Black Holes and Revelations finds Muse finally achieving their full potential, producing an album that is their biggest yet. And for a band that was responsible for the grandiose Origin of the Symmetry, that's no mean feat. In a time when lo-fi and acoustic acts are devouring the charts, Muse are resolutely swimming against the tide. Black Holes and Revelations is an epic album, and it sounds huge--listening to it, it's difficult to remember that Muse are just a trio. This is a band who enter a studio determined to get their money's worth--it wouldn't be a surprise to hear a kitchen sink clanging away in the background. In the hands of a lesser band, Black Holes and Revelations would sound either ironic or silly, with songs like "Starlight" sounding like a beefed-up ELO track, right down to its lyrics about spaceships. And that's not the only 1970's British rock band that's referenced here: by the end of "Soldier's Poem", you'll swear that Freddie Mercury and Queen are providing the harmonies. And the influence of Queen sticks around right through the energetic rocker "Assassin". Black Holes and Revelations wears the comparison well--this is an arena-rock album, carefully constructed by a band who by having no fear of the absurd, manage to transcend it. Quite simply, this album rocks. --Robert Burrow

Muse are one of my greatest musical passions from the last ten years. Their 2006 album, Black Holes and Revelations, however, is one which is still leaves me torn. I think it's an extraordinary album by today's standards and it is definitely something nobody else is doing at the moment or are really capable of doing. What's slightly disappointing is their slight lack of originality on this album (check out the U2 bass line & drums on Invincible) - they've taken a lot of influences and worked them into their own style. It's Absolultion with added New Order (especially on Map Of The Problematique) and those who really love Muse for the guitar work will be a little disappointed as there's a lot more synths... and the drum sound is a little more 'electronic' this time round too. Their neo-classical pretensions are worn on their sleeve and there's even an attempt to re-write Ave Maria, treading over similar ground covered by previous work.

Don't get me wrong, it's a good listen - a great listen in fact - but this album isn't as big a revelation as the title suggests. If you're a Muse fan, you've heard virtually all of the melodies & riffs before and you'll either love or hate their new musical direction. If you're not a Muse fan then I doubt if this album will win you over because, despite their new-found 'pop' leanings, they've made their most bombastic and unfashionable album yet. There are many brilliant highlights such as Starlight and City Of Delusion, but one (super?) massive plus point about this album is the very last track, Knights Of Cydonia, which is utterly awe inspiring and one of the most overblown and enjoyable things they have done. Now that track... if the rest of the album was like it, it'd be the best album in the world, ever. Unfortunately, it's not - but it still blows the majority of artists and albums released in 2006 out of the water.

is it just me or do muse suck?

i'm pretty sure this is correct.

It just amazes me each time I listen to this album. The enormous talent. The versatility. The sheer inventiveness.

It follows a succession of albums that have got better and better. I was so taken aback by Origin of Symmentry and when I saw Muse live I was so speechless at how talented Matthew Bellamy is. But this album.....

It's everything about it. You can hear the orchestral basis for so many of these songs translated into unbelievable howling guitars. The powerful and poignant lyrics. The inventiveness.

See them live when you can and see how amazing this band is. They are incredible.

A friend borrowed the Muse albums to me as he thought they'd be my type of music, I listened to the early albums and decided although they were okay, they weren't really inspiring enough for me to buy them for myself. But when I got to Black Holes and Revelations it was quite a different story. This album reawakened something within me for music that had been longing to dance. I absolutely love it, I'm not normally the type of person to play an album more than once in a row, but this album I can put on repeat and listen to all day long, literally! Brrrriiiillliaaaant.....!

Muse are a dumbed down, less talented and less successful version of Radiohead created by their record label, stylists, and PR men to satisfy the markets need for a user friendly, commercial pop-rock band. This was a market gap they filled rather well in their first two albums. A pop rock band, with tunes easy to sing along too, guitar riffs simple enough for fans to learn and loud enough for the head bangers. As muse didn't and where never intended to break any new ground or be innovative, fans could be sure their mates would also like them.

The pretentions of prog rock and musical innovation came later and where largely the product of muses fans desire to feel different and more rebelious. To feel like they where part of something that was changing music in their generation. When your looking for something you usually find it whether its there or not, and muses fans started to see them as this progressive rock band with a new and distinct approach to music. Unfortunately Muse never went along with it and carried on making pop rock albums that got them on top of the pops.

Anyone who calls them prog rock is seriously nuts or hasn't heard prog rock before. And take a look at these bone headed lyrics.

Come ride with me
Through the veins of history
I'll show you how god
Falls asleep on the job

And how can we win
When fools can be kings
Don't waste your time
Or time will waste you

lol - maybe when i was five.