Assassin (song)
| Muse song | |
|---|---|
| Name | Assassin |
| Album/single |
|
| Length | 3:31, 5:19 (Grand Omega Bosses edit) |
| Alternative titles | |
| First live performance | 8th April 2005(Grand Omega Bosses Edit, early version) |
| Latest live performance | 24th February 2018 (album version) |
| Recorded | 2005-2006 |
| Writer/composer | Matthew Bellamy |
| Producer | Rich Costey[3] |
| Chart position | 6 (download)[4] |
| Song Nav | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Invincible | < | Assassin | > | Exo-Politics |
| Album Nav | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Absolution (2003) | < | Black Holes and Revelations (2006) | > | The Resistance (2009) |
Description
Perhaps the Muse song that most reminds of Daron Malakian's Armenian-tinged metal guitar playing. Bellamy's stabby guitar riffs are accompanied by a heavy bass line and thrashing drums. There are portions of the song where the drumming is the most audible, as in "Map of the Problematique". The vocals were overdubbed by Matt multiple times to create a barbershop quartet effect, complete with staccato "You-ou-ou-ou-ou"'s and harmonized 7th chords. The bridge section of the "Grand Omega Bosses edit" resembles the band's rendition of "Prelude In G Minor".[5] The full length version of Assassin (Grand Omega Bosses edit) is very similar in structure to 1997 demo version of "Ashamed".
Additional information
"Assassin" was formerly known as "Debase Mason's Grog" ("Message Board Song"),[6] and before the finalisation of the album's track list, Demonocracy.[7] Demonocracy means the power or government of demons. Funnily enough, the letters can be re-arranged as "Dom's Arse Goes Bang", if it is real, might reference the difficulty of the drums.
Bellamy has said this is a "kind of take a gun out and kill somebody" style song.[8] Early reviews prior to the album's release described the introduction with reference to the Knight Rider theme music.[9]
Several major changes were made to the song compared to earlier live versions from 2005. Previously, it had a longer, more distorted intro, more varied percussion, most prominently contained a slow bridge between the first and second chorus, and was generally more progressive. The original drumming was used in "Map of the Problematique".
The song is featured in the 2008 game Guitar Hero: World Tour as a playable track,[10] where there is also a secret achievement for the 360 version of the game called "Muse to My Ears", requiring you to score 222,222 points or higher on Assassin, playing the drums. [11]
Recording
During recording, the bass drum had a "few" extra microphones, to record the "most definition possible". These microphones for the bass drum included one inside the drum and two outside. Capacitor microphones were used for the snare drums.[12]
Live
An extended version of the song was reintroduced during the 2006 tour. This version includes a modified version of the omitted interlude, with different percussion and no vocals. While there are reports both of the interlude being placed in its original position and of extensions comprising of parts of the original version, these claims cannot be substantiated and some of these claims contradict the recordings.[13] Wolstenholme screams the line "Aim, shoot, kill your leaders" during the solo that's on the album.[14]
After several years of the song being dropped from the setlists (the last time being played at the the 2nd of July 2007 gig), it was attempted at the 15th March 2015 gig in Belfast. It would have been played and the intro was started, but Matt apparently forgot how to play the song, so it was scrapped. However, it was played in it's extended form a few days later on 19th March in Newport and continued to make occasional appearances throughout 2015/16.
It once again returned in 2022 at the Exeter Cavern Club gig in April which marked the first time the song had been played in it's original Grand Omega Bosses Edit form (which included the whammy lead guitar during the intro along with the breakdown being played during the middle of the song with the additional vocals) since its early performances in 2005. It was subsequently played at both London gigs in May 2022 and throughout the 2022 Theatre Tour towards the end of the year.
Alternate versions
It was reported that an extended version of "Assassin" was to be the B-Side for the "Knights of Cydonia" single on the offical Muse site.[15] This was later clarified to be for B-Side to the vinyl and non-preordered digital formats, and that the name of it is "Grand Omega Bosses edit".[16] Grand Omega Bosses is an anagram for 'Debase Masons Grog', or 'Message Board Song', a former title during the 2005 cryptography game,[6] used to signify the then-untitled, extended version of "Assassin" on a set list. This version reinserts the interlude and lyrics featured in the 2005 live version, as well as adding a piano part during said interlude.
