Muse: The Wow! Signal
Four years after Will Of The People, Muse return with The Wow! Signal, an album that embraces their signature sci-fi storytelling while delivering some of their most energetic alternative rock in years. Combining thunderous riffs with ambitious concepts, the record feels like a natural continuation of their past and a confident step forward, making it a standout addition to their discography.
Released on 26 June, The Wow! Signal is Muse’s tenth studio album. Its title comes from the narrowband radio signal detected by Ohio State University’s Big Ear radio telescope in 1977, reflecting the record’s fascination with the mysteries of the universe. Packed with explosive tracks, the album looks set to provide plenty of memorable moments on the band’s upcoming North American tour.
The opener, ‘The Dark Forest’, feels like a sequel to Black Holes and Revelations’ ‘Knights of Cydonia’ and sets the tone for the entire album. The lyrics reference the Dark Forest Theory of the universe, which suggests that alien civilisations hide from one another to avoid conflict. Through this, Matt Bellamy (vocals) encourages us to question whether we are really alone in the universe.
Single ‘Nightshift Superstar’ blends Muse’s alternative rock sound with disco and French house rhythms in the chorus. It is powerful and upbeat, and I’m confident it will become a fan favourite. Lyrically, the song is about a mysterious figure who allows Bellamy to forget the stress and pressures of life: “I’m mesmerised / ’cause she’s a nightshift / A, nightshift superstar” making us wonder what kinds of people, or perhaps beings, might exist beyond our understanding.
The opening riff of ‘Cryogen’ is reminiscent of ‘Plug In Baby’ from Origin of Symmetry, signalling a return to Muse’s earlier sound. The lyrics explore the emotional numbness that follows overwhelming grief. Bellamy suggests that the narrator is not simply frozen by heartbreak, but has been compressed into someone incapable of feeling, creating a song that fans who have experienced loss can connect with during live performances.
‘The Sickness In You & I’ features some of the heaviest riffs on the album and explores the gravitational pull between two people who are drawn together despite their relationship being fundamentally unhealthy. Thriving on denial and dysfunction, the connection is captured in the lyrics: “Kiss inside unrest, silence cracks my chest / Haunted by your name”. The track reminds us that relationships should be built on happiness rather than unhealthy attachments that ultimately cause pain.
‘Unravelling’, the album’s first single, begins with quiet verses before building into a heavy riff that explodes in the chorus, making it a track fans will be eager to hear on the North American tour. It combines many of the musical directions Muse have explored on previous albums, including Will Of The People and The 2nd Law. The song reflects on a love that was once magical but has since lost its spark, while Bellamy also encourages us to love freely for who we are rather than who society expects us to be: “This is a hymn for our love with no God and no throne”, a message that inspires listeners to stay true to themselves.
Overall, The Wow! Signal is an album Muse fans can be excited about after the four-year wait since 2022’s Will Of The People. Its sci-fi-inspired tracks are explosive and energetic, and many are likely to become highlights of both the upcoming North American tour and the European tour later this year. I cannot wait to see what’s next for this iconic band.