In 2004, British alternative rock band Muse—whose albums like Absolution, released in 2003 and acclaimed for symphonic elements and apocalyptic themes—headlined the third day of Pinkpop, Europe's oldest annual festival, marking their third appearance after 2000 and 2002. Their 75-minute set on May 31 in Landgraaf, brimming with blistering riffs and dramatic arrangements, opened with the pulsing bass of "Hysteria," building intensity through "New Born" and "The Small Print," poignant "Sing for Absolution" and "Space Dementia," epic "Butterflies & Hurricanes" and "Bliss," culminating in "Stockholm Syndrome" and "Apocalypse Please" amid cheers from a 50,000-strong crowd, underscoring the trio's shift toward arena-ready sound. Fans and reviewers recall this performance as an "epic frenzy" for Matt Bellamy's raw vigor and its impact on the band's subsequent festival outings, including five Pinkpop slots by 2015.