem' is just so smooth and beautiful. this album, holds a very special memory in my heart, and reminds me of just being a kid, having friends and getting together to play videos games on the weekend. the innocence of youth mixed with my love of music. Black Holes and Revelations is a fantastic album.

I thought I didn’t really know Muse, but I recognised all of the first 3 songs, which are absolute bangers. I love the singer’s voice, the way he slides into and out of notes while maintaining a pure sound. Very impressive and beautiful. And I really like the overall style. No complaints here.

I remember liking some of the popular Muse songs back in the day but I did not know how hard they went. That opening fuckin jams. Just a cacophony of sound that perfectly rides the line of being artistic vs unlistenable. There is such a wide variety of styles and sounds going on here: techno, punk, rock, black keys type catchy guitar riffs, queen esque harmonies on that soldier song as well as lead singers distinct use of vibrato. All of it blending to a sound that is so unique that you can easily and quickly identify it as a Muse song when u hear it, which is a difficult feat. Was absolutely jamming to this. Easy 5 stars

9.5/10

Amazing album!

Galactically decadent. I've listened to this album so many times with joy. Was absolutely delighted when it popped up this morning. It's a perfect example of being experimental while still delivering somethings that's crisp and catchy. Muse had a flair for the over dramatic and were one of the few bands at the time who could get a way with it. The space western you never new you needed. I challenge anyone to listen to Knights of Cydonia and not feel something.

5/5 Banger of an album! On my top 50 of all time. It's got some real head bangers.

Mind blown I love this

Alright, so I've recently stepped into the Muse domain, checking out Black Holes and Revelations, and let me tell you, I'm digging it. This album is a solid 4.5 stars in my book. These guys really rock hard. Matthew Bellamy, the lead singer, has an absolutely killer voice – it's powerful and just awesome. It's the kind of sound that makes you want to crank it up. I'm definitely going to be adding some Muse vinyl to my collection after hearing this. This album is a fantastic entry point into their world, and it's got me hooked. If you're looking for some serious, high-energy rock with incredible vocals, this is it.

An absolute banger ever since I heard it back in the days.

I have loved Muse since Origin of Symmetry when I was a teenager. This album has some incredible songs on it that are already so fantastic: Starlight, Supermassive Black Hole, Knights of Cydonia. It still feels like magic when I listen to it. And recently I attached new memories of playing Starfield to it and it's such a good fit even though that game is eh really. Anyway, I love this.

don'tstopmenowcore. real main character feeling music. this would crush on an ipod touch with wired earbuds.

Sorry officer, I know I was speeding but Knights of Cydonia was playing. Most Glorious!

This is such a great album from beginning to end. 5 stars for sure

Love this album. Really, all of Muse's work is amazing.

Maybe it's odd, but I had never listened to an album of Muse. In the nineties I was totally into this kind of music, but in 1999/2000 I turned my attention to jazz and no longer payed attention to alternative rock. So we just missed each other;-) And that's a pity. I think this is a very strong album. Yes, it's very like the early albums of Radiohead, especially because of Matt Bellamy's voice that resembles Thom Yorke's voice extremely. Kudo's to Muse: they succeed in what Radiohead didn't manage. On this album electronics are introduced as an element in the music, but they add something in stead of destroy everything. 'City of delusion' is my favourite track.

Bloody hell it must be at least a decade since I last listened to this. I LOVED this when it originally came out. I used to be a massive Muse fan until, I have no idea why, I seemed to just stop listening to them. I really enjoyed revisiting this and I am 100% going on a Muse binge tonight. Top Track - City Of Delusion Hopefully Absolution is on this list cause it’s even better.

5/5

Possibly their best album.

1. "Take a Bow" 4:35 - A nice intro. A nice blend of electronica. Grand. Dynamics are excellent. 5* 2. "Starlight" 3:59 - Great bass intro. Lovely piano. A super pop tune. The album title is taken from this song. 5* 3. "Supermassive Black Hole" 3:29 - A funky rocker and one hell of an riff and then bang and explosion. Great falsetto vocals. Super pre-chorus before the chorus comes in a lower register. Probably my favourite track on the album. Probably! 5* 4. "Map of the Problematique" 4:18 - Great harmonies. driving electronica rhythms. 5* 5. "Soldier's Poem" 2:03 - Slower paced. A lullaby like melody. Vocally the Queen influence comes through here in the harmonies. 5* 6. "Invincible" 5:00 - Love the military percussion for the intro. 4* 7. "Assassin" 3:31 - And we're rocking again. Great rhythm section again. The harmonies are back. Wonderful riff. 5* 8. "Exo-Politics" 3:53 - Mid tempo. Excellent 'pop' tune. Works in the context of the album. 4* 9. "City of Delusion" 4:48 - Acoustic guitar intro. A nice change from the electronica and guitar riffage. Wonderful rhythms. And then the guitars crash in. Brilliant orchestration and then trumpet! This song is nuts. 5* 10. "Hoodoo" 3:43 - A nice Spanish guitar intro, crooning vocals, evoking a smoky, Jazz night club and then it switches. To have carried on in the vein of the intro would have been wonderful but this is Muse, so the dynamics kick in. Wonderful stuff. 5* 11. "Knights of Cydonia" - Epic. Brilliant. Boy does it rock, it positively gallops. Nice nod to the Tornados and Telstar. Nice horns, evoking the Sergio Leone western films. At 3.21 the vocal interlude leading into the epic guitar solo at 4.13, with the boogie riff. Gives me goosebumps. They opened with this when I saw them on this tour! 5* 53/55 A 5 star album Would I listen again - Yes! Would I buy this album - I did! when it came out. Saw them on the tour as well. They played the whole album but in reverse! Overblown? I would say grandiose. Near perfect. Their last great album? Weird artwork! A brilliant blend of electronica and rock, with a strong pop sensibility. The first four tracks really hit you between the eyes. The rhythm section is brilliant throughout. Hooks galore.

I'm surprised I never got into this album when it was first release. The singles were all over the radio and I loved them. This album is perfect from start to finish. Great pacing and each song stands out from one another. Never felt like skipping a track.

Knights of Cydonia was and will ever be the absolute banger on this album.

Super enjoyed this and not just the two songs I recognized.

