The 2nd Law

Did You Know?

• The album's cover art is a 3D reconstruction of a human brain's white matter tract pathways from the Human Connectome Project.
• The second law of thermodynamics is quoted in the track "Unsustainable".

Background and recording

The 2nd Law was primarily recorded at AIR Studios in London and EastWest Studios in Los Angeles, with additional sessions at Shangri La Studios in Malibu and Capitol Studios in Hollywood. Recording began in October 2011 and ended in August 2012. Muse's manager Anthony Addis stated in October 2011 that the band had started work on the album and expected an October 2012 release. Bassist Chris Wolstenholme said the band aimed to begin recording in September or October 2011 and described the album as "something radically different" from prior releases. Frontman Matt Bellamy jokingly called it a "Christian gangsta rap jazz odyssey" on Twitter. Composer David Campbell assisted with the album's arrangements. Bellamy noted influences from electronic acts such as Justice and Does It Offend You, Yeah?.

Composition

The 2nd Law is a concept album whose themes include chaos, control, societal collapse, and totalitarianism, telling the story of a resource-strapped planet. Musically, it blends art rock, alternative rock, progressive rock, and electronic music. "Supremacy" has been compared to James Bond theme songs. "Madness" draws from Queen and David Bowie, and its bass riff was created using a Misa Kitara MIDI controller. "Panic Station" is a funk rock song featuring collaborators who worked on Stevie Wonder's "Superstition" and includes explicit lyrics, earning the album a Parental Advisory label. Dubstep producer Skrillex influenced "The 2nd Law: Unsustainable". "Follow Me" was written about Bellamy's newborn son and produced by Nero. Wolstenholme wrote and sang lead on "Save Me" and "Liquid State", about his battle with alcoholism. Bellamy cited the novel World War Z as a major influence on the album.

Promotion

On 6 June 2012, Muse released a trailer for The 2nd Law featuring dubstep elements, which received mixed reactions. The first single, "Survival", was released on 27 June 2012 and served as the official song of the London 2012 Olympic Games, peaking at number 22 on the UK Singles Chart. The second single, "Madness", premiered on BBC Radio 1 on 20 August but leaked early due to an unintentional release in South Korea. Its music video was uploaded on 5 September. "Madness" peaked at number 25 in the UK and number 45 on the Billboard Hot 100, and topped the Billboard Alternative Songs chart for a record-breaking 19 weeks, surpassing the previous record held by Foo Fighters' "The Pretender". It was certified platinum in Italy and Canada and double-platinum in the US. "Supremacy" opened the 2013 Brit Awards. "The 2nd Law: Isolated System" was included in the 2013 film World War Z.

Reception

The 2nd Law received generally positive reviews, with a Metacritic score of 70 out of 100 based on 30 reviews. BBC Music's Ian Winwood praised tracks including "Supremacy", "Liquid State", and "The 2nd Law: Isolated System". Helen Brown of The Telegraph rated the album four out of five stars, noting its eclectic influences and praising "Madness". The Observer's Kitty Empire commented on the band's bombastic tendencies. AllMusic gave three out of five stars, finding the dubstep and dance elements felt like remixes rather than original songs. Entertainment Weekly's Kyle Anderson gave a C+, criticizing an overuse of Queen-isms and a lack of electronic departure. The Guardian's Alexis Petridis rated it four out of five stars, complimenting ambition but noting bombast. The album was nominated for Best Rock Album at the 2013 Grammy Awards, and "Madness" was nominated for Best Rock Song; "Panic Station" received a nomination the following year. Rolling Stone ranked it number 46 on its list of the top 50 albums of 2012.