It’s no surprise that almost four years elapsed between the release of Muse’s last album, Simulation Theory, and their new effort, Will of the People. After all, most musicians encountered delays of some kind or another due to COVID, excess demand at vinyl-pressing plants, etc.
But what distinguishes Muse’s absence from the release of their penultimate album to their new one is that it marked the longest gap between releases in the band’s entire career. As explained below, devout lovers of Muse will probably feel like the long wait was worth it.
In this week’s edition of New Noise New Releases, we try to wrap our heads around Muse’s Will of the People (although it’ll probably take about 10 listens to really start sinking in). We also give a thumb’s-up to Becoming the Archetype, who return after a 10-year hiatus of their own with Children of the Great Extinction.
PICK OF THE WEEK
Artist: Muse
Title: Will of the People
Label: Warner
RIYL: Silversun Pickups, Cold War Kids
Best track(s): “We Are Fucking Fucked”
Why it rules: Muse’s ninth album finds them reaching new heights in what they’re best at: mashing up multiple genres within each song. Like magic, this new batch of Muse songs equally appeal to listeners of conventional rock as well as discriminating (even snobby) rock fans. It’s no small feat. Rock, pop, metal (“Kill or Be Killed” — which even incorporates harsh metal vocals), electronic music, dance, a Queen-esque ballad (“Liberation”), New Wave and ambient are just some of the styles Muse incorporate into their latest epic. The resulting album is so captivating that you’ll spend the next few months incessantly hitting the “repeat” button.
In a nutshell: Next time someone tells you that Foo Fighters, Metallica and Pearl Jam are last major rock bands standing, convince them to listen to Muse’s new LP.
RUNNER-UP
Artist: Sigh
Title: Shiki
Label: Peaceville
RIYL: Ibaraki, Ihsahn
Best track(s): “Satsui: Geshi No Ato”
Why it rules: Sigh have 12 albums to their name, and yet they’re still a cult underground phenomenon in the U.S. The Japanese band hasn’t played the States since 2009, so it’s no wonder Sigh don’t boast a huge following here. Still, judging Shiki on its own merits, the band’s knack for experimental metal is undeniable. Mirai Kawashima recently told New Noise (more on that later) that the record revolves around a fear of death he started developing after his 50th birthday. That explains why Sigh are so ballistic on this full-on assault of an album.
In a nutshell: Shiki is quite possibly the best album Sigh created since they formed in 1989.
DON’T SLEEP ON …
Artist: Becoming the Archetype
Title: Children of the Great Extinction
Label: Solid State
RIYL: Protest the Hero, ’68
Best track(s): “The Lost Colony,” “The Remnant”
Why it rules: Many bands are scraping off the rust now that they’re playing gigs and touring again. But imagine if their hiatus had lasted five times as long. That’s what Becoming the Archetype are trying to grapple with as they finally return from a 10-year break.
In a nutshell: The “Phantom Field” lyric “This death will not define you” says it all: BTA delve deep into darkness but always find a way to come up for air.
OTHER NOTABLES
Al Foster – Reflections (Smoke Sessions)
Antonio Sanchez – Shift (Bad Hombre Vol. II) (Warner)
Austere – Towards the Great Unknown box set (Lupus Lounge)
Bandaid Brigade – Sex Is Terrifying (Xtra Mile)
Blondie – Against the Odds: 1974-1982 box set (UMC/Numero Group)
Braxe + Falcon – Step by Step EP (Smugglers Way)
Brotherkenzie – Nathan (Thirty Tigers)
Butch Walker – Butch Walker as … Glenn (Orchard)
Charles Lloyd – Trios: Ocean (Blue Note)
Cyborg Octopus – Between the Light and Air (Silent Pendulum)
Dreadnought – Endless (Profound Lore)
Dynazty – Final Advent (AFM)
Ethan Philion – Meditations on Mingus (Sunnyside)
Eyedress – Full Time Lover (Lex)
Gigi Rowe – Laura (self-release)
Goldpine (My One and Only) – Wander Away (self-release)
Grave Digger – Symbol of Eternity (ROAR!)
Greet Death – New Low EP vinyl edition (Deathwish)
Happy Fits – Under the Shade of Green (self-release)
Hierophant – Death Siege (Season of Mist)
Iron Savior – Reforged Ironbound Vol 2 (AFM)
John Prine – Aimless Love reissue (Oh Boy)
Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith – Let’s Turn It Into Sound (Ghostly International)
Lonely Robot – Model Life (InsideOut)
Machine Head – Of Kingdom (Nuclear Blast)
Marcus King – Young Blood (American/Republic)
Meechy Darko – Gothic Luxury (Loma Vista)
Might – Abyss (Exile on Mainstream)
Monolithe Noir – Rin (Capitane)
Obituary – Cause of Death: Live Infection and Slowly We Rot: Live and Rotting physical editions (Relapse)
Pianos Become the Teeth – Drift (Epitaph)
Pineid (Dethklok, Frank Zappa Band) – Blue Doom (Sympatry)
Scarves – Delicate Creatures (Good Eye)
Thoughtcrimes (Dillinger Escape Plan) – Altered Pasts (Pure Noise)
Tiny Moment – Moon Is No Door (LST)
Venerea – Euro Trash (SBAM)
Wheel Workers – Harbor (Sinkhole Texas)
Next week’s highlights: Megadeth’s Sick, Dying … Dead! (Universal), Ensaguinate’s Eldritch Anatomy (Emanzipation Productions), The Hu’s Rumble of Thunder, and more