## In-Depth Review of Muse’s *Black Holes and Revelations* Muse’s fourth studio album, *Black Holes and Revelations* (2006), is a defining moment in the band’s career—a sprawling, ambitious work that fuses dystopian politics, science fiction, and personal introspection with a bold musical palette. This review will dissect the album’s lyrics, music, production, themes, and influence, concluding with a balanced assessment of its strengths and weaknesses. --- ## Lyrics **Political Dystopia and Sci-Fi Imagery** Lyrically, *Black Holes and Revelations* is steeped in political anxiety, apocalyptic warnings, and conspiratorial undertones. Matthew Bellamy’s writing draws on themes of government corruption, revolution, and existential dread, often filtered through the lens of science fiction and historical cycles. Songs like “Take a Bow” and “Exo-Politics” are direct in their criticism of political leaders and the threat of authoritarianism, echoing the paranoia and tension of the Cold War era[4][6]. Bellamy himself described the album as exploring “cycles of history where the tension builds up and then it’s released, whether it’s catastrophic like a nuclear war, or aliens come down and it’s brilliant”[4]. **Personal and Romantic Interludes** Amidst the grandiose themes, the album also contains more intimate moments. “Starlight” is a straightforward love song, while “Soldier’s Poem” offers a rare, understated ballad about resignation and lost ideals[6]. The lyrics are less cryptic than previous Muse records, favoring directness over abstraction, which can make the album feel both more accessible and, at times, less mysterious. **Pros:** - Bold, imaginative themes rarely tackled in mainstream rock. - Effective blend of the personal and the political. **Cons:** - Occasional lapses into melodrama or cliché. - Some listeners may find the political messaging heavy-handed. --- ## Music **Genre Fusion and Experimentation** Musically, *Black Holes and Revelations* is a genre-bending tour de force. Muse draw from a wide array of influences, including funk, electronica, symphonic rock, and even spaghetti western soundtracks[4][3]. The album is less classically oriented than *Origin of Symmetry* or *Absolution*, incorporating jazz, soul, and R&B elements, alongside their signature bombastic rock[4][1]. - “Supermassive Black Hole” is a funk-infused, dance-rock track with a slinky groove and falsetto vocals, reminiscent of Depeche Mode and Prince[3][6]. - “Knights of Cydonia” is a six-minute epic that channels Queen, surf rock, and Ennio Morricone, complete with galloping rhythms and mariachi trumpets[3][5]. - “Map of the Problematique” layers electronic beats and synths over driving rock, evoking late-’80s Depeche Mode[1][2]. - “City of Delusion” and “Hoodoo” introduce Mediterranean and Latin flavors, with acoustic guitars and trumpet flourishes, expanding the band’s sonic palette[5]. **Musicianship** The band’s technical prowess is on full display. Bellamy’s virtuosic guitar and piano work, Chris Wolstenholme’s melodic basslines, and Dominic Howard’s dynamic drumming create a dense, cinematic soundscape. The musicianship is complemented by inventive arrangements, shifting time signatures, and dramatic dynamic shifts. **Pros:** - Fearless genre-mashing keeps the album unpredictable and exciting. - High-level musicianship and creative arrangements. **Cons:** - The eclecticism can make the album feel disjointed or overwhelming to some listeners[2]. - Some tracks (“Invincible,” “Starlight”) are perceived as weaker or less adventurous[2]. --- ## Production **Sonic Ambition and the “Loudness War”** Produced by Rich Costey, the album was recorded in studios across France, New York, London, and Milan[6]. The production is polished and expansive, aiming for stadium-sized impact. Layers of guitars, synths, and orchestration are meticulously balanced, creating a sense of grandeur and immediacy. However, the album is not immune to the era’s “loudness war”—some fans and critics have noted clipping and brickwalling, leading to a compressed dynamic range[5]. While this gives the album a punchy, in-your-face sound, it can also cause listener fatigue over its 45-minute runtime. **Pros:** - Massive, cinematic production values. - Every instrument and effect is given space to shine. **Cons:** - Occasional over-compression and loss of dynamic nuance[5]. - The bombast may overshadow subtler moments. --- ## Themes **Cycles of History and Apocalyptic Tension** Thematically, *Black Holes and Revelations* is unified by a sense of impending crisis and the cyclical nature of history. The album explores the tension between hope and despair, revolution and resignation, the personal and the cosmic[4]. Bellamy’s fascination with conspiracy theories, alien invasion, and the “New World Order” is woven throughout, but the album never loses sight of human emotion, making the grand concepts relatable[6]. **Personal Struggle and Resilience** Despite its dystopian leanings, the album is not without hope. Tracks like “Invincible” and “Starlight” offer messages of perseverance and love amidst chaos. The juxtaposition of the epic and the intimate is a hallmark of Muse’s songwriting on this record. --- ## Influence **Critical and Commercial Impact** *Black Holes and Revelations* was met with critical acclaim, earning a Mercury Prize nomination and a spot in *1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die*[6]. It topped charts in multiple countries and sold over 4.5 million copies worldwide by 2018, cementing Muse’s status as arena rock heavyweights. The album’s audacious blend of rock, electronic, and cinematic elements influenced a wave of bands seeking to combine spectacle with substance. It also marked a turning point for Muse, bridging their earlier, more prog-oriented work with the pop and electronic experimentation of later albums like *The Resistance* and *The 2nd Law*[5][3]. **Pros:** - Helped redefine the boundaries of mainstream rock in the 2000s. - Inspired a new generation of bands to embrace ambition and genre fusion. **Cons:** - Some longtime fans felt alienated by the shift away from the rawness of earlier albums. - The album’s maximalism set a template that Muse themselves would struggle to top or meaningfully evolve from in subsequent releases. --- ## Pros and Cons Summary | Pros | Cons | |------|------| | Fearless genre experimentation and fusion | Occasional lack of cohesion due to eclecticism | | Ambitious, cinematic production | Over-compression and “loudness war” artifacts | | Politically charged, imaginative lyrics | Some lyrics verge on melodrama or cliché | | High-level musicianship and arrangements | A few tracks feel weaker or less inspired | | Influential and commercially successful | Maximalism can be exhausting over full runtime | --- ## Conclusion *Black Holes and Revelations* stands as a landmark in 21st-century rock—a record that marries political paranoia, sci-fi spectacle, and personal yearning with musical bravado. Its willingness to experiment with genre and form, combined with stadium-sized hooks and virtuoso performances, make it an exhilarating, if sometimes overwhelming, listen. While not every experiment lands and the production can be fatiguing, the album’s highlights—“Knights of Cydonia,” “Supermassive Black Hole,” “Map of the Problematique”—remain some of the most thrilling moments in modern rock. For both longtime fans and newcomers, it is an essential listen that captures Muse at the height of their creative ambition.

Wow. A great example of good music

Solid banger!

Great album from the 1st decade of the 2000’s. ‘Hoodoo’ I probably could have done without but bangers like Starlight, Assassin and Knights of Cyndonia more than make up for it.

Already know I love this album! It's great to see old friends as I make my way through this big list. An easy five star, with some old favourites and some deeper cuts that I didn't know well at the time

I forgot how much i liked this album. Been a while i last listened to it

Amazing album, I honestly feel dumb for not listening to it all the way through before. Of course I’ve heard nights of Cydonia from guitar hero, even assassin was on one of them before, but never did a deep dice to hear the rest of the album. I’m actually excited to start listening to the rest of their stuff, even if the albums fell off in quality after this one. But this one was a real treat, five stars.

So fuckin awesome. Enjoyed every track! I had known a couple Muse songs before this but this solidified my fan-girlishness

Supermassive banger

I think this is a great album. It had everything. The guitar talent and skill both amazing.

Rating: 4.85 Notable songs: Knights of Cydonia, Supermassive Black Hole, Starlight, Map of the Problematique About as good as it gets album wise. Think of the best points of 80s synth, through to grunge, nu-metal and into emo.

Voice is beautiful, music also. Everything works. Starlight and Invincible are best songs.

12 yr old me thought that this is what cool ppl listen to, and she may have been right

Sick production. I feel hyped. Futuristic and powerful. I like the resonant, strong vocals. A solid, cohesive album. Enjoyed this more than I thought I would.

Yeyeye

I’ve seen Muse live a couple of times and I always left a bit underwhelmed. Listening to this again in full, I find this even weirder, because this album rocks. The songs are great, some are really modern classics, it’s big and booming, but somehow that doesn’t translate in their live performance. Still really great though.

This is one of those albums I've grown up with, and let's face it - if you're of a certain age in the UK, you have a reaction to Knights of Cydonia basically identical to a baby boomer hearing Bohemian Rhapsody, it's just the anthem of a generation. I won't deny the album has a couple of missteps (not a huge fan of Soldiers Poem), but when I'm having this much fun they're easy to overlook!

5/5 lemez

GREEEEEEEEAT

This album explores the parts of living that are essential to the human experience- life love death and politics and does so with a mix of grungy discord and catchy grooves

Forever a banger, I miss their story albums 🥲

Welcome back to another episode of “Bands I first heard on Guitar Hero”. I thought about just copy and pasting the lyrics to “Supermassive Black Hole” as my review, but then I remembered this album also has “Knights of Cydonia” on it. I guarantee at some point on this long journey I’ll end up doing that, likely at least a few times. Yeah, it’s perfect from start to finish. The voice, unique and impressive. The beats, all bangers. I love this album. I genuinely can’t find anything to criticize here. Every song is great. If you don’t vibe with his voice or the style of music, I get it. That’s valid, but I personally LOVE this. I seriously don’t know if I’m ever going to rate an album less than 5 stars again… Is that normal or am I just easily impressed? Time will surely tell.

Okay maybe closer to 4.5 but I’ll give it a 5 cause it’s my favorite album I’ve gotten so far. I definitely like Muse at their ROCKIEST - so I already loved starlight and supermassive black hole. But found exo-politics a good track and I think Knights of Cydonia is a forgotten gem. So overall this was a good one for me.

I came across Muse at some point via Radiohead and Placebo. I was quickly very thrilled. I haven't listened to this album in its entirety yet, although it contains one of my top favorites, Supermassive Black Hole. I am very enthusiastic about the album. 5/5

Great mix of rock, electronic, and pop. Great transitions throughout the songs and the album as a whole. Solid album even though it isn’t something I normally go for.

Perfectly at the cross-section of prog, pop, rock, and electronica. Pulls off the almost impossible task of being both catchy and creative. 4.5/5.0: Excellent

Ik wist dat Muse geweldig was maar HOLY SHIT IK HOU VAN DIT ALBUM

excellent, thank you, i hate what twilight did to you

I will probably always like Muse. Once the album was over I just kept on listening to their songs.