The "Grand Omega Bosses edit" adds some depth to the interpretation of the song. Instead of one resisting alongside others (as in "join forces underground"), the importance of taking action before the isolation of resistance can be overcome is strengthened in the lyrics of the bridge (see "You're not alone / But you must actualise / The first attack"). Whilst at 3:11 Bellamy can be heard saying 'Go!' in the album version, this was removed on the "Grand Omega Bosses edit".
The piano part within the 'Debase' interlude was added prior to the shortening of the song, rather than afterwards. Costey revealed that the band had been planning to release the "Grand Omega Bosses edit" for some time prior to its release.[12]
Lyrics
War is overdue
The time has come for you To shoot your leaders down Join forces underground
Lose control And increasing pace Warped and bewitched Time to erase Whatever they say These people are torn Wild and bereft Assassin is born, yeah
Aim, shoot, kill your leaders Aim, Kill them all
Oppose and disagree Destroy demonocracy
Lose control And increasing pace Warped and bewitched Time to erase Whatever they say These people are torn Wild and bereft Assassin is born, yeah
Grand Omega Bosses edit
War is overdue
The time has come for you To shoot your leaders down Join forces underground
Lose control And increasing pace Warped and bewitched Time to erase Whatever they say These people are torn Wild and bereft Assassin is born, yeah
Aim, shoot, kill your leaders
They'll try to steal your life So watch your back You're not alone But you must actualise The first attack
Oppose and disagree Destroy demonocracy
Lose control And increasing pace Warped and bewitched Time to erase Whatever they say These people are torn Wild and bereft Assassin is born, yeah
2005 tour
The lyrics would differ slightly with each performance, but the most common lyrics were as follows:
War is overdue
The time has come for you To shoot your leaders down And pray on holy ground (occasionally "Truth's crumbling now")
Lose control Loosing faith Lingering gods Time to erase Lose control Lose your faith Lingering gods (Sometimes "god"/"hours") Turn to the grave
They'll try to steal your life So watch your back You're not alone But you must actualise The first attack
War is overdue But I'm still here for you
Lose control Loosing faith Lingering gods Time to erase Lose control Lose your faith Lingering gods Turn to the grave
Shepherds Bush Empire 2006
The following second verse was sung instead:
Destroy and disagree
Cut down demonocracy
References
- ↑ San Antonio Sunset Station 2005 set list (2005-05-03). [verify]
- ↑ Dallas Gypsy Ballroom 2005 set list (2005-05-04). [verify]
- ↑ Album notes
- ↑ Dave Walker. (2007-01-13). Muse, Leona and Depeche Mode top the download charts for 2006. Techdigest.tv. Retrieved from techdigest.tv.
- ↑ Typlo. (2002-07-07). Muse - Screenager [Live Eurockéennes 2002]. YouTube. Retrieved from youtube.com.
- ↑ a b Philadelphia Liacouras Center 2005 set list (2005-04-15). Muse. [verify]
- ↑ Tom. (2006-03-15). Muse featured in NME and Kerrang!. MuseLive.com. Retrieved from muselive.com.
- ↑ Interview with Colin Murray (2006-10-05). BBC Radio 1. [verify]
- ↑ Muse: Black Holes And Revelations (2006-06-30). Drowned in Sound. [verify]
- ↑ Robert Workman. (2008-09-12). Guitar Hero World Tour Full Set List Revealed. GameDaily. Retrieved from www.gamedaily.com.
- ↑ Guitar Hero World Tour Achievement List. Xbox 360 Achievements. Retrieved from Xbox 360 Achievements.
- ↑ a b Jeff Touzeau. (2007-03). An Evening with Rich Costey. EQ. [verify]
- ↑ muselive.com 20060924
- ↑ Hyundai Pavilion 20060923
- ↑ muse.mu News 20061017
- ↑ muse.mu News 20061107
