Absolution
by Muse
User Score
8.8

Universal acclaim- based on 415 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 380 out of 415
  2. Mixed: 14 out of 415
  3. Negative: 21 out of 415

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  1. mw04
    May 13, 2022
    7
    The album loses its way a bit at the end. However this album contains some of their very best such as Hysteria
  2. Julesgamepad
    Mar 3, 2021
    10
    Just perfect! Every song is great. The bass is thight, drums are loud and the guitars are messy. That's what I like :))
  3. ABigBeast05
    Mar 4, 2020
    10
    The way that all the tracks on this album come together is just so incredible
  4. ReyBrujo
    Oct 11, 2019
    10
    I don't like Muse, I have heard all the albums of the band, I can only say.... this album is absolutely PERFECT. Nothing else.
  5. Kotique
    Aug 30, 2019
    10
    I love crying when listen 'Sing for absolution'. The most dramatical album for me
  6. marcmyworks
    Sep 16, 2018
    9
    I was first introduced to Muse with Absolution so it will always have a special place in my heart. Overall its an epic stadium rock album with anthems challenging religion and the political climate of 2004. Download: Apocalypse Please, Time is Running Out, Butterflies & Hurricanes, Hysteria.
  7. PlugInBaby
    Sep 12, 2018
    7
    Good album, maybe even great. While it suffers from a few tame and unexciting moments such as Sing for Absolution, it has highlights like Time is Running Out and Butterflies & Hurricanes, although the single release of the latter is better
  8. Scratch
    Jan 23, 2017
    10
    The lows are high and the highs are very high in this tale about the end of the world. Muse showcases their absolute best here; from soft and slow ballads to heart-crunching guitar riffs, they tell a story completely through music that most would struggle to tell through words.
  9. Ricko
    Dec 29, 2016
    6
    "Absolution" is a record that despite its flaws, has aged quite well. While it aims high it falls short on many levels, it must be said that "Absolution" is a very listenable and a very enjoyable rock record. It's frantic and dramatic and underlines why some people love Muse while others cant stand them. The songs are packed to the gills with a mix of bludgeoning riffs and delicate hooks"Absolution" is a record that despite its flaws, has aged quite well. While it aims high it falls short on many levels, it must be said that "Absolution" is a very listenable and a very enjoyable rock record. It's frantic and dramatic and underlines why some people love Muse while others cant stand them. The songs are packed to the gills with a mix of bludgeoning riffs and delicate hooks but the operatic vocals and apocalyptic lyrics, while knitting well with the music, take themselves a bit too seriously in places. For me, Muse records always have killer singles which bring their albums up a few notches - "Time is Running Out" a great example of this on "Absolution". Unfortunately the other singles from this album are don't have the same punch. Overall, we have a solid piece of rock music, if not terribly exciting album.… Expand
  10. owenrw89
    Dec 4, 2016
    7
    Overall, it's a powerful rock album. It defines an era of rock rather than the genre itself. It saw Muse slide towards a more commercial rock sound, making it more accessible to the masses, but a little unfaithful to the fans of their earlier sounds.
  11. clinteastwoo
    May 11, 2016
    9
    gREAT Album........................................................................................................................... Great Heavy rock and Ballads songs
  12. Argeon
    Nov 13, 2015
    9
    Absolution is literally Origin of Symmetry 2.0

    It starts off with a killer track (in the same spirit that In The Flesh? kicks off The Wall) and only rollercoasters through talking about the end of the world and, like most of Muse, motifs of broken relationships, salvation, and panic.

