To be honest: Muse have always been too histrionic to be taken seriously and too pretentious to be enjoyable. Well, the pugnacious Matt Bellamy and co have now recorded an album even more histrionic and pretentious than its predecessors. Weirdly, it's brilliant. In taking their preposterousness to new heights, they touch upon an operatic flamboyance to rival Queen. The dazzling drama of 'Stockholm Syndrome' combines a 'Radio Ga-Ga' keyboard breakdown with
a crunching riff so heavy it takes on almost physical properties.
It's over the top, but apparently done deadly seriously.
As with many of the songs, it demonstrates a group taking that most dangerous of steps - attempting to combine classical music with rock. Few since The Who have taken it on with successs. Tommy this ain't, but the fact that Muse retain their dignity in style is a tribute to the burgeoning songwriting of Bellamy. These heartfelt, ambitious tunes are so good you can almost forgive the humourless delivery which ignores the absurdities of the album. As glorious as it is ludicrous.

Been listening to: Queen, Black Sabbath, Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Serving suggestion: In a bombed-out opera house while being struck by lightning.