Muse : "The WOW !. Signal"

These guys used to be one of my favorite bands, but being on the radio for too long caused them to take a left turn into grandiose symphonic disco, andd I lost interest. Those elements are all present on this new album. In fact, they meet you at the front door on the first two songs, but the songwriting seems to be a little more focused. Perhaps they never lost focus, and I just need to dig back into the albums I paid less attention to and give them a second chance. I did review their last album from 2022, "Will of the People," and I don't remember it. I gave it a 9, so I must have liked and at least respected it..This album feels more memorable.  

 "Nightshift Superstar". Then there are the ballads like "Shimmering Scars,"  which do showcase his vocals, that have held up well at 48."Cyrogen" is what I want from them, as it has a groove and a melody that sticks to your ears. . There is a sense that they are trying to remember what really worked earlier in their career and go back to that place now that they are ten albums down the road.. "Be With You" feels like it could be a dance re-mix of a U2 song."Hexagons" at least finds them working in the synth-wavish elements in an effective manner, though "The Sickness In You and I " is a better song, with more well thought out vocals lines. There is a harder djent-like guitar riff in this one as well.

They get a little grandiose on the chorus to "Umravelling" but they are at least heading in a rock direction. "Hush" features Ellie Goulding, and is not the pop ballad I expected from it. The last song, "Space Debris," slowly unfolds more on the ballad side of the equation. It floats off into a languid waltz. Overall, this album si great and a powerful return to form for them I will give it a 9.5.