I really liked this one!! Isn't supermassive black hole the song they play in Twilight AS WELL AS when a hot girl walks in during a movie?? Anyway, I saved Starlight and Invincible to my playlist. I would come back to this one!

Beautiful and artistic.

7 year old me thought this was the coolest shit ever. It’s still pretty awesome.

In 2006-07 I gorged myself on this album to the point I couldn't stand it anymore. I haven't touched it since. 20 years later (or just about) it hits just as hard as it did in '06. An album that surrounds you in its sound - I don't know how to listen without cranking the volume up. Knights of Cydonia alone is an epic journey. I can't believe it's been so long since I put this on. Fantastic.

Great mix of industrial, synth pop rock. Lots of layering, a lot going on in every song. Most songs are just busy enough.

Amazing

okay but not their best!

A-MA-ZING!! I can't stress this enough!! One of a kind! Just pure greatness

This was a terrific album, there’s a lot of different influences you can hear throughout the album, and a lot of different emotions evoked by individual song. My first 5 star review. Fav song: Starlight

I haven’t listened to this album in a while, but all I know is that a banger is still a banger even after several years. Also forgot that supermassive black hole was in the first twilight movie 🤣

Bangers throughout.

I was not expecting this to have so much variety. Starts very electronic, then has a song I thought Coldplay did, then progressively gets a bit harder and rockier before exploding into futuristic wild west (?) Fucking awesome is all I gotta say

GOAT

Получил удовольствие, вайб радиохеда

What an absolute banger of an album. Every tune is distinctly different and excellent in its own right, but the album still manages to be cohesive and keep the momentum. Amazing.

This is one terrific album, probably my favourite by Muse. Twists and turns, terrific electronic sounds amongst the Rock guitars, thoughtful lyrics. It’s an all-round blinder. Seeing them perform this live with all the visuals was an astounding experience too. Get the album! Get it!

I loved this CD in college, and Muse was one of my favorite bands. I saw them on the "Resistance" tour and thought it was sick - that was like the first time I could afford a ticket to see a big-name band. I knew (and could still hack thru) the guitar parts to "Supermassive" and "Knights of Cydonia". Just based on his preference for somewhat twee British rock, I could've probably guessed our host was going to pick this one. Re-listening to it now, there's two important things to know about context from 2006, when this came out: 1) There was a widespread fear (it turned out, 100% justified) that the US was descending into a police state and that the internet would become a tool of mass surveillance. 2) Histrionic heavy rock was pop music at the time - Fall Out Boy had had the biggest CD of the year the year prior with multiple top-10 hits, and "Black Parade" became a sensation later that year, with a #1 single - it's funny to think about now because there's been a complete 180 in pop, but this style would've seemed almost normal back then. Re-listening to it now, this CD really holds up. The thing I had not remembered is how strong it is on the back half - "Assassin", "Exo-Politics", "City of Delusion" and of course the closer are some of the strongest tracks. I had remembered it as being weak beyond the singles, which are the first three plus the closer. At the time they called this "prog", but it's not especially progressive. Stylistically it's mostly rooted in pop-punk, and there's a strong undercurrent of sequencer-heavy Euro Dance in it too. Bellamy isn't the greatest singer, but he injects a ton of passion (see the later choruses on "Exo-Politics"), he's got a killer falsetto with which he slays "Supermassive Black Hole", plus the band backs him up really well. Mostly the sound is about whomping on the ride with a bunch of bone-crunching guitars, but it's a very full sound and they mix it up - the aforementioned sequencing, which totally elevates "Take a Bow" to another plane, plus the occasional dash of color, like the gitano sound on "City of Delusion". They'd eventually go a little overboard with that, but this CD is a really solid middle-ground, and their peak, between the all-angry-guitar "Absolution" and the more navel-gazing "Resistance". I had thought my tastes might've evolved since freshman year of college and I would remember this fondly but but as a relic of a simpler time. Nope. This CD's a banger, start to finish.

This is the 32nd album I’m rating. Surprisingly this is the first album where I’m getting a song I’ve already added to my playlist, Supermassive Black Hole. That was actually the only song I’ve listened to on this album. The song was great so I’m expecting good things. Adding to my Playlist - Soldier’s Poem, Invincible, City of Delusion, Knights of Cydonia Not Adding to my Playlist - Take a Bow, Starlight, Map of the Problematique, Assassin, Exo-Politics, Hoodoo Already Added to my Playlist - Supermassive Black Hole Starlight - Listening to this song you can tell exactly when it was made and it just feels wrong. Assassin - This ass be assin. All in all I liked 5/11 songs. Supermassive Black Hole misled me because this really wasn’t that great. Teenager of the Year tier.

Although I prefer Origin of Symmetry and Absolution, this is probably the correct Muse album to have on the list. They finally gave in an wrote a killer pop song in 'Starlight', and can you really consider yourself a certified cinephile of you haven't wept to the title track blasting during the baseball scene in Twilight? Tempted to give this a 4/5 because of just how awful 'Invincible' is.

Quite surprised that Absolution is not on this list instead. It’s as accessible and even better - Origin of Symmetry is a less obvious (but even better) choice. That said - I love BH&R. Muse, and especially Bellamy, suffers from megalomania and the result is an over the top and massive album ranging from somber ballads to aggressive and paranoid rock pieces. You’re probably not into the rest of their discography if this isn’t for you.

My favourite album of all time!

Now this is more like it! Perfect score.

OVERALL: Fantastic. It kinda reminds me of Radiohead. Every single song I could listen to, however it isn't absolutely perfect. Exo-Politics's weird conspiracy lyrics are a bit corny, Invincible and Hoodoo can be forgettable at times, and Soldier's Poem is way too short. Everything else is pretty good. Map of the Problematique and City of Delusion are absolutely incredible, many songs (like Starlight or Soldier's Poem) are very beautiful, and Knights of Cydonia still goes hard. SONG AVG: 8.85/10 PERSONAL RATING: 9.5/10 Take a Bow: I love the synth arpeggios and the guitar is pretty nice. Also, the buildup and overall crescendo is executed very well. The only thing I don't really like is the weird ending, and also I can't figure out what they are saying without focusing on the vocals or looking up the lyrics. 8.75/10 Starlight: Very good production, and the guitar and arpeggios are great. The vocals are very good. I guess the drums are kinda basic and repetitive (doesn't take away from it that much). 9.8/10 Supermassive Black Hole: Idk why, but the guitar sounds familiar for some reason. Anyways, the guitar goes hard. The drums are also pretty good, but the vocals are a bit weaker than Starlight (still very good). 9/10 Map of the Problematique: This slaps. I love everything about this that isn't the weird ass intro, and I still like that. Very good texture, great melodies, and the only thing I don't like about it is that it ends. 10/10 Soldier's Poem: Pretty short. Very beautiful, and the chord progression + harmonies are very good. 8.5/10 Invincible: That guitar solo goes absolutely insane. Great atmosphere, but some parts were a bit forgettable. 7.75/10 Assassin: The intro is kinda weird. The drums are absolutely incredible. This feels like a song you play when you're running. Goes pretty hard. 8/10 Exo-Politics: What is pee candle? Anyways, the guitar is very good, and the bass is even better. The lyrics being conspiracy theory stuff is kinda weird, but I think it's executed pretty well. 8/10 City of Delusion: Banger. Absolute banger. It has so much going on, but it's never too much. Masterful instrumentation, the bass solo is incredible and the fact that this has a TRUMPET and a VIOLIN is insane, and they are both performed very well. 10/10 Hoodoo: PIANO DROP INSANELY BASED. Very dramatic. The lyrics apparently won lyrics of the decade? Outside of the insane drop, especially after it, the song is pretty weak compared to everything else. 8.2/10 Knights of Cydonia: This was the only song by Muse (I think) that I've heard before this album. Goes unbelievably hard for no reason, but the western theme is a bit weird. The guitar riff is incredibly iconic, and for good reason. 9.25/10 Glorious: This song is... glorious (hahahahahhahahahahah). I think the beginning is weird, but the rest of the song more than makes up for it. Quite literally everything else about this song feels like something that everybody can at least like. My biggest problem with it is that it doesn't feel like an outro, or at least a better outro than Knights of Cydonia. 9/10

