Despite Matt Bellamy’s wardrobe - the red pants and white top combo of Jack White - you’d never mistake Muse’s epic live show for the White Stripes’ stripped back blues. Having played a number of triumphant gigs at Festival Hall earlier this year, Muse returned with a spot at Rod Laver Arena.

What the crowd got was a pared-down version of their recent massive headline gigs at Wembley Stadium. The results of which displaying all the elements of an arena spectacle; including video screens, requisite rock moves and a light show reminiscent of 2001: A Space Odyssey’s ‘star gate’ sequence.

Muse doesn’t tread the line between bombast and pomposity so much as they define it. A piano that emits blue light when it’s struck, guitars with imbedded Kaos Pads and widescreens spewing various special fx like they were going out of fashion prove that subtlety is not an option. But all the over the top visuals complement, rather than compete, with the Devonshire outfit’s tyrannical sound. The equivalent noise is much greater than the sum of their three parts.

The set drew heavily from their latest album, 2006’s Black Holes And Revelations, which proved that their core rock sound, all muscular riffs and melodic changes, can be bent and warped into stunning new configurations. Such as “Supermassive Black Hole” - a collision between Prince and industrial metal - or “Knights of Cydonia” - a long lost theme title to a Sci-Fi Spaghetti Western B-Movie.

In spite of the stadium setting, the band was in a playful mood, fritting away at riffs between songs or simply sauntering about in the darkness. However, this approach resulted in failure when a problem with the monitors arose, resulting in what seemed like an endless gap in the set. Which instead of being covered with chit chat, jamming or even an apology, was left in vulnerable silence as the audience screamed for more. A vastly unprofessional moment, especially considering the band’s recent live awards from various media (Q Magazine Best Live Act, MTV Best Headline Act, Vodafone Tour of the Year and so on).

The break in the momentum would have killed lesser acts, but it is a testament to Muse’s energy and familiarity with the live setting that it only took one powerful round of “Apocalypse Please” before they had the arena eating out of the palm of their hand again.

The night was also smattered with a few rarities too, including “Fury” a fan favourite B-Side and “Micro Cuts” also receiving ecstatic cheers from the crowd. Powerful numbers such as “Hysteria”, “Starlight,” “Stockholm Syndrome” and an encore of “Plug-In Baby” display the best thing about seeing Muse live: a band that makes the prospect of rock music as spectacle interesting again. Engaging, addictive - and with Bellamy reigning in his guitar like it is some kind of squealing digital monster - masterful.

Setlist:
Take A Bow
Map Of The Problematique
New Born
Butterflies & Hurricanes
Micro Cuts
Supermassive Black Hole
Feeling Good
Apocalypse Please
Soldier's Poem
Invincible
Hysteria
Fury
Starlight
Time Is Running Out
Stockholm Syndrome
Plug In Baby
The Groove (Instrumental)
Knights Of Cydonia