Muse - Won't Stand Down (REACTION!) 

You need to check out Hysteria by these guys. Bass line is insane

Muse is such a weird band - and that's why I love them. They mix so many genres and forms into their music. Want some metal? You got it. Want some classical? We can do that, too. Pop? Why not. Want some R&B or 80's vibes? Sure. They are all over the map musically, but ultimately, that's what makes them good. Really good. They are their own creation and you don't actually see bands like that these days. Saw them live at Red Rocks a few years ago, and it was the best show I'd ever seen, hands down. That's a happy memory I will take to my grave.

I already see a lot of suggestions for "Knights of Cydonia" and I have to agree. Muse have definitely progressed throughout their career for better or worse, but their older stuff hits better in my opinion. Also, the term 'gaslight' came from a 1938 play called 'Gas Light' that was also adapted into a movie later wherein a husband manipulates his wife and uses the gas lights in the house as one of the ways to convince her she is going crazy.

The album black holes and revelations as well as the album Absolution, are definitely top tier. Muse has evolved so much and is always an interesting listen.

Can't wait to hear/see that breakdown live. Muse's live shows are something to be experienced for sure!

This is everything I want of MUSE. They just continue to evolve and create amazing pieces of work. Not a single album to me has been bad. Every album just grows and tries new things but also still BANG.

Muse is one of those bands that experiement with every genre. They're heavily influenced by classical, prog, 70s/80s/90s rock, and have some metal influences, especially in their earlier albums. You can't really pin them down as to having one sound because they don't. I mean, when you hear a Muse song you definitely know it's Muse, but they don't make the same type of music over and over again like many bands.

Every album is different to the previous. They were more heavy in early albums but not metal. I think you would like songs like Citizen Erased, Knights of Cydonia, Butterflies and Hurricanes. Their strong point is the live performances. Best live band of last 20 years IMO

If you want some early "metalish" sound of Muse, you should give a try to the song Dead Star. Released as a b-side during Origin of Symmetry sessions. They played it live during their Origin tour, back in 2001...

Very good analysis Ryan and George. Considering you haven't listened to Muse except for Uprising, you have it right. The song takes more listens even for a lot of us that have listened to Muse for years. I'd go into Knights of Cydonia live at Rome Olympic Stadium, Plug in Baby, Supermassive Back Hole, Hysteria, and Time is Running Out.

Has to be MUSE - Knights of Cydonia LIVE in ROME video next for more Muse ✌️😁🎶🤘

The chorus is actually the most traditional Muse to me personally, and I missed that after their last two albums, so that's actually my favourite part.

In their first 3-4 albums Muse was much more hard rock and heavier sounding, though they always have had softer side. As time has progressed, they started taking more risks with electronic instruments, went a little more mainstream and pop-rock. Won't Stand Down is a nice mix of their old and new stuff, teetering back to their older harder sound if I had to assess what side of the scale it falls. If you want to hear some of their harder, more straight forward rock riffs, check out Stockholm Syndrome, Hysteria, Knights of Cydonia, Assassin, Citizen Erased...all bangers, with elements of heaviness, elements of groove, and all around great listens. Specifically Hysteria, that bass line is iconic.

Dudes are total musicians. I'm generally a metal fan and I wouldn't put them in that category but I like what they do. This one isn't bad. "Hysteria" is great by Muse.

Knights of Cydonia would be my pick for more Muse. Amazing track.

If you have the oppotunity to see them live, go, they are amazing! Probably the best concerts i’ve seen

I LOVE my MUSE! Seen them 25 times, can't wait for the new album! Without reading the comments, they've always had heavy songs. Uprising was part of the album The Resistance (the song Resistance is based on Orwell's 1984 novel), which came out in 2009. Between Uprising and Won't Stand Down, there are 3 more albums! :D All very different, all very creative! Listen to these songs, heavy, and we love it! If you only have time for ONE, listen to FURY. (ok you HAVE hear Dead Star too!!) Fury (2003) Dead Star (2002) Assassin (2006) Stockholm Syndrome (2003) Hysteria (2002) Psycho (2015) The Handler (2015) And the sublime Butterflies and Hurricanes (2003), and gems like Falling Away with You (2003), Endlessly (2003), Time is Running Out (2003), And the more mainstream Starlight (2006) and Supermassive Blackhole (2006), and Knights of Cydonia (2006). Sorry, I can go on and on! They are so talented and diverse and creative, they have their own style, can't define them!