I honestly did not expect much because always thought that Muse is not my kind of music. But from the very beginning this album absorbed me fully and took me to some beautiful intergalactic journey where thanks to the beauty and the power of the music I could touch and experience a huge energy and a lot of love that is there in every one of us

Loved this album when it came out and love it now just the same!

really good album the lyrics are less interesting than they could be but the sound is amazing

godines

Es moy bueno, se torna levemente ruidoso por momentos pero merece sus 5 (serian 4.5 pero weno)

A 50-minute long melodic rock journey that starts off on a lighter note and gets more raw as it progresses, definetily influenced by some of the greats. Cohesive electronic elements and great bass production are what, in my opinion, makes this album almost perfect.

i honestly can't tell why i'm so in love with this album the sound is a little over the top and the lyrics sound like they were written by a pretentious teen, but the music just sucks you in and keeps your attention from start to finish i was surprised by this kind of electro-rock vibe my first muse album, but most likely not the last

9/10 Enjoyed this way more than i thought i would Favourite Song=Knights of Cydonia Least Favourite Song=Soldiers Poem

Fav: Knights Of Cydonia Least Fav: Soldier’s Poem Muse are my all-time favourite band and they’ve always meant so much to me. This album is superb and I’m saddened to find out this is the only muse album on the last, alas atleast there’s one. This is another album I consider flawless

the beginning of the end for this band, but still a very fun album

One of my favorite all time albums. It’s the full package of killer melodies and the powerful voice of Matthew Bellamy. 4.6 stars

One of the few CDs still in my car. So good!

I love this album!!

- I don't know how many times I've listened to this album since it came out in 2006, but I still managed to get something new out of this album this time around, not having really recognised that final song - I always enjoy this album, with the epic Take A Bow intro, followed by Starlight and then Supermassive Black Hole... I mean, what the fuck - I will forever come back to this album, it has some of my favourite songs by Muse on it, especially Knights of Cydonia. What a track

5/5

Muse is great, and this record is solid as a rock. Really good stuff.

Year 8 Will's favourite!

Yeah

Such a stellar album.

- Mal wieder eine der Bands die mMn im Prinzip keine schlechten Alben haben - Und ich wüsste auch nicht genau, welches mein Favorit ist. Black Holes und Revelation ist auf jeden Fall ein heißer Anwärter. - So geiler kreativer, unvorhersehbarer Shit - Mit "Starlight" und "Supermassive Black Hole" auch zwei Welthits enthalten. Wobei ich nie der größte "Starlight" Fan war, könnte auch ein Coldplay Song sein. SBH ist ein unfassbar ikonischer Song. Als hätten Prince, Britney Spears, Lenny Kravitz und Led Zeppelin eine amtliche Orgie gefeiert. Ich weiß, bisschen weirde Vorstellung... - Ich würde sagen, es gibt wenige Bands die so eine heftige Bandbreite an Genres bedienen können und problemlos auch innerhalb dieser hin und herspringen. - Ich mag das Album von Vorne bis Hinten sehr gern. Besonders den treibenden "Map Of The Problematique" liebe ich. - Und dann hast du da plötzlich so einen Elvis artigen "Soldier's Poem" - ich meine WTF. Also WTFGEIL. Und zwei Songs später mit "Assassin" einen System Of The Down meets Queen alternativ Metal Track. WHOOOOOTTTT - "Knights Of Cydonia" natürlich auch ein geiler Hit. Fucking Cowboy-Space-Odyssee. - Einfach ein Album, was dich auf eine Reise mitnimmt und dich vollkommen erfüllt zurücklässt, um dich dann schon aufs nächste Mal Hören zu freuen. Auch wenn es ein zwei Tracks gibt, die ein bisschen abfallen - krankes Album. Rating: 4,75-5/5

A classic Muse album. It wouldn't be a proper Muse gig unless they played some of the monster tracks on this album: "Starlight", "Supermassive Black Hole", and the huge "Knights of Cydonia". I'm a massive Muse fan and this is one of their best.

Amazing Album

I remember buying this CD, and I still love it. Yes, it’s over the top, but I love the guitar riffs. Bellamy’s voice is incredible. Their energy is hard to beat.

Really great

Excellent

Beter dan dit wordt Muse niet. Starlight, Supermassive Black Hole, Map of the Problematique en dan ook nog het geweldige nummer Knights of Cydonia. Schijf na schijf dus. 4.6

Really really liked this

This album is unfortunately what I consider the beginning of the end for Muse. You've got far more political topics sneaking into the lyrics, the whole thing has an extremely "daytime rock radio" vibe going on save for a few tracks, and the general synth undertones really hammer in the feeling Muse would continue to awkwardly explore nearly twenty years later. However, do not mistake my words of sadness as an adverse reaction to the music on this album, because while this may be the start of something worse, it is also the end of something amazing in the best way possible. Every song walks this fine line between pop rock and alternative rock immaculately, and when it takes time to slow down and let the band (Matt, in particular) show off their musical chops, it succeeds with flying colors. The commanding piano riff in Hoodoo, the solo of Invincible, and the choir in Soldier's Poem, all perfectly showing the immense talent the band posses even on their senior outing. Even the more synth pop-esque takes are solid, almost Depeche Mode-like, runs that fill a perfect hole in a modernized 80s heart. This album has a lot of commercial moments, Starlight, Supermassive Black Hole, and the magnificent closer, Knights of Cydonia, you couldn't escape at the time, but they don't feel like massive blockbusters for the sake of it, they just happened to be, on top of being some of the premier rock hits of the late 2000s. This album may be the sound they'd fail to perfect as time went on, but they didn't need to, because they nailed it on the first try, and I'm satisfied with seeing it close here. Just a fantastic collection of songs, you're bound to find something you enjoy here.

awesome!

A classic from the 2000s! I discovered this album a couple of months ago thanks to a recommendation from a friend and I loved it.

Real fun listen! Space Rock odyssey, mood's there in three words. I dunno guitar very well and don't listen to rock a bunch but I still remember how much my teen classmates and friends bigged up songs from this album back in the late 00's. Hold's up!

I love the vocals from Matt Bellamy. Muse has this wonderful ability to continually ramp the energy of their songs. Knights of Cydonia is definitely my favorite track. The wicked guitar gets me every time.

Haven’t listened to this through for a long time. Such a great listen start to finish

Not all of Muse's songs work...but when they do they're typically bangers. Lots of bangers on this one. 4.9

Real crackers, this. Ive been a fan for years.

"You will eat it, and you will like it!" This is one of those bands that came along during a time in my life that everything was going really well. I have a lot of memories associated with Muse. Origins of Symmetry, Absolution and Black Holes came out in quick succession and as such, seems like one continuous album. This was the era where everyone began taking their 100gb external drives to the office and plugging them into the company network ... we were all a bunch of artists working on home entertainment (DVD) packaging. Coworkers were quirky, had left of center tastes and every day was a new adventure in music. I'd spend the entire day in Photoshop with headphones on listening to old, different, and new music. ... It was the original Spotify. On the Friday nights, I'd drive up to Mammoth Mountain while sharing the finds with friends on the 5+ hour drive. Then, continue to spend the entire weekend snowboarding with an iPod in my ears. Interpol, Strokes, Clap Your Hands, BRMC, Secret Machines, Silversun, Bravery, etc... It was a good time and because of these memories, I will always gladly consume some bands without complaining. Muse is one of them.

Epic and soaring. “Black Holes” may be a peak for Muse, much in the way their songs build to peaks and crash through them.

To me the best album by Muse. Didn't like the ones after that that much anymore but this one... Well, this one hasgood song after the other.

A sound that cuts through straight to your heart.

I really liked this. 5/5

Outstanding - everything a rock album should be. Great music, haunting vocals, and each song sounded distinct. I knew I liked Muse, but I never listened to an album start to finish. I like how this one is arranged and will absolutely listen to it again.

5! Simpelthen bare 5. Jeg har hørt det så meget idag, og virkelig dét jeg havde brug for. Hørte det også meget tilbage i 2006 - 2008 stykker. En rigtig efterskole lyd. Klart gateway metal. 😜 - Desuden et af de største festivals minder, fra det første Rock am Ring jeg var til.

Knights of Cydonia!!

