to some droning, stabbing guitar textures that sound cooler than most any Coldplay tunes I can think of." Kristina Feliciano of Paste magazine wrote: "You know you're in for a different kind of Coldplay experience when Chris Martin ditches his anguished falsetto for a deep, doomy basso profundo, as he does on 'Violet Hill'". Mikael Wood of Spin magazine wrote: "'Violet Hill' pulls a similar fake-out, bludgeoning a delicate Eno-style soundscape with big Black Sabbath guitars." Darcie Stevens of the Austin Chronicle wrote: "While the band's fourth LP begins light and pretty, its power breaks late-album with Old West tangent 'Violet Hill'". The song appeared on Rolling Stones Hot List for May 2009, with the magazine calling it "a (relatively) hard-rocking attack on Fox News' America". After the song's release, "Violet Hill" was featured in the music video games Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock, as downloadable content, and in Guitar Hero On Tour: Modern Hits. The single was covered by Pendulum, when they were guests in BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge. The song has been mixed by Michael Brauer, who also mixed Coldplay's debut album, Parachutes. It was also featured on an episode of the UK soap opera Hollyoaks. The official video for "Violet Hill" was nominated for Best UK Video as well as Best Special Effects for the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards. The track was also nominated for two Q awards in the categories of Best Track and Best Video; the song lost in both categories to Keane's "Spiralling" in Best Track and Vampire Weekend's "A-Punk" in Best Video, respectively. The song was nominated for two Grammy Awards in the categories of Best Rock Song and Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group. Music videos A music video was filmed in support of the song, which was released 18 May. It was directed by visual artist Asa Mader, and parts were shot at Mount Etna and in the courtyard of Palazzo Biscari, Catania, Sicily. This original version of the video begins with the band climbing a hill and reaching a quiet town, where they start playing their instruments. The four musicians are shown performing the song, dancing and walking around on Mount Etna's hills. Scenes are sometimes sped up or in slow motion and alternated with black and white close-ups of band members' faces. Chris Martin is seen singing holding a magnifying glass in front of