Barely three minutes into Muse’s 10th album, a choir appears—not singing but chanting in Latin, evoking an occult horror film soundtrack. “Sanctus!” they cry. “Dominus!” And inevitably, “Lucifer!” This sets the tone for The Wow! Signal, a record that revels in preposterous grandeur while occasionally hinting at subtlety.
Chaos and Craft in the Opening Track
The opening track, The Dark Forest, layers a cantering electronic bassline reminiscent of 80s hi-NRG club music, frantic strings, distorted prog-metal guitar arpeggios, and Matt Bellamy’s wildly emotive vocals. He sings, “Stars extinguish themselves in fear! We will all beg for extinction!” over a chanson-like melody. It’s a signature Muse move: dialling everything up to 11.
This bombast has defined the band since they emerged from the shadow of post-OK Computer artists. Their lyrics trade in irrational conspiracy theories and lurid dystopias, selling millions of records. However, as Bellamy recently admitted, their last two albums faltered. 2018’s Simulation Theory veered into 80s pop with producers Timbaland and Shellback; 2022’s Will of the People was a self-referential collection released instead of a greatest hits.
A Shift in Focus
One theory for Muse’s wobble is that the world caught up to them: dystopian fantasies and conspiracy theories are now mainstream. Moreover, rightwing libertarians began taking their lyrics seriously. Conservative pundit Glenn Beck interpreted 2009’s The Resistance as a prophecy, “dead-on about what’s coming our way.”
Lyrically, The Wow! Signal dials back the heat. It focuses on extraterrestrial life—the title references a 1977 radio signal from Sagittarius—rather than the Thought Police. The album still indulges in ripe imagery, like a duet with Ellie Goulding that opens with “it’s coming closer – quiet the cobra!” But it often uses sci-fi as a metaphor for a turbulent love affair.
Musical Evolution and Pop Influences
Musically, the album updates the florid sound of 2006’s Black Holes and Revelations. Amid hulking riffs, Count Dracula-like organ, widdly-woo guitar solos, and prog-rock synth arpeggios, pop influences emerge. The band has clearly spent time with Daft Punk’s Discovery: Nightshift Superstar incorporates French disco, and some guitar work echoes Aerodynamic. Stripped of its sonic folderol, Shimmering Scars could be a straightforward pop piano ballad—and a great one.
Of course, the folderol is the point. It can be wearying; even non-diehards may need a quiet lie-down. But it happens less often than expected, partly because the songs are melodically strong. After In Sickness You and I ends, the chorus lingers more than the operatic backing vocals or high-drama synth coda. There’s also something admirable in Muse’s commitment to their preposterous bit, refusing maturity or good taste. A visit to their world is never boring.
