User Score
8.7 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 288 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Negative: 14 out of 288

Review this album

  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
  1. RoryD
    Aug 22, 2009
    4
    The album is all huff and puff, but will never blow the house down. The lack of decent lyrics is covered over by fancy guitar work and crashes and bangs. Soldiers Song is by far the worst Muse song on record, and the albums only saving grace is when they turn the lunacy up for Knights of Cydonia, actually a great song. Muse ,disappointingly, are now just a formerly great band commiting latter-day sins. Expand
  2. rottencabbage
    Aug 31, 2006
    0
    Utter rubbish, like the rest of their catalogue. It's bombastic, pretentious, and completely uninspired (never mind Matthew Bellamy being amongst the nation's most asinine lyricists, with drivel vomiting forth from his Thom Yorke/Jeff Buckley-wannabe maw). Wait, that's how every Muse album sounds, isn't it?
  3. DonoL.
    Sep 25, 2007
    0
    This is the worst most pathetic album i have ever heard.
  4. DavidW
    Jul 14, 2006
    4
    Black holes and revelations is easily Muse's weakest album. There are maybe four good songs (Starlight, Knights, Supermassive, Problematique) and the rest is the kind of pointless filler we simply don't expect from Muse.
  5. OndraL.
    Jul 10, 2006
    0
    this is the piece of shit
  6. MartinF
    Jul 14, 2006
    1
    Such a disappointment. Gentlemen you should have done better!
  7. EthanP
    Sep 9, 2006
    1
    "Pretentious, bombastic theatrics" would've been interesting. This is more "boring."
  8. DavidC.
    Sep 13, 2009
    3
    The sad part is, Muse used to sound much better when they were a Radiohead clone outfit. For all their want of original ideas, Showbiz was good for its use of a tried and tested formula. Since then, they have given us wave after wave of dreary metallic cock rock. They know how to please a crowd and fairplay to them... it's why their fans love them as a live act. But for all their theatrical affectations, their music is just not much fun. If you tried to imagine Queen without the irresistible pop melodies and more kitsch, then you're about halfway there. Still, if Metallica or Dream Theatre is your sort of thing, then I'm no one to stop you listening to them. Expand
  9. GuyH
    Oct 16, 2006
    0
    The first track is laughable - it sounds like the theme to 'Flash Gordon' (only cheesier) and we are supposed to take this band seriously. They keep re-hashing the same melodies over and over again. They are talented musicians but should forget songs and vocals (the singing is dire) and write experimental instrumental music that challenges them - they are not playing to their artistic strengths (although fair play - they are making some cash so probably couldn't care less!!!) Expand
  10. BrandonD
    Jul 11, 2006
    0
    I think it would be far more accurate to say that anyone who likes Muse has terrible taste in music. These critics aren't harsh enough. Muse is super-cheesy, over-the-top but not endearingly so, and they come off like what they are, mid-90's Bends-era Radiohead ripoffs with delusions of grandeur and the technical talent (which is the only nice thingI can say about them) to back up their lame dreams. You might as well admit you like Creed and Nickelback while you're rockin' to Muse, it's practically the same. Even Coldplay's lame-duck non-rock has more nuance than this. Expand
  11. ParanoidAndroid
    Jul 11, 2006
    2
    The worst LP of muse. Actually muse are very interesting in the money and make song more popular possible.
  12. StPete
    Jul 12, 2006
    4
    It is very hard for me to give a low rating to Muse. They are one of my top 5 all-time favorite bands, but I was so disappointed in this album. I've given it a couple listens to try and really let it envelope me like their other albums did when they came out, but this one does nothing for me. The 4 is for Take A Bow and Knights of Cydonia... the opening and closing tracks are incredible. I just wish everything in between wasn't so boring. Sorry Muse, I'll wait and hope for the next one and go back to non-stop spinning of OoS, Absolution and Showbiz in the meantime. :( Expand
  13. andyy
    Jul 16, 2006
    4
    Ho-hum! Another round of Radiohead-wanna-be tracks. "Problematique"? Where have I heard that title before? Oh yeah: Radiohead's KID A album, the song "Idioteque."
  14. ZapB.
    Apr 14, 2008
    4
    An ok album, but someone remind me again how the lead singer doesn't sound exactly like Thom Yorke?
Metascore

Generally favorable reviews - based on 32 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 22 out of 32
  2. Negative: 1 out of 32
  1. Entertaining and rabble-rousing, daft and deadly serious, it's a fantastic record, with almost limitless appeal.
  2. Black Holes and Revelations isn’t a perfect record but it’s a worthy addition to an already stellar catalog. [#14]
  3. It shouldn't work, but Bellamy's mania is so convincingly realised that even the most avowed Muse refusenik may have to finally concede defeat.