Simulation Theory

by Muse

Overview

Whether they're fighting alien invaders, shadowy government conspiracies, or the Apocalypse, Muse always do it for love. On their eighth effort, Simulation Theory, they attempt to break through the virtual matrix in search of that human connection and freedom from the machine. The least complicated or overly conceptual offering (for Muse) in over a decade, the 11-song set is focused and cohesive, blaring down a neon-washed highway of pulsing synths and driving beats while swerving to avoid the orchestral and dubstep meandering of their preceding 2010s output. Unlike these same predecessors, there's also no filler or wasted time, making it the most compulsively listenable and immediate Muse album since 2006's Black Holes & Revelations. Fully embracing their sci-fi tendencies, the trio dip into the nostalgic '80s, tapping the aesthetics of Tron, Blade Runner, and composer John Carpenter. After the dramatic opener, "Algorithm," introduces this new Muse era, they launch into "The Dark Side," one of their strongest singles to date, which blends the urgency of "Bliss" with the groove of "Map of the Problematique." Meanwhile, "Pressure" is a rollicking, horn-backed blast that wouldn't sound out of place blaring from the stadium speakers at a football game. From here, the simulation gets weirder as some of frontman Matt Bellamy's big influences rear their heads. His Prince love returns on the slinky, Timbaland-assisted "Propaganda" -- the type of camp that Muse have been perfecting for years -- while an homage to Tom Morello's guitar stylings -- wonky, down-tuned riffs and hip-hop scratching -- collide with Bellamy's pseudo-rapping on "Break It to Me." On the second half of the album, the mood is lifted as the simulation begins to crack. The uplifting "Something Human" is the "Invincible"/"Guiding Light" of Simulation Theory, leading into singalong anthems such as "Thought Contagion" and the politically charged "Madness" redux "Dig Down." Swedish singer Tove Lo even makes an appearance on the unexpectedly gorgeous "Get Up and Fight," a huge rallying cry produced by Shellback. On an album packed with such catalog standouts, the highlight here is "Blockades," which propels along a pounding gallop that recalls "City of Delusion" and "Knights of Cydonia." While Simulation Theory might appear to be overly polished mainstream trickery -- all part of the simulation! -- it's purely Muse at heart, successfully merging electronic-pop songcraft with their typically urgent, stadium rock foundation. ~ Neil Z. Yeung

Product Details

Release Date:	11/09/2018
Label:	Warner Bros.
UPC:	0190295578855

Tracks

1. Algorithm
2. The Dark Side
3. Pressure
4. Propaganda
5. Break It to Me
6. Something Human
7. Thought Contagion
8. Get Up and Fight
9. Blockades
10. Dig Down
11. The Void

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Muse   Primary Artist
Sebastien Najand   Primary Artist
Matt Bellamy   Guitar,Vocals
Tony Jones   Choir/Chorus
Tove Lo   Vocals
Dominic Howard   Drums,Vocals (Background)
Chris Wolstenholme   Bass,Vocals (Background)
Torrence Gospel Choir   Vocals
Matthew Bellamy   Guitar,Vocals
Mike Elizondo   Keyboards
David Campbell   Brass,Conductor
Shellback   Keyboards
UCLA Marching Band   Featured Artist

Technical Credits

Phillip Broussard Jr.   Producer,Assistant Engineer
Matt Bellamy   Engineer,Producer
Sam De Jong   Remix Engineer
Laurence Anslow   Assistant Engineer
Mario Borgatta   Editing
Aleks von Korff   Engineer,Producer,Assistant Engineer
Sebastien Najand   Mixing,Engineer,Producer
Chaz Sexton   Assistant Engineer
Tyler Beans   Producer,Assistant Engineer
Rob Bisel   Producer,Assistant Engineer
Dylan Neustadter   Producer,Assistant
Sam Grubbs   Producer,Assistant
Rich Costey   Engineer,Producer,Mastering,Mixing
Adam Hawkins   Mixing,Engineer
Michael Freeman   Mixing
Nicolas Fournier   Mixing,Producer,Assistant Engineer
Kelly Flickinger   Arranger
Team Timbo   Producer
Viranda Tantula   Producer
Jose Carrillo   Engineer
Ted Jensen   Mastering
Chris Gehringer   Mastering
Mark "Spike" Stent   Mixing
Michael Ilbert   Mixing,Engineer
Matthew Bellamy   Arranger,Composer,Producer
Mike Elizondo   Producer,Drum Programming
Muse   Producer
Tom Bailey   Engineer,Engineer
Timothy Mosley   Composer
Adrian Bushby   Engineer
Noah Goldstein   Producer
Martin Cook   Producer
Jose Velazquez   Composer,Composer
Shellback   Composer,Producer
Brent Arrowood   Assistant Engineer
Marc Carolan   Mixing,Recording
Tommaso Colliva   Engineer,Producer,Mastering
John Prestage   Assistant Engineer
Gordon Henderson   Arranger
Chris Whitemyer   Assistant
Randy Merrill   Mastering
Benjamin Maas   Engineer
Martin Cooke   Engineer,Assistant,Assistant Engineer
Colin Willard   Producer,Assistant
UCLA Marching Band   Instrumentation
Jeremy Berman   Assistant