Good album

I’ve been a Muse fan from a distance for a long time. And by that I mean, I heard “Knights of Cydonia” in Guitar Hero 3 for the first time and then heard a few other Muse songs. But I have always thought they were pretty cool, and there’s a live version of “Knights of Cydonia” at Wembley that absolutely blew me away in high school, and honestly still does. So I was excited coming into this album, and they didn’t disappoint. Banger after banger. The songs have simple premises but are executed with a precision and complexity that makes them intriguing to listen to. “Knights of Cydonia” is a great example. The song is based around triplets. The drums play triples throughout, the guitar has a triplet riff late in the song, and there’s a synthesizer triplet riff as well. Sounds simple, but the entire song being based around that one concept is pretty genius, especially when it’s executed with the complexity that it is. And it’s all to reinforce the idea of knights galloping in on horses (hence the horse sounds at the start). Anyway, I loved this album. Five stars. Standout Tracks: Take a Bow, Starlight, Map of the Problematique, Soldier’s Poem, Invincible, Assassin, City of Delusion, Knights of Cydonia

These guys had it

I have the same conflict with this album I do with hotel California by the eagles. This is one of my favorite albums but I hate everyone and everything that is associated with this. I must say I know a lot less about this band outside of this album but the fans and the pretentious non political political lyrics of their more recent albums leave me a little annoyed. But that last song is as close to a perfect song I've ever heard on my life. Just for that song I'm giving this a 5. They also tried to stretch into different genres on here that they really don't in any of their other albums as well as most bands of this genre don't either. Its a solid album for a terrible arena rock band.

This might be Radiohead for dumb people but it’s great

I know the hits from the fuse.tv but this is my first experience with most of the album. It may be polarizing but I love the vocals. It has an interesting range and pull that makes me want to belt it out in my car. The songs all sound distinct enough that it doesn't bleed together. I'll listen to this again and want to check out the rest of Muse's discography.

Det Titel des Albums passt hervorragend zur Musik. In jedem Augenblick des Meisterwerks ergeben sich schwarze Löcher und Offenbarungen im positiven Sinne. Was hier Muse produzierte ist schon unglaublich und immer spannend. Keine 0815 Arrangements, sondern hoch kompliziert in wunderbaren eingängigen Melodien. Hochkomplex mit Hitpotential. Mehr geht nicht mehr. Und die Stimme ist so charismatisch und wertvoll. Merkt man es? Ich bin ein Fan von Muse inzwischen geworden.

I loved every track on this album. Big powerful sound very reminiscent of Queen in their heyday. Great stuff - must go out and buy this CD for my collection.

Awesome album from start to finish and Knights is an absolute banger.

Probably the most successful album of Muse, along with Absolution, back when they were actually good. There are some real bangers here, like 'Starlight' and 'Supermassive Black Hole'. The rest are also a decent bunch and fit in nicely to make a cohesive but also varying album. What I particularly like with this record is that it doesn't quite sound like anything else, but is still very good. Some quite unusual riffs and patterns here and there that keeps it interesting. Matt's singing style is also one of a kind I dare say, really nice falsettos and long drawn out wailings. It took me a while to warm up to them, but I very much like this Muse era. Not what comes to mind when I think of my favorite albums, but I still think a weak 5 is quite fitting.

Man this screams Ipod age for me. Being around 16 and seeing this on top of the charts in all record stores. I actually got into muse slightly later but this was on repeat in i Ipod later. You have many songs that still hold up like "Starlight", "Super Massive Black Hole" and of course "Knights of Cydonia" (famous from guitar hero?). I really enjoy the style with some classical elements and heavy rock. The songs are quite different and interesting. Form many Queen-esque songs to "Assasins" which sounds like the riff comes from SOAD. Not as big of the vocals and their noisy breathing at time but since I grew up with it I can forgive it. Hard pressed if this should be a 5 or not, Muse are not really my favourite band but I think this deserves a weak 5. Yes it's slightly radio-friendly and safe rock but still it is very good at what it does.

Great album, first proper listen of Muse. really love it

What’s not to love about black holes. Was certainly a revelation indeed vicar

I love this album. It was my first impression of Muse and its the reason I consider myself a fan now. I love the sound, the production, and overall its just a great album. This listen was just as good as the first

Отличный альбом

"Black Holes and Revelations" do Muse é um daqueles álbuns que combinam perfeitamente com a energia de um dia movimentado – até mesmo enquanto se cozinha, assim como eu fiz. As guitarras marcantes e os riffs enérgicos criam uma sensação de urgência que permeia cada faixa, fazendo com que até as tarefas mais mundanas ganhem um toque de intensidade. Com uma fusão de rock alternativo e sintetizadores ousados, o álbum explora uma paleta sonora rica, intercalando momentos de pura adrenalina com passagens mais suaves e introspectivas. A voz de Matthew Bellamy é uma constante força motriz ao longo do disco, mas alcança seu ápice em "Starlight", onde sua performance vocal é nada menos que arrebatadora. E claro, seria impossível falar de "Black Holes and Revelations" sem mencionar "Knights of Cydonia", o hino que ganhou notoriedade no Guitar Hero 3. Para quem viveu essa época, revisitar essa faixa é um deleite nostálgico. Mais do que um hit de videogame, "Knights of Cydonia" é uma obra-prima que encapsula a grandiosidade e a inventividade do Muse, reafirmando o álbum como um marco essencial na discografia da banda.

Oh fuuuuuuuuck yeah. Couldn't stop tapping my feet i love this album. Take a bow makes me want to screammmmm. Knights of Cydonia's guitar solo....fire.

How have I not heard this whole album before? Banger after banger on this one. Each of the songs I haven't heard before surprised me in new ways.

Not fair to get an all-time favourite twice in a row; what do I have to look forward to for the last 200 albums now /s If there’s one criticism I hold for BH&R, the flow is a bit odd. Intro “Take a Bow” belongs at the beginning, but the pretty “Starlight” immediately afterwards is a bit of whiplash. They’ve had some up and downs, but there isn’t a Muse album I don’t like

Soft harmonies, hard hitting riffs. They make it work!!! This band really loves thier chresendous. I enjoyed this whole album. They reminded me of "Queens of the Stone Age".

I’ll guiltlessly admit that my first exposure to Muse was during the hay days of the Guitar Hero fad, primarily Knights of Cydonia from Guitar Hero III. Well honestly, it was mostly me watching my brother play because I sucked at the game. We also ended up purchasing Supermassive Black Hole, but only because the song was easy to play and finish 100% without over or under strumming or as the term is, full combo (FC). I considered Knights to be one of my personal favorite tracks from that game, but I wasn’t sure if that would apply for the whole album it’s on. I’m pleased to say, however, that I thoroughly enjoyed this whole album. I’m admittedly a sucker for, I guess that over-the-top grand rock and Black Holes and Revelations delivers for me. From the rapid fire of Assassin, the steady beat of Supermassive Black Hole, and the softer tunes of Starlight and Invincible, this was a rare album to hold my attention for its entire duration. Knights of Cydonia acts as the perfect cap off to the album, and seems like a personal full circle moment to me, considering it was how I even heard of Muse. I won’t say I in particular that Muse is my favorite band or even one of my preferences, but this album feels like the peak for them to me. Favorite track: Knights of Cydonia Other Hits: City of Delusion, Starlight, Invincible, Supermassive Black Hole, Exo-Politics, Assassin

banger after banger

Strong shidd

Masterpiece from Muse, maybe the best electro/rock album ever made

Love this album.

I was a big fan of Muse in the 2000's, I thought they were really talented musicians with a cool sound and some intelligent lyrics. They were refreshing (despite comparisons to Radiohead) - talent for standard rock instruments, with some additional flair and experimentation. I haven't cared as much for their 2010 and beyond stuff - too much dub step and electronica, masking their instrumental prowess. This album is when they really took off, and I own it, though I was always more partial to their previous Absolution. This one is sort of like their Ok Computer - moving from a more straight ahead rock style to something more electronic, without going over the edge. It probably has more hits than their previous album, including Knights of Cydonia that everyone fawned over, but it was my least favorite single off this album (tied with Invincible). They still show mad skills on it, I just prefer Starlight, Supermassive Black Hole, and Map of the Problematique. Of the non-singles, I've also always loved the opener Take a Bow (soft), Assassin (heavy, maybe my favorite on the whole album), Exo-Politics (somewhat heavy), and City of Delusion (a less decadent soaring song than Knights of Cydonia). There really aren't any holes on this album even if I like some songs less than others. At least a 4 and probably more, and since I don't think these guys are getting another nod on this list, I'm giving them a bump because I think they are one of the best and creative rock artists of the 2000's.

