Masters of sci-fi absurdity, Muse are one of British rock’s most impressive prospects. From the techy noodling of their past, to the electronic wizardry of their alien- and government-battling present, they’re the quintessential British festival headliner – big, ballsy and somewhat batshit.
With things starting to heat up in camp Muse, and hints at a new album trickling out, day-by-day, we’ve rounded up everything we know about the incoming eighth Muse album.
What’s the latest news?
- Muse have released the retro new video for new single ‘Pressure’
- ‘Simulation Theory’s release date and tracklist has been announced
- 2019 tour dates are coming soon…
What’s the new Muse album called?
It’s called ‘Simulation Theory’.
When will the new Muse album be released?
On November 9, 2018.
Is there artwork?
Yes! It’s been designed by Kyle Lambert. Behold…
NEW ALBUM: Muse have announced that their new studio album, Simulation Theory, will be released on 9 November 2018.
Pre-order through the band’s Official Shop for early access to tickets for the 2019 tour: https://t.co/VhxvLEijmw
Artwork by Kyle Lambert // #SimulationTheory pic.twitter.com/5TuEV8sxlF
— muse (@muse) August 30, 2018
What’s the tracklist?
Each song on the album will also come with an accompanying video.
Standard Album CD and Vinyl:
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
Deluxe Album CD:
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
12. Algorithm (Alternate Reality Version)
13. The Dark Side (Alternate Reality Version)
14. Propaganda (Acoustic)
15. Something Human (Acoustic)
16. Dig Down (Acoustic Gospel Version)
Super Deluxe Boxset:
CD 1 and Vinyl 1
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
CD 2 and Vinyl 2
1. Algorithm (Alternate Reality Version)
2. The Dark Side (Alternate Reality Version)
3. Pressure (Ft. UCLA Bruin Marching Band)
4. Propaganda (Acoustic)
5. Break It To Me (Sam de Jong remix)
6. Something Human (acoustic)
7. Thought Contagion (Live)
8. Dig Down (Acoustic Gospel Version)
9. The Void (Acoustic)
10. The Dark Side (Alternate Reality Instrumental)
Who produced the album?
Rich Costey, Mike Elizondo, Shellback and Timbaland. Yes, Timbaland. Rich Costey previously worked with the band on their breakthrough third album ‘Absolution’ and huge follow-up ‘Black Holes And Revelations’
Can we hear any music?
The first single from the album was ‘Dig Down’. Check it out below.
‘Thought Contagion’, released back in February, is a suitably huge, 80’s-inspired track, with frontman Matt Bellamy telling NME at the time of release:“We’re getting into blending genres and eras together, both in the styles and in the music. It’s an arena sound and synths. There’s a couple of synths in it. It’s a pretty epic and anthemic track.”
When pressed for the meaning behind the track, Bellamy explained: “The clue is in the title, ‘Thought Contagion’. I first heard about it from a Richard Dawkins book years ago actually, it’s this idea that thoughts are contagious – they spread like a virus, or like genes.”
He continued: “If you spend a few hours watching American news, well, that’s were the first part of the song came from really. It’s kinda like some strange bubble where they’re all living up Trump’s bum, basically… It gets inside your mind. I think that’s where the song came from really. You start walking round worrying about things that you wouldn’t normally think about and so the song came from that. How other people’s ideas can kinda take over your own if you’re not careful.”
Listen to ‘Thought Contagion’ below.
The second hint at Muse’s new album came in the form of ‘Something Human’, a more melodic and sprawling, almost ballad-esque track. Teased on Instagram by Bellamy in July, it was soon followed by the full studio version, along with a Teen Wolf-inspired video. It was directed by Lance Drake, who worked with the band on their videos for 2017’s ‘Dig Down’ and ‘Thought Contagion.’
“Our aim with ‘Something Human’ was to continue the journey that began in ‘Dig Down’ and ‘Thought Contagion’,” Drake said. “Pulling further into a simulated world we follow Matt, Dom, and, Chris on the chase of a lifetime – where something as simple as returning some video tapes becomes an epic journey.”
“Life on the road can bring out your inner beast, this song and video is about taming that beast, desiring a return to something human,” added Bellamy. “Plus, Teen Wolf is cool.”
Watch the ‘Something Human’ video below.
Finally, Muse have just dropped the album’s fourth single ‘The Dark Side’ – complete with sci-fi video that’s seemingly a sequel to ‘Something Human’ – as Bellamy swerves around a futuristic dystopian landscape.
Muse first mentioned ‘The Dark Side’ in an interview on LA radio station KROQ in February. Bellamy said: “There is actually a track on the album called ‘The Dark Side’, which is one of our favourite tracks. We’re just working on that at the moment.”
The band have also dropped the ‘Back To The Future’ themed video for new single ‘Pressure’
“It’s more like a straight Muse rock track,” Bellamy told Radio X. “It’s like a different riff every 10 seconds, basically.”
What are Muse’s tour plans for 2018 and beyond?
The band have promised to announce a 2019 tour shortly. Fans can enter the pre-sale for the album by pre-ordering ‘Simulation Theory’ here.
Muse recently opened Lisbon’s Rock In Rio festival with a set NME dubbed a “sonic spectacular”.
As for further tour plans, speaking to NME backstage after their VO5 NME Awards 2018 win for Best Festival Headliner, frontman Matt Bellamy said: “We’re going to do the biggest tour and just blow people’s minds with stuff they’ve never seen before.”
He continued: “We’re going to come up with something that no one’s ever seen before. We’re always interested in the latest technology and what’s cutting edge, so we’re always thinking of the new thing that nobody’s ever used before in a concert. And we found something and we’re going to use that.”
He also later told Radio X’s Gordon Smart: “We’re gonna stick with the visual theme you’re seeing in the videos, and we’re going to try and find a way of translating that vibe into the live show.
“We’re lucky because we’re living through this time where there’s all this new technology. Every time you come to do a tour, there’s always something new you can use.
There are no current tour dates announced just yet.