    It's still their best album to date, on par with OoS.
  13. JavierChile
    Jun 26, 2015
    10
    And don't know what more you can possible ask to a rock album. This is a MasterPiece. Creative, different styles and sounds between songs...and all just fit perfect togheter
  14. EmmeKira
    Jun 9, 2015
    8
    A great record from what was probably the golden age of this (still) amazing rock band. Many incredible tunes and some true amazing pieces of work (Hysteria, Stockholm Syndrome, Sing for Absolution). Not every track is memorable, but they still managed to craft great follow-up to Origins of Symmetry. Still, I think Muse proved their greatness much better with the next LP, the beautifulA great record from what was probably the golden age of this (still) amazing rock band. Many incredible tunes and some true amazing pieces of work (Hysteria, Stockholm Syndrome, Sing for Absolution). Not every track is memorable, but they still managed to craft great follow-up to Origins of Symmetry. Still, I think Muse proved their greatness much better with the next LP, the beautiful Black Holes & Revelations.… Expand
  15. LoRevisor
    Jan 15, 2015
    9
    Excelente Álbum mesmo sendo mais fraco. Apocalipse Please,Sing For Absolution,Ruled By Secrecy,Blackout são meio fracas. Mas tem a clássica Hysteria
    Top 5 Absolution 2003
    1-Hysteria
    2-The Small Print
    3-Time It's Running Out
    4-Falling Away With You
    5-Stockholm Syndrome And Butterflies And Hurricanes
  16. theNILE
    Aug 7, 2013
    10
    My second favourite album from Muse after Hullabaloo.