Ryan's commentary really shines in this one. I was a Muse fan back in the Absolution album days. I came away with similar opinions to the two of you on this song. I appreciate the creativity and like that they are progressing. Something I've always loved about Rush.

Plenty of amazing songs from Muse like: Hysteria, MK Ultra, Resistance, Knights of Cydonia, Dead Inside, Starlight, Supermassive Blackhole, Panic Station, Madness, Time Is Running Out, Endlessly, Etc!!!

There are things in this song that are found in Muse's history, but they probably haven't been as fully represented as they are here. What I will promise you is that it will be an amazing live song. Thanks for the great, candid reaction. It does take multiple listens.

Muse puts up one of the best live shows for being just 3 guys on stage. You should review their live performances.

Great analysis, Ryan. Muse definitely has some heavier stuff, mainly in their early work and scattered throughout, but they have never gone for those “metal” guitar tones. I recommend The Handler, Hysteria, and Knights of Cydonia for your next Muse tracks. My personal favorite is Map of the Problematique, but dip your toes in the others first.

These heavier riffs reminds me a little of their song 'Assassin', I feel you'll enjoy it! About the growling, I think it's actually a distortion effect on top of vocals (I think I've seen their bass player use this pattern in some live recordings of other songs)...

Love your reactions guys.. the knowledge and your honesty is what RU-vid needs rather than loving everything just for the likes. GREAT JOB KEEP IT UP. Much love from the 🇬🇧

They are really trying to chase the innovation that made them worldwide rock legends at the beginning of their career. But before you ever throw up a permanent opinion on them, please listen to anything of the Origin of Symmetry or Absolution album. Every song off those two records are complete bangers.

Hysteria has one of the best intros of any song in the last 25 years, it's such a hype song even though it's fairly straightforward. Please if you do Muse again, make that the choice 🤘

Great song, in my opinion their best one since 2 albums. Looking forward to the new one. Muse's greatest influence is Queen, hence their experimental take on music

Give Muse a couple of listens and I think you'll be hooked. Check out some of their live concerts.

They added those two notes in the good part, where you don't expect them, and for me that level of originality is very consistent with metal

This is actually quite a Muse sounding song if you're familiar with their back catalog, although definitely on the heavier side. I'd say go back to Origin of Symmetry album; Plug in Baby, Bliss, and New Born would be great places to start

Knights of Cydonia is a must listen from Muse! 👍 still to this day my favorite song from them. 😘😘

I recently decided to dive deeper into muses discography and there are soo many great songs.

They venture into so many different genres. They're a progressive band at their core. Uprising is really tame compared to most of their catalogue.

Great reaction guys!! Between this & Uprising, it's but a small snapshot of what Muse does. This one has more flavors of their old heavy style. They dabble in prog, metal, symphonic, electronic, straightforward rock & ballads - so they're hard to pigeonhole! For continued heaviness, listen to Hysteria, Knights of Cydonia, Citizen Erased, Apocalypse Please, Plug In Baby. So many great tracks!

Thanks for introducing me to more Muse! I haven’t listened in a while to this band. They are so very diverse, and I personally like the abrupt transitions here. They are unexpected. And it does remind me of a song that would fit a rock opera, like Jesus Christ Superstar.very cool!

For me it's all about Stockholm Syndrome from the album Absolution. The relentless, driving bass and the weird Final Fantasy type breaks at about a minute and a half and in other places. Perfection.

Listen to the 20th anniversary remix of Origin Of Symmetry. The first time I heard Newborn back in 2001 I was a fan! Try Microcuts and Megalomania. From later albums Knights Of Cydonia (Haarp live version) and Take A Bow.

