Waiting for 'Drones': 5 of My Favourite Muse Songs

by Marley Andrews

After a two year break following the release of The 2nd Law in 2012, the return of Muse with their seventh studio album, Drones, has been eagerly anticipated by many, myself included. With their intimate, impromptu UK tour selling out in only ten seconds, it is clear that Muse are most definitely back.

Having been a fan for as long as I can remember, it's always interesting to see which direction they choose to go next, from a musical perspective, and I admire their confidence and creativity in that they are not afraid to experiment with different styles. The 2nd Law was a great example of this, as they decided to incorporate more electronic elements into their music, taking inspirations from artists such as Skrillex and collaborating with Nero on the track, Follow Me. Again, Drones seemingly has a completely contrasting sound to its former counterpart, with the first single, "Psycho", presenting a more stripped back, blunt sound in comparison to the extravagance and grandeur expected of the trio, favouring a strong, punchy bass line instead. This song has arguably been in the making for the past sixteen years, featuring at the end of a performance of Agitated in 1999, and it remains practically unchanged as we hear it now, suggesting that Muse are somewhat stripping back their sound and returning to what they do best.

While Muse have written many well known classics such as Supermassive Black Hole, Hysteria and Plug in Baby, there are so many incredible songs that seem to have slightly slipped under the radar and happen to be some of my favourites. So while you're waiting for Drones to be officially released on June 8th, here are 5 of my favourite Muse songs that you may not necessarily have heard before.

5) 'Darkshines' 

Featuring on their second studio album, Origin of Symmetry, I only really discovered this one a few years ago. The contrast of the dark, moody verses and the powerful, emotive choruses makes this a definite must-listen.

4) 'New Born' 

The fast tempo and chilling piano intro are particularly effective in this song. Bellamy's vocals are absolutely flawless and the gradual build up of texture from the beginning make it engaging from beginning to end.

3) 'Map of the Problematique' 

I've been a fan of this one for a long time. Featuring on Black Holes and Revelations, the hypnotic vocals and simple but powerful instrumentals are what stand out for me. Truly a masterpiece.

2) 'Falling Away with You'

This song has perhaps one of my favourite guitar parts of all time. I love how stripped back and pure it is, a breath of fresh air from their usual style. If you've never listened to it before I would highly recommend it.

1) 'Sunburn' 

One of the first 'proper' songs I ever learned on piano, aged 10! Featuring on Muse's first album, Showbiz, this absolute gem tends to be forgotten or overlooked which makes me really sad as it's one of their best, I would say. Stunning vocals, a beautiful piano part and a powerful chorus. What more could you want?

Drones is set to be released on the 8th June 2015.