Cool album, Knights of Cydonia is a guitar hero 3 classic

Parecchio epico

there's a lot of things you can say about muse, especially if you're feeling uncharitable. that they're stadium rock; their lyrics are facile and immature; they're so slickly produced that it's sanded the edges right off their sound; they have a stock Muse (TM) sound that they've been copy-pasting for 15+ years now. i don't necessarily disagree, but goddamn is that sound *good*, especially here, when it emerged for the first time. on a list with so much indistinguishable sludgy brit pop/rock, this glossy, bombastic, ridiculous staple of mid-aughties alt rock is a welcome breath of fresh air. it's just such a fun album. it sounds like space lasers and flying by the moon at hyper speed. let yourself be as earnest as their lyrics ask you to be and enjoy the ride!

i didn't care for muse much growing up. to me, they were one of those bands like radiohead that the cooler music-obsessed kids I knew were really into but a little too pretentious and inaccessible for me. lots of style but minimal substance. though I did love jamming to knights of cydonia on guitar hero 3. I've since softened my stance, at least on the early and mid-2000s muse albums (still don't care for their newer stuff, but for other reasons). there are some absolute bangers on here, and I'm having trouble thinking of another band at the time that had such a big, epic sound, a massive stage presence, and a devoted fanbase, especially for a band this relatively new/young. also, map of the problematique is just enjoy the silence (2006 remix). wake up sheeple!! favorites: all tracks except 5, 6, and 10

I love Muse. My musical sensibilities usually lie between Metal, Rock, Electronic and Pop, and this album checks all of these boxes (and more). When I first heard it, it was a revelation, because for me, there was simply nothing like it. It was a first for Muse as well, experimenting with integrating all of these genres. Matt Bellamy is a great songwrighter, most of the songs are memorable with great hooks and excellent melodies. The arrangement vary between the genres mentioned above, sometimes even in the same song. The musicianship of Matt Bellamy, Dom Howard and Christ Wolstenholme was always first rate, and this album is more than living proof of that. If this doesn't deserve 5 stars, what album does? 5/5

Cool rock sound. Seems ripe for sampling.

Possibly one of the greatest album intros of all time, really hooked me with the guitar and electronic beats. Overall I’ve never been a huge fan of “fight the power” music but this album definitely changed my mind. The messages are powerful and it’s accompanied by even more powerful sounds and vocals. Everything about this album is awesome and Al so revert song was a joy to listen to.

As someone who has little experience with this genre and era, I was blown away by the versatility of this project and its message. With impactful lyrics, astonishing guitar riffs, and excellent pacing, Muse manage to preform what I can only describe as a “must listen”.

<33

This list is quite different from the types of music I usually listen to, and I suspect that's true for many people exploring this experiment. If you're a big fan of a specific genre, you might find a few popular artists from that genre represented, but many hidden gems that you love will likely be missing. This issue is for me is compounded by the absence of new music from the past year or two and the lack of representation of metal music from the last 20 years. Enter Muse. This album is a prime example of the heavier, alternative, progressive sounds I wish were more prevalent on this list. I love this record and rank it among my personal favorites, especially compared to some of the unfamiliar albums included here. While I'm happy to listen to this record again, I'm most excited about its inclusion so I can read reviews from others who may not be as familiar with it. An immediate 5 out 5, now if only Dream Theater, Opeth, The Mars Volta, The Dillinger Escape Plan, TOOL, Porcupine Tree, or Between The Buried & Me would make an appearance...

This is great

I'd rate 4+, 5-. I really liked many songs

One of those that requires multiple listens. I like the sounds though. Kinda sad

I forgot how good this album is. Just full of absolutely cracking songs from start to finish.

It feels like the album was made with love, 5/5

Not my cup of tea but excellent

Another one I was pretty excited to listen to. It's something I missed because I was busy listening to other genres when this came out. But I know some of the hits and loved them. Just hadn't gotten around to doing a whole album listen. I am a little bit on the fence for this one. The songs I like I REALLY like, but some of the others are just a little boring to me. There is also something to be said for the cohesiveness I feel in the album. In the end I think what I do like overpowers what I don't enough that this is a 5 star for me.

5/5

Amazing rock album, everything about it is great - the drums, especially the bass, the guitars, and the vocals. Knights of Cydonia is also in GH3 so bonus point

Fucking amazing

Never really listened to Muse before but this was fantastic

Throwback

I like Muse well enough, but I don't think I've ever listened to a full album from them. Clearly I was missing out because this is an amazing album from top to bottom. I think this is one of the albums that has fallen off the list over the years, which is shocking to me because it's fantastic and is one of the ones that seems most obvious as to why it should be on the list. It's hard to pick favorite songs, but mine are probably "Starlight," "Map of the Problematique," and "Knights of Cydonia," but honestly I loved every song on here. Just absolutely stunning.

This album was THE SHIT when it came out! It still slaps! There is nothing out there like this and i love it. Listening to it is like going on an adventure.

One of the best albums of the 2000s

If you don't take this album seriously, like the lyrics about aliens in space and Bellamys over the top voice, it's amazing stadium music, great singalongs. And the drums!

Great

Sokszor pszichedelikus hatású, váltakozik benne a metál és az indie hangulat, mintha az érzelmek hullámain vinne végig.

I don't even need to listen to this album to rate of but I will because it is awesome. My favourite Muse album nearly every song is a banger and the ones that aren't are pretty close. Starlight, Supermassive Black Hole, Invincible, Assassin and Knights Of Cydonia are all personal highlights.

An absolute banger of an album. This album both opens and closes with two of the most epic songs ever. If I ever want to introduce a band to muse I put on this and I crank it to 11. Worthy of the elusive 5

Love this album. Honestly I think it’s Muse’s best. Lots of variety but almost all bangers. Knights of Cydonia in particular is an all-timer. Also the best music video ever in my opinion.

Lush, layered, symphonic, and what a terrific voice for the lead singer. Never heard this before, so I've missed out. Thought Hoodoo was the weakest link until I heard the "loved for who I am/ missed the opportunity to be a better man." So romantic!

In 2008, I had a burnt CD of entirely Muse songs, and over half of them were songs from this album. I used to listen to it near-daily on my drives to and from work (and occasionally on breaks), and songs like “Map of the Problematique” and “City of Delusion” still give me nostalgia for a time in my life that otherwise wasn’t really all that great. Funny how music can do this. For a long time, this was my favorite album of all time, Muse my favorite artist, and “Knights of Cydonia” my favorite song. The last one is probably still true, there’s nothing like the feeling of blasting the song while cruising down the highway with the windows and sunroof wide open. And I don’t even like driving. Black Holes and Revelations has been eclipsed as my favorite album, but it’s still in my top 10 favorites and is likely to remain there for a long time. Muse was the first artist who really made me listen to and appreciate their albums and not just listen to as background music. Muse’s quality has taken a big hit in the years since this album was released, but they still hold a special place in my heart for opening the gates to what is easily one of my greatest passions in life: music. That’s not to say the trio from southwest England are high art or the greatest musicians ever, but they were to me for a long time. And quite frankly I couldn’t think of a better band name in that regard.

5/5 perché sì.

Parecchio epico

I knew two or three songs from this album, but I'd never heard the rest. It's a great mixture of Queen and Radiohead, but with something special added. I really liked it.

Amazing

Stopped mid conversation with my wife to say “Is this the Twilight baseball scene song?” Way more sci fi than I expected and I loved that. First time listening to Muse

I love this band and how passionate their music is. If I had a voice that great I would sing like that too.

This album absolutely rocks. Muse feels like a must-see live experience if this is the kind of energy they bring to their recorded music. Lots of passion here. Definitely hit me in my feels today. Loved it! (Is it dorky to love this? I don’t care!)

First impressions , having paramore as on of my favourite bands really helped. I instantly fell in love with the record and it was flawless from end to end . Though there was not a standout track or high moment , it was really enjoyable. Favorite track was "Soldier's Poem"

FUCK this album bangs

Surprisingly captivating, 'Black Holes and Revelations' by Muse defies initial expectations. Often, radio hits fail to showcase an artist's full potential, leaving listeners with a skewed view. However, this album's experimental nature, particularly its heavy electronic elements, impressed me. I look forward to revisiting it in the future.

