I’d always loved UK psych-prog-rock group Muse, and when I saw them live last July (read my review for Filter Magazine here), they became a longterm favorite.
So when I got my grubby hands on their new Haarp CD/DVD Set (Warner Brothers), I was excited the tore into the audio immediately.
Boasting 14 tracks of seizure-inducing, progressive electro-rock culled from two sold-out performances at 90,000-seat Wembley Stadium in London last June, it’s an instant favorite for any Muse favorite.
But on a whim this weekend, I popped in the DVD. I own a bunch of concert DVDs and rarely watch any of them. But this one is special.
In fact, it’s simply the very best modern rock concert film I’ve ever seen.
The band’s entrance is the definition of “grand,” with a color filter pulling out the vibrant reds and greens among the audience and band members.
Kicking off “Knights of Cydonia” — no doubt now the group’s signature track thanks to Guitar Hero III — Muse showcases their ambitious brand of rock in an unquestionable format.
For such a powerful group, I highly respect the restraint they show during the slow build-up of tracks like “Butterflies & Hurricanes.”
The colossal stage, obtuse camera angles (360 degreen camera spins, mic cams, boom cranes hurling the viewer straight into the pit and then back out), acrobats hanging from hot air balloons all just add to the vividness of the performance. By nightfall, the light effects are even more dizzying and impressive.
And while I love spectacle, this band has the musical chops to pull off carnivà le extreme.
