10 Greatest Hard Rock Songs (Without Vocals)

10. The 2nd Law: Isolated System - Muse

There's probably a subsect of Muse fans who like to imagine that the 2nd Law doesn't really exist. Despite having some fantastic Muse cuts like Supremacy among its ranks, the more dubstep influenced sound did raise a few eyebrows from fans who preferred the straight up rock and roll from the band's early days. While it's hard not to see something like the title track's Unsustainable section as a product of the time, Isolated System is where things start to get fascinating.

Instead of the usual obnoxious blends of electronic music into the mix, this is where the synthetic pads get a little more tasteful, as the song plays out over news footage of what happens when energy in one spot could be dangerous if not controlled properly. Set to some amazing drum programs and electronic enhancements, this kind of track lets the idea of chaos sink in, as the aftermath of everything closes in around you.

Whereas the first iteration of this track was about beating you over the head with the destruction that comes from uncontrolled energy, this is where we see the resulting carnage, where the energy dies down only to return all over again if you're not careful.

Though Muse may get a lot of Radiohead comparisons, this kind of Kid A style backing track is still a trip to listen to. In case you missed out on the 2nd Law out of dubstep ignorance, give this one a shot to see what a MIDI instrument can really do.