By AMBER AINSWORTH, A&E Editor

Combining a unique stage design, spectacular lighting and an array of props, Muse’s Drones World Tour created an explosive atmosphere in Joe Louis Arena last Thursday.

In support of the band’s most recent release, a concept album centered around wartime, the show perfectly stuck to the ideas of that album, primarily dehumanization in relation to war.

Surrounded by drones floating through the arena, the band took to a circular stage illuminated by a rainbow of light, as well as brief moments of darkness. Throughout the two hour-long set, the songs flowed from one to the next, classics to new tracks, without stopping. Moving about the large stage area before the surface began to rotate, every angle of the audience was able to take in the performances of each member.

Aside from the music and the band, large black balloons were released into the arena, along with an inflatable plane complete with missiles. Accompanying the act were multiple screens, boasting incredibly sharp views of the band performing, wartime images, and song lyrics. The show wound down with an explosion of confetti canons that, unlike the typical canons used at concerts, continued to blast the audience with bits of paper for longer than just the initial firing.

From a visual standpoint, Muse put on a show that attacked the sense of sight in a way that completely engulfed fans. Beyond the extraordinary visuals, the set’s direct relation to the album Drones transformed an ordinary show into a potent storyline, advanced by the band’s seamless transitions from song to song. Plus, the arena’s center-oriented stage shook every corner of the venue, delivering an echoing punch of instruments and vocals.

While many artists often mix videos and props into their concerts, it was as if Muse mixed music into their videos and props. Detroit’s show was nothing short of stunning, an experience that reached far beyond music.