Muse frontman Matt Bellamy embraces Meshuggah influences, crafting an aggressive 8-string Manson guitar model to unleash on a colossal new Muse track.
Matt Bellamy, the guitar-swinging maestro of Muse, has unleashed a monstrous new tool for his riff arsenal: an 8-string electric guitar! This custom-built Manson Oryx baby recently took center stage during Muse's earth-shaking performance of their fresh track, Unravelling.
Bellamy gave us a sneak peak with an Instagram post - clutching his purplish, sleek new ride like a precious artifact. He's no stranger to wild guitar experiments (from homemade fuzz pedals to a mirror-masked fretboard!), so this dip into 8-string territory is just his latest dive into uncharted waters.
Muse hasn't been shy about playing with extended-range guitars. In the past, we've heard them rock out with drop A riffs in Citizen Erased, grinding low with grungy riffs in The Globalist, and charging through riff storms in drop B in Kill or be Killed. But this time, they're going even lower.
Unraveling was teased on social media with some tantalizing clips of Bellamy machines-gunning away on his 8-string Manson, while bassist Chris Wolstenholme slaps his LED-infused Status bass. The track had its electric live debut in Helsinki, Finland, promising a new era for Muse before they hit European stages this summer for Hellfest, Pinkpop, Open'er, and Mad Cool.
The song? Not your everyday sugar-coated pop number - we can thank that new axe for that. Its chunky riff mixes a Tom Morello stomp with a Meshuggah growl, while hops from light to shade set up a seismic chorus before an feet-off-the-ground bridge and "stank face"-inducing halftime outro that really benefits from the lower octaves.
Set to drop on June 20, Unraveling is currently unclear whether it's a standalone track or a preview of an upcoming album. Muse hasn't released a studio album since 2018's Will of the People, so a landmark 10th album from these stadium rockers is well overdue!
Manson Guitars shared some deets about the guitar itself, dubbing it the Manson Oryx. The bolt-on neck sports an elegant gloss finish, the headstock boasts asymmetrical tuners with a 5-3 layout, and the whole thing comes in shimmering purple. No fancy inlays here, just a sleek, snake-like design.
Bellamy has been sharpening his guitar design chops since taking over as a majority shareholder of Manson Guitar Works in 2019. His vision? To blend innovation with playability, constantly pushing boundaries while still producing guitars that can genuinely deliver when it counts. Watch out for more guitar-tastic weirdiness if a new album is indeed on the horizon!
- Matt Bellamy, the guitar virtuoso of Muse, showcased his latest acquisition for his riff collection, an 8-string electric guitar, a custom-built Manson Oryx, during their performance of Unravelling.
- Bellamy's Instagram post revealed his new 8-string Manson Oryx, a purplish, sleek guitar that he clutched like a prized artifact.
- Muse's latest track, Unravelling, features a new technique with Bellamy playing an 8-string electric guitar, adding a unique texture to the music.
- Bellamy, known for his guitar innovations such as homemade fuzz pedals and mirror-masked fretboards, has been able to deliver uncharted territory in his guitar experimentation with the 8-string guitar.
