After the mostly-ridiculed Queen-inspired bombast of their Summer Olympics anthem "Survival," Muse return with the video for their new dubstep-inflected follow-up single, "Madness," the second single from the British alt-rockers' upcoming sixth studio album "The 2nd Law," has been slated October 2nd as the North American release date.This time, though, Muse swap bombastic bass brutality for wubby subtleties as frontman Matthew Bellamy croons over the surprisingly gentle pop track. "Madness" impresses with a more restrained electronic arrangement. Some might wonder if Muse have in fact gone mad based on the opening few seconds. It highlights the U.K. band's much ballyhooed new dubstep sound, both futuristic and retro, with whirring electronics balanced by small doses of Queen-like operatic harmonies, and an icy synth groove reminiscent of Depeche Mode.
Bellamy wrote the song with only a synthesizer and a drum machine as a personal reflection after having an argument with his girlfriend Kate Hudson. He has called the song "probably my favorite song that I've ever written." The unusual blend of sounds works far better than it probably should. With calm, languid and sweet, the track takes its time to make its point, but once it does, it's as enjoyable as Muse's other airy ballads. NME described the song as "taking the defining noise of 'base music' and using it to create slinky, soft rock sex music."
The song is much more mellow than the group's biggest arena-sized hits, and the ambitious video is suitably subdued even when the riot cops break out the fire hoses. The Anthony Mandler-directed clip sets a fractured romance against the backdrop of violence. As the electronic tune squiggles along, a young couple meet on a neon-lit subway, only to have a riot break out. The gorgeous woman and tatted-up bloke skirt and play it pretty cool until they finally consummate their flirtation with a passionate kiss. Love is powerful and sometimes fleeting. In other words its' typical Muse madness.
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