I do love a pretentious band but only if it's rock. I'd go so far as to say that rock REQUIRES a certain grandiose viewpoint. And this one delivers. I'm sure many won't like this, but Muse's lyrics & feel are very Led Zep. Driving beats and lyrics-wise, especially.

This album was one of my favorites in high school. I could say "I may be biased" but there is no bias to consider; this album is freaking amazing. Muse was at their best with all their 2000s albums and this album may be the best of them (between this one or Resistance). Bellamy's voice is just so good and partnered with the badass instrumentals, it makes for an excellent fusion of rock.

Fucking sick

Their best album, IMO. A perfect blend of aggressive and harmonic, broad and contained. I love the harmonies. This is the album that turned me on to this band, and remains the only album that I find myself returning to all these years later. I feel like I've grown out of Muse, somehow, but I do return to this album from time to time.

I absolutely loved this album when it came out & saw them live at ACL Fest. This is definitive 2000s rock. Great revisit. 4.5 stars.

Ich erinnere mich gut an dieses Album mit seiner Intensität und dem aufbauenden symphonischen Sound. Grossartig!

Fantastic

Cet album a rythmé ma jeunesse.

Aside from Supermassive Black Hole sounding like the intro to my dad's grilling videos, this was stellar through and through. Soldier's Poem and Hoodoo were my favorites, but variation is necessary and this album captured it all. A strong reminder as to why I did this in the first place.

Yeah, I knew Muse before this and their hits. Uprising was one of my favorite songs for a little bit in my youth. But this album actually blows me away. The fact that I've never heard this one fully through is maddening, because it simply does not miss once. Take a Bow is now one of my favorite intro songs ever. Soldier's Poem is art at its finest. Supermassive Blackhole is obviously fantastic. City of Delusion, Invincible, Starlight, all absolutely amazing. I could go on and on, but I'll stop and just say this album freaking rocks and it's become one of my favorites of all time. Praise Jesus for album number 365 coming into my life.

My friend in high school described Muse as "Protest songs about nothing," and while this may be true, it does not stop every song from being a total banger. Takes me right back to the mid 2000s when I was discovering Dr. Who.

Unexpectedly brilliant

This album starts amazing with Take a Bow and continues to hit throughout. They have a very unique sound in the early 2000 alt rocm scene, which admittedly is kinda vampireish (thanks, Twilight), but I love all the little synth flourishes everywhere in the music. It also goes pretty hard at times like in Assassin and of course Knights of Cydonia. Feels special and sounds like bothing else so far in this list.

They were so good once. The right balance of pomp, heaviness and complexity.

Classic

Knights of cydonia

Normally, I don't care for Bellamy's vocals, but it seems to work in an album format.

Absolutely nailed the spacey rock sound, and the competitions were fun and intricate.

Their last couple of albums have been misfires, but this is Muse at their bombastic, glorious best.

5/5 Love it. Whole album is great. Knights is such an amazing stadium song.

Lovely little surprise for this to come up. One of the sounds of my teenage years. In my opinion the last fully decent albums that Muse released.

Held off giving this a review straight away as I felt it was a potential 5 star that I didn't expect. Got a bit distracted when my car journey ended, so have just given it a proper listen. Always assumed Muse were shit. Obviously knew Super Massive Black Hole (FIFA tune) and Knights of Cydonia (Guitar Hero III and Chris' animation video), and recognised Starlight but couldn't have told you who it was. These songs are awesome, but the rest of the album is a great listen too. Will be playing this album more in the future, and hoping their other music is just as good.

Amazing. beautiful melodies, guitar work, and one of the nicer voices in modern rock. A proper album beginning to end, nice to see such a big song as the closer, where usually albums loose stream as they go

Muse was the first band I've ever seen preform live, they opened for MCR on The Black Parade is Dead tour! (this album also came out on my birthday apparently? that's neat) The intro is awesome, I feel like it's kind of a jarring cut into starlight though Starlight is a good song? Supermassive black hole=#TeamEdward Map Of the Problematic is a song I would play at full volume with my shitty skullcandy headphones while I tried to sleep on the bus...aint nothing like the feeling of the cold bus window on your face on a 6am bus ride when you went to bed at 2am lol Invincible has a neat guitar solo....way better live lol assassin is good? eh...take it or leave it Exo-Politic's guitar riff is so damn catchy. and then the bass coming in? oooh. vibes. Matt Bellamy really goin off with them vocals in City of Delusion, also, fuckin TRUMPETS AND SPANISH GUITAR YESSSS HooDoo is beautifully chaotic and tragic sounding Knights of Cydonia was the song they opened with...that was a powerful introduction to them, much more exciting live but still a banger, and still makes my wrists hurt on guitar hero lol Glorious wraps up the album perfectly, and when the synth comes in it scratches my brain in all the right ways. Good album, 10/10

Frábært 00's rokk. Auðvitað smá naive textarnir hjá Bellamy, eins menntskælingur sem var að opna fyrstu Chomsky bókina sína, en þetta er samt svo góð tónlist. Þegar gítarsólóið droppar í Knights of Cydonia flyst ég bara aftur til ársins 2006.

Mjög góð plata í heild og gaman að heyra ólík áhrif í lögum, eins og t.d. frá Depeche mode. Ég hlustaði líka á Resistance og mér finnst þessi eiginlega betri. Gimmí 5.

Absolutely amazing!

PEAK

Amazing album.

It’s a 5, with a few flaws here and there. The weakest part of this album is the 3-track stretch of Invincible through Exo-Politics, which to me, tries way too hard to fit into the politically progressive rock niche that Green Day had carved into the mainstream when they dropped American Idiot. There’s something that either doesn’t click right for me, or just outright has not aged well under the lens of 2024 as compared to 2006. The rest of this album is fucking spectacular. Take A Bow is the most electric opening track to an album I’ve heard in years, and an insanely cool tonesetter for the first 4 tracks. Soldier’s Song is fine, and it works with the backdrop of the Blair / Bush years without feeling too preachy. The last 3 (or 4, if you count Glorious) tracks are a great bit of variety, from super cool energetic bombastic pieces like Knights of Cydonia, or more atmospheric stuff like City of Delusion & Hoodoo. I do think this album does lose its luster a little quickly, but it managed to grab it back at the end for me – realistically, that stretch of tracks 6-8 probably do round it down to a 4.5 for me, but I’d be a moron to not round it up. Fabulous stuff here.

album cover goes crazy i cant lie fucking with this heavy lotta people say its overrated but imo deserves all its success. 4.7/5

I was a big fan of this album when it was released and it still sounds banging nearly two decades later. For me, it is pretty much the pinnacle of Muse's oeuvre, fusing rock with more classic and futuristic elements.

Alto viajeeeeee, discaso, revolucionario dentro de su época. Gran combinación de lo electrónico con el rock en ese mundo medio darc y majestuoso el cantante parece el de Keane jajaja pero suma una banda. Me había olvidado de Knigths of Cydonia que canción por favoooor (si, la conocí en el Guitar Hero), Supermassive Black Hole (L).... y Starlight me chupa los dos huevo

Yes! I'm not sure why I've never properly listened to Muse before, because this album is exactly the stuff I'm liking lately. Energy, high drama, soaring vocal: it's like Queen and Radiohead had a child and sent them to Eurovision. The opening track Take A Bow has a gorgeous suspenseful build. Intense synth arpeggios contrast with slow thoughtful vocals. Apparently the key rolls and changes around the Circle of Fifths (instead of being based in one key like most Western songs), which is what gives it a slightly unsettling never-ending feel as it doesn't have a nice chord to resolve to (yeah, I've been listening to a lot of the Strong Songs podcast for the last year or two...see Kirk's ep on Goodbye Yellow Brick Road). And the lyrics... brutal. More like this please!

De locos

Daaaamn

Simpelweg legendarisch. Fantastisch album, met een grote variatie aan super goede nummers. Slechts een minder punt (Hoodoo), maar verder niks op aan te merken.

never actually gave muse a chance but wow! a big fan of concept albums ( i really love this, just not the kind of music i listen to that often anymore. supermassive black hole will always be associated with Twilight lol favorites: take a bow, starlight, supermassive black hole, hoodoo

Modern classic, even though it's nearing.. wait, what? 20 years old?

Great Album, sounds even better on vinyl

Wonderful!

