Written by Rudi Rannabugardie

The British band return with their ninth instalment, packed with dystopian lyrics and thumping instrumentals.

In an interview with Big Issue prior to the album’s release, frontman Matt Bellamy billed the album as a “greatest hits album – with new songs”. Muse clearly didn’t disappoint, as influences from previous albums are clearly visible in many of the songs, from the heavier singles “Won’t Stand Down” and “Kill or Be Killed”, to the more synth-like sounds present in “Compliance” and “You Make Me Feel Like It’s Halloween”. Muse have successfully rediscovered the sounds that have gained them global popularity over the last twenty years, with Will of The People appealing to both old and new fans alike.

Bellamy’s growing political and dystopian views can clearly be found within the album, with lyrics often referring to rising up against a larger power. The unifying call to arms that can be found in the opening single, “Will of The People” (Each and every hour our number increases / We’ll smash your institutions to pieces), sets the tone strongly for the rest of the album. Will of The People is by no means Muse’s first foray into the idea of resistance or political lyricism, with albums such as Absolution (2003), The Resistance (2009) and Drones (2015), which have all clearly inspired many of the sounds in their new album. The heavy guitar riffs in “Won’t Stand Down” and “Kill or Be Killed”are certainly reminiscent of these past albums, but Muse have also re-energised the synth-pop sound of 2018’s Simulation Theory, an album that received very mixed reviews due to its stark contrast with the metal-riffs of 2015’s Drones. Will of The People is an album with incredible range, with the melodic arpeggiated softer songs Verona and Ghosts and even the more pop-rock “Euphoria”, certainly a call-back for the former of 1999’s Showbiz, and the latter to 2006’s Black Holes and Revelations.

“Kill or Be Killed” is a perfect example of how Muse have successfully met their aim of creating a new sound that could easily fit into an album from over twenty years ago, with a strong guitar riff that could have easily been a part of 2001’s Origin of Symmetry. Bellamy has spoken about the influence Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello has had over him, and the riff heard throughout this song is very similar to Morello’s signature tone. The closing song, and clear climax of Bellamy’s dystopian views, is the single “We are F**king F**ked”. It perfectly ties up the album, with distorted vocals being paired with a thumping bassline to produce the perfect culmination to the post-apocalyptic sound. The lyrics clearly encapsulate the band’s feelings about the state of the world (Another world war / Wildfires and earthquakes I foresaw), with a familiar sound being turned into something new.

Muse’s Will of The People is a refreshing sound that harks back to the band’s heavier roots, accommodating older fans perfectly whilst producing an intriguing theme for newer fans as well. Muse have successfully explored more melodic tunes and paired them with more metal-like songs, making for a very strong album.

4.5/5

Muse performing “Kill or Be Killed” in late June this year prior to the album’s release