    Every track is amazing, nearly every song in here is 10/10 IMO. The amount of emotion in this album is just mind-blowing. This album really reached my core. Many sad songs in here
  17. DementedBySpace
    Mar 2, 2013
    10
    Remember Showbiz... Who would've thought that a band who made a album so down to earth with it's alt rock could make something sound so extraterrestrial. Origin of symmetry just opened a gate for us, but as it ends we were disabled to enter, kind of like an ending to an episode of a show which continues to the beginning of the next one. So with absolution muse have not only continued theirRemember Showbiz... Who would've thought that a band who made a album so down to earth with it's alt rock could make something sound so extraterrestrial. Origin of symmetry just opened a gate for us, but as it ends we were disabled to enter, kind of like an ending to an episode of a show which continues to the beginning of the next one. So with absolution muse have not only continued their work they've previously set up on OoS but they added so much on it. Guitars are so heavy that they could recreate the effect of a Moses stick, the melodies are layered perfectly and the album itself is nothing short of a classic. The grandiosity of muses music only adds to the curiosity of whether all those themes could be applied to the world we currently live in, that is, are those lyrics used as a metaphor describing our surroundings covering us so tight. Political songs like time is running out drain from the usual muse theme well of political corruption and brainwashing while other apocalypse invocating songs are doing their job too good that they make you question whether you can take muse seriously. Apocalypse please, an art rock song with a mind dementia inducing piano work that would postpone a true apocalypse until the songs end at least. But muse don't stop here, they make a ironic, even sarcastic, tribute to the underground society (let's call them underground) with ruled by secrecy, they question current beliefs in the unnatural (that is they question the perspective in which we see god and religion) with thoughts of a dying atheist and even pay attention to the human mind and thought and the way they provide as a muse for creating. All of these themes put together on a same record are a bit too much to take and digest, but once they lay down and insert themselves in your head you will be one lucky bastard (of course if you allow them to). Bringing new philosophical foundations to life has never been so much fun, just remember to close that gate until the next release.… Expand
  18. Frosti
    Sep 30, 2012
    10
    The best CD so far with Muse, also the Showbiz that is not in the Metacritic database, pure 10, perfect. If you are feeling down, listen to this. The grand piano is the perfection in my opinion.
  19. vscoott345
    Apr 26, 2012
    10
    Muse is a great, great band. Absolution is my favorite by them. The instrumentation, lyrics, and singing is all worthwhile. I don't understand how people say they copy Radiohead. Two completely different bands. Some of the songs are so energetic, which is awesome! Even the sad songs are good too!!!!!
  20. j30
    Jan 30, 2012
    9
    Absolution is the turning point for Muse both creatively and musically. It's epic, grandeur sound is a bit corny in some places, but effective none the less. Just a fantastic listen.
  21. elbroder
    Jan 5, 2012
    10
    Great album . Perfect songwriting , it´s very clear , Muse it does not sounds like Radiohead. Amazing songs , a great balance between heavy songs and not so heavy.
  22. Amos982
    Nov 6, 2011
    6
    While Absolution is not a bad record by any means, it exemplifies the 'rage against the machine' meets 'radiohead' criticisms. The album features plenty of good songs, but fails to find a footing and sounds disjointed at times. Still a solid effort with some great, climactic songs.
  23. manurock
    Aug 5, 2011
    8
    Great album by Muse, not as good as their masterpiece "Origin of Symmetry" but still shows Muse's alternative rock/progressive rock/punk rock/classical music approach (which would then switch to electronica/pop metal in the next album "black holes...") that has made this band so well-known. However this album isn't as consistent as Origin of Symmetry.My favourites? Well, Hysteria and RuledGreat album by Muse, not as good as their masterpiece "Origin of Symmetry" but still shows Muse's alternative rock/progressive rock/punk rock/classical music approach (which would then switch to electronica/pop metal in the next album "black holes...") that has made this band so well-known. However this album isn't as consistent as Origin of Symmetry.My favourites? Well, Hysteria and Ruled by Secrecy are fantastic songs and others like Apocalypse Please or Sing for Absolution are also great.… Expand
  24. Gatesofdawn
    Jul 22, 2011
    10
    One of the best rock-albums of the last decade coming from one of the best bands of our time. Powerful, melodic and deep. Butterflies&Hurricanes, Ruled by Secrecy, Sing for Absolution are standouts, but there is not a bad song here. 10
  25. alexwrands
    May 31, 2011
    10
    "Absolution" is an absolute masterpiece by Muse. We could tell they had the potential to pull out something great from their first album "Showbiz", but they eclipsed even my highest expectations with this work. Every track seemed to have the caliber to be a top 40 hit, with "Time Is Running Out" proving to be a timeless classic. A brilliant album from a brilliant band
  26. jfred7
    Apr 27, 2011
    3
    Muse desperately need to learn some restraint. Compositionally, their music has promise, but they ruin it with overwrought melodrama. Most of the songs contain an over-the-top swell or outburst and quite a bit of over-emoting from Matt Bellamy; this is frustrating enough in any individual song, but the cumulative effect of an entire album of this extravagance is absolutely maddening.
  27. Swordfish7
    Apr 25, 2011
    10
    One of the best albums of the past decade.
    As for haters who give it 0. Really? If you hate it so much why do you bother to visit this page at all? That's what I cannot get.
  28. coldplaz
    Feb 13, 2011
    10
    Best muse album
    absolutely flawless and all songs are beautiful
    it has either slow sad ballads like blackout, falling away with you or endlessly, but also great powerful rock songs like stockolm syndrome, hysteria and time is running out
  29. Vampire25
    Dec 4, 2010
    9
    Absolution is a great rock album. It really showed that Muse is a band to take very seriously. The lyrics are what really make this album. And the guitar is soaring. This album just sounds so good. Great tracks from this album is Apocalypse Please, Stockholm Syndrome, and Butterflies and Hurricanes. All In All, Absolution is Muse's best album yet. A-
  30. MG4390
    Oct 29, 2010
    10
    Another masterpiece by Muse, following the amazing Origin of Symmetry. Every song on the album is great, with the top 3 being Hysteria, Butterflies & Hurricanes, and Stockholm Syndrome.
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Awards & Rankings

10
#10 Most Discussed Album of 2004
11
#11 Most Shared Album of 2004

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
72

Generally favorable reviews - based on 16 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 16
  3. Negative: 2 out of 16
  1. Filter
    90
    A massive concept album that is so gluttonously huge-sounding that it makes The Wall sound like a Sebadoh record. [#10, p.94]
  2. Drawer B
    70
    Despite the daunting Radiohead-colored cloud that hangs heavy over Muse, the band pushes the limits of its slick, pre-apocalyptic rock with a self-assured strut.
    Read full review
  3. Mojo
    30
    Pushes the trio's grandiose delusions onto new levels of interpretative-dancing, mirror-cracking excess. [Oct 2003, p.107]
See all critic reviews »