Well this album is pretty fucking dope. I really like muse. And especially this album. Was telling Kimberly..."I'll never forget the first time I heard Knights of Cydonia on the radio for the first time. My friend had bought a house and we were redoing the tiles on the floor, I was on my hands and knees with a tile remover and it came on. I instantly loved it. " Just takes me back to those times. I think I had burned a copy of this for Alicia too. I'm giving it 5 stars.

Oh man, I really liked this album. Knights of Cydonia has always been a favorite. It perhaps dips a bit for a few of the middle songs, but it starts and ends so strong. I am feeling generous so that is going to be a five for me.

Outstanding Album!

talk about muse-ic

Wow, I was excited to see this. Been listening to this since it came.out, I have it on CD, Vinyl and have watched Muse perform it multiple times live. Needless to say, I'm a fan. This album is a work of art, from start to finish each track in isolation is fantastic and beautifully written (Matt Bellamy is an absolute master of his craft) and his classical influences come in with some of the beautiful chord changes that just get you in the feels! Soldier's Poem is the lowest point in the track but even that's great! A short, 3/4 waltz that sounds jolly but the words are actually quite bleak, lol. Then the album finally builds to that fantastic, jump worthy riff at the end of Knights of Cydonia. Ugh, so so good. My first 5 star, I've been waiting for something like this to give it to!

This was worth a four, but it gets the extra point for nostalgia

Probably the band I've seen the most often live - had to sell my ticket for last year in Oberhausen unfortunately. Although I would say diminishing returns each time. Their dive into problems of technology, totalitarianism, and thought experiments reeks of ill-comprehended "alternative thought" for the misunderstood masses though, just get on with the tunes lads. Less of this lowest common denominator edgy stuff. That being said, early-era Muse (Origin of Symmetry - The Resistance) were great. Creative riffs, really impactful drumming, and lovely vocals (again roughly ignoring the subject matter). Black Holes and Revelations is between my two favourite albums (Absolution and The Resistance) and is incredibly solid. Supermassive Black Hole, Starlight, City of Delusion are superb, and Map of the Problematique, Invincible, and Take a Bow come just underneath. Special shout-out to Knights of Cydonia - their best track? Happy to see them on the list - I think they did something different and special and should be rewarded. 2010, T in the Park, just after the release of The Resistance, right at the front. Astonishing.

Electronic Rock at its best.

Bangalicious

Excellent album from start to finish. This album was part of the core pieces of music that shaped my middle school/high school eras and it still absolutely holds up. It covers so much ground in 50 minutes and doesn't waste a second. I love this album and every track deserves a listen.

Absolutely incredible album. My favorite from Muse. Top tracks: Knights of Cydonia, Supermassive Black Hole, City of Delusion

Perfect…

Great work out tunes. Forgot how much Knights of Cydonia whips ass

Really enjoyed this. Incredible Muse album

So good. Very very polished (maybe a bit too much?) but I think it works for them. Great song writing, great guitar and bass, their bass player is sooo fucking good, love it. Was ready to give it a solid 4 but Knights of Cydonia brought this up to a 5. Good shit.

This album is a classic for me. Has some of the quintessential rock tracks of the 2000s with “Knights of Cydonia”, “Starlight”, and “Supermassive Black Hole”. Great musicianship and lyrics.

Soaring, symphonic, complex, heavy “mathy Radiohead” rock. Muse’s pinnacle album, a culmination of the sound & style they developed on the first 3 albums.

very good, muse it a band that you can jam to anytime

I have loved this album since its release!

If you remember my wager comment in our previous review, I was incredulous that this was not on the list. I think I definitely won that bet. I still love it, thankfully. Not being given the option for halves, I’ll bump this up. Fantastic.

OK... So I checked the first edition of the book three times to make sure this album wasn't in there and it isn't. So when these clowns published their list in 2010, this gem from 2005 was overlooked. Now that they've included it, I guess we know that I'm a big fan — a supermassive fan — of the album. It had actually been a little while since I had listened to this album — the first I ever knew by Muse. I really enjoyed going back to it, I had forgotten just how bombastic they are at every turn — swinging for massive fences of an arena near you. But yeah, for a band that wears its influences on its sleeve, you'll never mistake them for anyone else. Somehow, I feel like they take themselves really seriously and still sound like they're having a ball and never compromise on the quality of the production. This album features great songs from start to end, I love "Supermassive Black Hole" and "Knights of Cydonia" especially.

Excellent stuff. Over the top and wild.

Lovely.

Eclectic, unique, literally no two songs are the same on this album. Between the lyrics that are a clever mix between the Clash and Dylan and the hook heavy musicianship, this might be one of the best albums in the last 25 years. Coupled with the way they used video to change the landscape of their listenership, this effort is superlative.

Not a 5.. But 5 It's fun And Knights of Cydonia will always be awesome.

Amazing Album

Me gustoo

Love muse. Multiple great songs on this album. Few that I don't care for that much.

One of the best album of this band.

What a privilege to know this is on the list. Muse is king

Each part of the diamond shimmers in a different nuance. 5/5

2006 - Trumpets! Alternative rock; progressive rock; space rock; pop rock

Banger.

DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME OR TIME WILL WASTE YOU Muse?! I'm incredibly biased, but this is an instant 5/5. Not my personal favorite Muse album (that goes to Origin of Symmetry), but this one is top to bottom full of bangers. This band will always have a special place in my heart. Muse may not have the best lyrics, but musically they are outstanding. Top to bottom highlights. Map of the problematique, a top 3 Muse song for me, is here. Whenever I get to hear it live, my heart explodes in happiness. No lowlights. Starting with Take a bow? Such amazing buildup. Starlight is a little overplayed by now, unfortunately. Cheesy Muse. SMBH guitars just go hard, and Matt's vocals really shine on the high end. Soldier's poem, although slow, melts my heart. Invincible is another space-y, cheesy song, but great in its grandiosity. Matt's vocals are so passionate. Assassin is so powerful, and hearing it live, the Grand Omega Bosses version, is epic. Hoodoo: piano! And I've had recurring nightmares that I was loved for who I am and missed the opportunity to be a better man Knights of cydonia is an epic album closer and the signature end to Muse's shows these days with Man with a harmonica. I'm trying to figure out where the "southern Italy" influence is?

алкоальбом: текила с лимонным ликером и украшенный ягодами

Ощущение через весь альбом такое: "так, да, наверное они вот такую музыку играют" - следующий трек - "а, они ещё и так могут, вау" - следующий трек - "а, о, это они оказывается...". Короче я под впечатлением от многообразия; да, возможно, из-за этого слегка теряется какой-то единый стиль, но если мы говорим про крутого музыканта, разве он не должен творить в разных стилях?

СЕКССЕКССЕКС Я ГОТОВ СЛУШАТЬ КОНСПИРОЛОГИЮ ЕСЛИ ОНА ТАКАЯ

I absolutely love this album. My favorite from Muse!

Fabulous album. Hadn't listened to this album in its entirety.

Redondo

What can I say? It's Muse.

One of my favorite albums of all time

I fear this is the best album I’ve ever heard

De enige Muse-notering is redelijk snel gekomen, als 5 van de 1001 albums! Natuurlijk behoeft de score geen uitleg, top album. Op de schaal van 10 is het een 9, maar op deze schaal een 5/5.

WOW! What an incredible album. The layering is insane, from the harmonies in the vocals, to the orchestral levels of rock instruments. This album shot for the stars and hit them. The way this guy wails is epic. A bit reminiscent of Queen, but amped up for a massive stadium concert with a tons of moving lights if that makes sense.

Goddamn this was good. I knew "Knights of Cydonia" from Guitar Hero 3 but otherwise have paid no attention to Muse over the years. Every song on this album was strong, and none felt out of place. I will definitely listen to this again.

Muse makes banger after banger, not as good as their debut album but the new sound made them more commercial. Still a 5/5.

Not listened to this in years. I resisted Muse for ages but obviously everyone in uni banged on about them so I finally absorbed this album. It's admittedly amazing. Some of the tracks wouldn't hold up as well on their own but as part of this album they sound great. The whole is greater than the sum of the parts. Didn't care for much of their other stuff so this is them at their peak.

Very full, funky sound from 3 people!

Bellissimo album già tra i miei preferiti dal 2006

This album is just a masterpiece, just a gorgeous gorgeous piece of art. Fantastic listen any day of the week. The ways in which Muse affected the landscape of music in the early 2000s was something special. There isn't a bad song on this album and most of them deserve the love and notoriety that they have if not so much more. Great fucking album!

I thought this was great album

5/5