MUSE - ''THOUGHT CONTAGION'' - SINGLE REVIEW
MUSE PREMIERE LATEST STAND-ALONE SINGLE ''THOUGHT CONTAGION''
COVER ART FOR MUSE - THOUGHT CONTAGION
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5)
Muse are back.... again. The British rock trio have been busy lately, touring Japan and Australia in the latter part of 2017 and reportedly working in the studio on an album for release in late 2018. In the meantime however they have brought us ''Thought Contagion'': described by frontman Matt Bellamy in an interview at the 2018 NME Awards as 'an epic and anthemic track' with 'an arena sound'.
True to his words, ''Thought Contagion'' certainly has that epic feel, and sees Muse both re-tread old formulas and explore new ones. The trademark overblown backing vocals are ever present; Bellamy delivers his dark and overtly political lyrics in combination with his virtuosic guitar work, and there's even a few synths thrown in. The overall sound is somewhat confusing but it just about works: it's almost as if ''Thought Contagion'' was intended by the band to be a follow-up anthology to the extreme diversity in style that Muse's last few albums have showcased. There's a definite comparison that can be made to Absolution track 'Fury' from the opening instrumental - indeed some Muse fans were expecting it to be 'Fury' 2.0 - but that does not hold up as it meanders through.
That being said, ''Thought Contagion'' is catchy and will no doubt won't be as divisive to the Muse fanbase than the lukewarm reception given to ''Dig Down''. I don't think it represents anything other however than the complete end of any return to the pre-Black Holes and Revelations era. This version of Muse is here to stay.