You two young men are simply the best , enough said .💎💎💎💎👍🏾👍🏾🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧

What a band !!! Matt is such an amazing artist... amazing live !!!

In this order for any future Muse gentlemen...Hysteria, Knights of Cydonia and Starlight. Good mix of what Muse is all about. Great job as always guys.

Muse is VERY popular in the EU. They don’t have such a huge following here in the states, but I absolutely LOVE them. They are absolutely INCREDIBLE live, and I recommend you react to live performances of Knights of Cydonia (Live at Rome Olympic Stadium) and Plug in Baby, (Same Stadium)

This new song is their choice for a single radio release for their new album. It's automatically going to be more mainstream and "poppy" than their other music. Explore their less popular tracks and you might be pleasantly suprised.

the best way to do Muse reactions is live ones. plug in baby, hysteria, knights of Cydonia, reapers, butterflies and hurricanes, new born, the list actually goes on and on and on. definitely a rabbit hole worth falling down

Breakdown is like Metalcore light

Muse is ever evolving. I try to nail down my favorites through the years and it's impossible. Some of the most amazing live shows I've ever been too. Give em a chance George. Hit that back catalog and you won't be disappointed.

Knights of Cydonia, Madness, Dead Inside. All of them are great songs and awesome music videos.

You've got to love Muse! Try Stockholm Syndrome, Citizen Erased, Plug in Baby, Butterflies and Hurricanes.

I just heard this song for the first time today. I'm impressed by it!

I would highly recommend songs from their older albums like Knights of Cydonia, I haven't been the biggest fan of their modern work.

'Give it another listen'. I'd recommend 3-4. That's when I really got the vibe of it all.

One of the best bands ever. Uprising its nothing compared with other songs from them.

Gotta be Knights of Cydonia guys lol. Been saying that for a while, but Map of the Problematique wouldn't be a bad one either imo. I havent listened to the last couple Muse albums but their earlier stuff was pretty solid. Cheers!

I love this.... the always come up with something awesome

With Muse you must Always watch live performances! Please react to some more muse.

Muse is synonymous with "variety" and "taking chances" Fr every song sounds different and can stand on its own while reinforcing the albums narrative if you were to listen to the whole thing

You guys would love Muse - Assassin

Muse grows on you. The songs are infectious. First time it’s like hmmm, then second time it’s like yeah, third time you find yourself really getting into it. There is a lot of good and vastly different muse songs

They have lots of heavy stuff from earlier albums! Songs I would definitely recommend are New Born, Stockholm Syndrome, The Small Print, Hysteria, Assassin and Knights of Cydonia! They do cover lots of other genres though and I think its why they have such a broad appeal and you'll be hard pressed to find a better live band or a better show. Singer/songwriter/keyboardist/guitarist Matt Belamy is like Freddy Mercury and Brian May in one body, incredible talent and showmanship. Chris Wolstenholme is an amazing bassist and Dom Howard kills on drums. Worth the deep dive!

they have never growled this apparently, never been doing metalcore, but I love it. It's a band that takes something popular and makes it "Muse" Many ppl suggested the verses are TOP or Imagine Dragons -esque, and I can see that. For example on The Resistance album they were accused of "stealing" from Queen. Their most heavy songs are i'd say Micro Cuts, The Small Print, or Stockholm Syndrome - very heavy in own ways strong songs.

I got invited to a Muse concert knowing only a few songs. I put it in my top 10 concerts. Muse is very creative. Try-Plug In Baby by Muse

Great breakdown. Ill just say I think you guys should definitely check out Supermassive Black Hole by Muse. I feel like you guys might vibe more with that song.

Great song.. Thanks for covering it.

Butterflies and Hurricanes. BUTTERFLIES AND HURRICANES has to be next from these guys. It shows their range, their power and what makes them stand out from other bands

This album, the lead singer, said that they wanted to test more into it. They've had rif and stuff, but they wanted to dive deeper. They also had a general theme of breaking a dictative figure, which is the theme of the new album, so the point of the chorus was a feeling of empowerment. Plus, a great thing about them is that they always have a general distinctive sound to them that makes them recognizable

You guys should really do Royal Blood - Typhoons

You've barely heard any Muse and you start with this song (Well, second but still) ? They have an amazing discography which you should check out first! Hysteria, Stockholm Syndrome, Knights of Cydonia, New born, Plug in baby... Just to name a few.

