Simulation Theory, the eighth studio album from rock band Muse is the commendable effort to maintain the pivotal success of the band’s previous work; whilst being a matrix for new offerings it contains no stand out brilliance. That is not to say it is without merit; they continue to be progressive within the genre they dominate, even if this is in a subtler way as they struggle to find things they just haven’t done before.
If you are a listener looking to find the mastery of earlier albums, then you could be faced with disappointment, but if you are willing to look for moments of genius in a seemingly standard release, then this album is a hidden gem that is to be appreciated. Muse’s electronic sound that that brings a certain youth to each track is certainly present, singles ‘Thought Contagion’ and ‘Pressure’ were solid releases with their mechanical synth and upbeat choruses leaves a sweet metal aftertaste, nothing unusual for the band. But where the album triumphs is Matt Bellamy’s vocal performance and the band’s impressive lyricism especially present in the final track – ‘The Void’ offers a compelling end to the album. It shares parallels to the message of ‘Dig Down’ but in a more consistently Muse style in terms of production.
The album initially feels somewhat empty, it comes across as safe – it lacks the in your face singles that we’re used to, but Muse have always been ahead of the curb. They’re experimenting with subtleness and it suits them. One piece of advice – listen to it more than once and you’ll grow to enjoy the offerings that Muse have hidden along the course of the eleven tracks.
Jessica McCarrick 