![Setter Emma Lee (9) sets the ball to the middle during the match against Pinewood on Sept. 12. “[I’m looking forward to] getting more skilled, learning more about my position and also becoming better friends with all of my teammates," Emma said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/DSC_4917-2-1200x795.jpg)
![“[Building nerf blasters] became this outlet of creativity for me that hasn't been matched by anything else. The process [of] making a build complete to your desire is such a painstakingly difficult process, but I've had to learn from [the skills needed from] soldering to proper painting. There's so many different options for everything, if you think about it, it exists. The best part is [that] if it doesn't exist, you can build it yourself," Ishaan Parate said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/DSC_8149-900x604.jpg)
![“Animation just clicked in a way. I had been interested in art, but that felt different. [Animation] felt like it had something behind it, whereas previous things felt surface level. I wasn't making that crazy of things, but just the process of doing it was much more enjoyable," Carter Chadwick ('22) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Screen-Shot-2022-08-16-at-9.44.08-AM-900x598.png)
![“When I came into high school, I was ready to be a follower. But DECA was a game changer for me. It helped me overcome my fear of public speaking, and it's played such a major role in who I've become today. To be able to successfully lead a chapter of 150 students, an officer team and be one of the upperclassmen I once really admired is something I'm [really] proud of,” Anvitha Tummala ('21) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Screen-Shot-2021-07-25-at-9.50.05-AM-900x594.png)
![“[Volleyball has] taught me how to fall correctly, and another thing it taught is that you don’t have to be the best at something to be good at it. If you just hit the ball in a smart way, then it still scores points and you’re good at it. You could be a background player and still make a much bigger impact on the team than you would think,” Anya Gert (’20) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/AnnaGert_JinTuan_HoHPhotoEdited-600x900.jpeg)
![“I'm not nearly there yet, but [my confidence has] definitely been getting better since I was pretty shy and timid coming into Harker my freshman year. I know that there's a lot of people that are really confident in what they do, and I really admire them. Everyone's so driven and that has really pushed me to kind of try to find my own place in high school and be more confident,” Alyssa Huang (’20) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/AlyssaHuang_EmilyChen_HoHPhoto-900x749.jpeg)
![“My slogan is ‘slow feet, don’t eat, and I’m hungry.’ You need to run fast to get where you are–you aren't going to get those championships if you aren't fast,” Angel Cervantes (12) said. “I want to do well in school on my tests and in track and win championships for my team. I live by that, [and] I can do that anywhere: in the classroom or on the field.”](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/DSC5146-900x601.jpg)
![“I think getting up in the morning and having a sense of purpose [is exciting]. I think without a certain amount of drive, life is kind of obsolete and mundane, and I think having that every single day is what makes each day unique and kind of makes life exciting,” Neymika Jain (12) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Screen-Shot-2017-06-03-at-4.54.16-PM.png)
Review: Muse’s The 2nd Law pleasantly surprises listeners – 4.5/5 stars
October 12, 2012
Muse released their sixth album The 2nd Law on October 1, hoping to match if not surpass the excellence of their 2008 album, Resistance.
In their new album, the band experiments with a wide range of radical sounds, meshing their usually heavy guitar songs with the modern age of electronic music. The band’s fresh style is revolutionary, paving the way for hard rock bands to put an electronic twist on their music. Listeners first got a taste of The 2nd Law in the closing ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics. Similar to most Muse albums, the band splits their latest work in half: one with soulful songs exploring the supposedly hopeless human race and the other with catchy, loud songs that communicate a theme of rebellion.
The band drew inspiration for this entire album from a surprisingly scientific source: the second law of thermodynamics. According to Muse, the world is a region with quickly draining resources that has no hope for fixing the system depleted of its energy sources. Muse references the idea of an isolated system, one which can only deteriorate, and entropy, the degeneration itself, literally in the lyrics, but also in the general vibe of each song.
This album definitely meets expectations, if not exceeding them. It casts Muse in a new light as a band that is willing to try new sounds and keep elements of their original music in mind. The group’s innovative techniques ease listeners into their revolutionary beats by alternating between new themes and classic ones.
Matthew Bellamy, the lead vocalist, continues using his high, soul-wrenching vocals, creating a beautiful contrast with the electronic music. Bassist Christopher Wolstenholme sticks to his classic speedy bass lines in most songs, putting a thrilling dubstep spin on them. Drummer Dominic Howard turns to electronic drums to keep the headbanging beat that Muse is well-known for.
In their new album, Muse does an amazing job of keeping their previous hard rock sound and mixing it skillfully with both light and hardcore electronic themes.