Love this band and especially this new album!!!

Love the metal influence breakdowns in this song

I really like city of delusion, save me, new born, muscle museum.. to name a few. I haven't listened to a lot of The new stuff. But their older stuff is really good. I saw them live when the 2nd law had just come out and they were top notch.

yeah I agree with the majority of comments: Knights of Cydonia

love love yalls stuff and to answer the question, fury and dead star can take you places.. muse has evolved alot..

His vocals are so dope. So clean

I wanna second all the commenters asking for older stuff. Anything from Origin of Symmetry. I recommend Plug In Baby.

First I've heard this song. Sounds good imo

I like their song Reapers! So neat.

Hysteria! The bass would drive you guys crazy

Really hard to pinpoint who they are like, they just have their own sound with a ton of influences from everywhere. Just glad the guitars are back!

First time I've listened to Muse in a very long time...Really need to revisit their catalog.

Extremely ambitious vocal melody! Not gonna be easy to pull off live but sounds great

nice video at 3am ✋🏻 i love ryan and gorge so much!! Thanks for nice reaction guys 💜

It's genius you'll get it eventually

Gotta check out Hysteria. It was one of their biggest hits (maybe even thee biggest) and it's more structured in a way that you will probably be able to get into a groove with.

You listen to enough of Muse's catalog and you'll find that they combine punk anger, metal riffs, funk rhythms, glam excess, prog pretense and psychedelic transcendence. They've got something for everyone.

Modern day queen. Rock opera is their forte to me. Piano, operatic voice and rock all is a modern take on Queen..

Muse are growers, not showers. They get better the more you listen.

“Gaslight” was a famous movie from 1944 in which a man used the gas home lighting and other things to cause his wife to think she was crazy. This is where the term stems from

You guys gotta hear more Muse, they've got so many bangers

couldn't help but notice the perfectly synced reaction to 3:11 they both go "hold up" at the exact same time with a tiny head nod lmfao

I’m so glad Muse is doing heavier stuff again! The Absolution album has some of my favorite heavy songs like Stockholm Syndrome, Hysteria, Smallprint and Fury. Reapers from the Drones album is another one of my heavy songs by Muse. They just have the best variety which is why they’ve been my favorite band since the Resistance album came out in 2009.

Muse has been my favorite band for almost 2 decades. It takes me weeks of listening to actually like every new album because I'm so taken aback by their musical shifts. The fact that you don't like it on the first listen makes a lot of sense to me. Thanks for the review.

Great reaction guys. I totally feel like you do, The more I listen to it the more I like it, it is you want to explore more old muse do Some origin of symmetry songs or Absolution songs too

Hysteria for sure needs to be one of your next listens. But it’s hard to select out of so many good songs.

Must-listens: - Micro Cuts - Stockholm Syndrome - Knights of Cydonia - Survival

React to Harry Mack 52, he actually makes a hook in the last interaction. I would say usually the first and the last rap in his videos are the best ones. (also to the last interaction in his 45 video, he goes off acapella) btw y’all’s breakdown of the ‘Em and MKG beef was dope!

Knights of Cydonia or Hysteria next

Muse have ventured into metal before, but it was a long time ago, and from what I've heard it wasn't *quite* as heavy as this, but still incredible, their second album origin of symmetry I think had the most of this kind of sound, but all their albums especially some of the older ones are amazing I would recommend new born from origin of symmetry

Their music is all over the place. IMO one of if not THE best modern rock band out there. Their catalogue is HUUGE, might I suggest ANIMALS? The lyrics on nearly all of their stuff are very thought provoking..

The fact you reacted to this and not to all their classics hurt my soul

Woo muse lets go. You need to do there best song Knights of Cydonia

I love assassin, good workout tune.