Muse – Madness (Single Review)

Introduction

Madness is kinda just that really, madness! The song kicks off with a very simplistic drum beat that keeps through the entire song, with ascents of ‘Undisclosed Desires’ at the start, but Muse fans don’t fear, the highly expected epicness begins in the middle, just like on Olympic single Survival (review here), and thats when Madness’ true form shows, the inspiration from Queen and U2, add that epic Muse signature sound, ends the song brilliantly.

New Direction? Plus Influences

Everyone seems to be calling Madness a new direction for Muse, but if you look in the Muse back catalogue you’ll find many signs of songs like this coming, and even songs with a similar vibe, and those fearing a lack of guitar stomping anthems have no fear if Survival is anything to go by! Other influences have said to be from Queen’s “I Want to Break Free” and David Bowies “Scary Monster and Super Creeps” album, not to mention Muse’ very own “Undisclosed Desires”, with influences like that, how can you not have a great song on your hands”.

Song Meaning

The song seems to be about the mystery of a relationship, how feelings change and grow, madness growing in a relationship. Whilst the song never explains what it is, it explains how someone has seen the light and starts questioning the madness in a relationship after understanding problems and issues.”Now I have finally seen the light, I have finally realised, what you need”. Then the song kicks in to a very Queen-est guitar rift, then kicks off to the finale chorus, where both realise that they are actually in love, and the madness then makes sense. Its definitely been a while since a Muse love song and whilst this doesn’t kick off as sounding like a love song, it definitely ends like one and in true Muse fashion.

 Summary

The song is a real ambitious first single for Muse, which is to be taken from the upcoming album ‘The 2nd Law’, the song is fresh, new, yet keeping that Muse signature at the end, I think after hearing Survival and now this, that The 2nd Law is going to be another Muse classic album!

Buy Madness single on iTunes here or the MUSE Store here!