Exogenesis: Symphony

A three-movement symphony chronicling humanity's final hope for survival in space.

Exogenesis: Symphony, commonly known simply as Exogenesis, is a three-movement composition by English rock band Muse. Featured on their 2009 fifth studio album The Resistance, the piece was written by lead vocalist Matthew Bellamy over several years. Presented as a symphony in three movements titled 'Overture', 'Cross-Pollination', and 'Redemption', each occupies a separate track at the end of the album, spanning nearly 13 minutes in total. Described as a rock opera blending progressive and space rock styles, it was influenced by classical composers like Rachmaninov and Richard Strauss alongside Pink Floyd. The work explores the concept of panspermia, narrating humanity's desperate attempt to survive extinction by sending astronauts to colonize another planet.

Quick Facts

Artist

Muse

Album

The Resistance

Released

17 April 2010

Recorded

2008–09

Studio

Studio Bellini (Lake Como, Italy)

Genre

Rock opera

Length

4:18 (Part 1 – "Overture")
3:56 (Part 2 – "Cross-Pollination")
4:37 (Part 3 – "Redemption")
12:51 (total length)

Label

Warner Bros.; Helium-3

Lore & Background

The narrative behind Exogenesis centers on the concept of 'panspermia,' depicting a story where civilization faces inevitable collapse. Part 1, 'Overture', represents a jaded acceptance that the end is coming. Part 2, 'Cross-Pollination', captures a desperate hope as astronauts are sent to find and populate other planets, viewed as humanity's last chance. Finally, in Part 3, 'Redemption', the astronauts realize they are trapped in a cycle; unless humanity can fundamentally change, this destruction will happen all over again on the new world. Bellamy described it as a 'big kind of filmic, visual journey' about leaving a destructive planet behind to populate somewhere else in the universe.

Reader's Guide

Exogenesis: Symphony was revealed via Twitter on 3 July 2009 as the final three tracks of The Resistance. It was released as the fourth and final single from the album on 17 April 2010, exclusively as a 12-inch vinyl in the United States with only 500 copies made available for import in the UK. Part I was used in Dior Homme's advertisement 'A Rendezvous' directed by Guy Ritchie. Live performances saw 'Overture' played at almost every Resistance Tour date, while 'Cross-Pollination' has never been performed live. 'Redemption' debuted in January 2013 in Saitama, Japan. Stadium shows featured a UFO releasing an acrobat dressed as an alien above the crowd, a feat previously blocked by health and safety concerns.

Did You Know?

Matthew Bellamy arranged all orchestral elements himself to prevent string arrangers from making the composition 'theirs'.
The symphony features an orchestra of over 40 musicians, with strings positioned at the forefront while the band serves as a backdrop.
'Cross-Pollination' has never been performed live, whereas 'Redemption' was first played on October 2, 2012, at the O2 Arena in London.
In September 2012, Charles Bollfrass sued Muse claiming they copied his sci-fi rock opera of the same name; the case was dismissed in March 2013 as having no legal basis.