The End of the World

Okay, the title of this next entry may sound a little depressing. I mean, think about it. With all that is happening, whether it be violence in the middle east, economic problems in the U.S. or global warming across the globe, some people maybe keen to the idea that this is the end of the world. Now, I’m not hear to talk about global issues or anything in that nature. I’m hear to talk about music. But what does that have to do with the end of the world? Just hear me out…

Imagine that today. This very day is the end of the world. Now the first thing you might think of are natural diasters like hurricanes, earthquakes and tsunamis. Cities crumbling, wars breaking out and all life on earth dying out may also come to mind. The perspective is usually very negative. But that is not the case on Absolution, the third album from the band Muse.

Drawn from Matt Bellamy’s obsession with science fiction and conspiracy theories, Absolution is based on the conceptual idea of the end of the world (you probably have figured that out when listening to the first track “Apocalypse Now”). But instead of viewing it in a negative way it looks at it in a very positive manner. It feel as though the end of the world is not really the end, but more like the dawn of a new beginning. A future full of possibilities rather than the end of all existence. It sounds quite grand if you think about it. In fact, that is the best way to describe the album. The music of the record is unquestionably grand and magnificent. The band did an amazing job with arranging the music so beautifully while maintain the excitement of an alternative rock record. It is though that Absolution is made to be played by a symphony and believe me, it can be any more beautiful than that.

The songwriting on this album is also very stellar. Matt Bellamy, the main songwriter for Muse, tackles different emotions and themes in each of the songs that all make up the big picture that is Absolution. One of them is love. In the song “Falling Away From You”, which is one of my favorite songs on the album, is about love during the last few moments before the end of the world. A couple looks into the horizon and sees the unstoppable destruction of the earth happening right before their eyes. They both fear of what will happen to them. Then one reaches out to the other and in a hopeful voice, tells them that everything will be okay before the destruction of the world engulfs them. Now keep in mind, this is my view of the song and there are many different interpretations to each of the songs. Other themes that are highlighted in this album are fear (”Hysteria" and Time Is Running Out”), war (”Butterflies and Hurricanes”) and hope (”Sing For Absolution”).

Overall, the music of Absolution is epic and captivating masterpiece with beautiful songwriting. It is one of those rare gems that every music fan must hear and experience for themselves. As for the “end of the world” concept behind the album, it is a backdrop that reminds us that no what matter what lies ahead of us we should embrace it rather than fear it.