10 Greatest Hard Rock Anthems Ever
2. Knights of Cydonia - Muse
As the '00s turned a corner, it was time to drop all of the sadness that came with the grunge movement. For as much fun as it may have been in the early days, the post-Cobain years ended up casting a bad light over the rest of the decade, with bands talking about nothing except their problems. The focus may have been squarely on simplistic rock and roll, but Muse came to the forefront to inject some power back into the fold.
Though the band had been making a name for themselves for years, the release of Black Holes and Revelations saw them grabbing the rock world by the throat, with Knights of Cydonia being their crowning achievement. As the track fades in, the entire first section of the song plays out like a Space Western, as the infectious galloping leads the charge.
The song set everything up perfectly, but we are just getting started once the acapella breakdown kicks in, with Matt Bellamy hitting high notes many of us only wish we were able to sing. Going out on one of the most badass riffs of the modern age, Muse created a hard rock odyssey that toed the line between badass and ridiculous and came out on top.
Most rock anthems just make you feel good, but a song like this takes you a journey that you won't soon forget after 6 minutes.