Being a diehard fan, I hate that I agree with most of this review (aside from the intro and your thoughts about Muse as a whole). This album is incredibly disjointed, and there is a certain cheesy-ness factor to a handful of songs that take me out of the big picture. If I go and listen to a select track here and there I can handle it, but to go front to back is a chore.

Lyrically, Survival is a dud, and I can't get past it. The backing vocals in Big Freeze are cringe-worthy. Again, I just can't get past it. Loved the 3-part Exogenesis Symphony to close Reistance, but Unsustainable felt like a loop of the same 12 seconds and it ruined what could have been a fine closer in Isolated.

Props to a great read, Craig.