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Jun 30, 2026 Web Exclusive By Haydon Spenceley

Ten albums in, Muse return with a full-length which returns them to their stadium-rocking, wide-ranging hard rocking best. I have friends who regularly mention that they saw Muse and Coldplay touring together in small UK venues in the late 1990s. On those nights, whether anyone would have been able to confidently predict that both bands would become two of British rock’s biggest exports and remain so for something more than a quarter of a century would perhaps have had their judgment questioned. Similarly, that the bands would grow so far separated in range and sound over that time. It feels like an intriguing microcosm of what can happen as careers are built and develop.

For some years now one thing that has felt to be missing from the modern Muse’s overall approach is the hook-laden and yet still fundamentally rock and roll nature of their original sound. When 1999’s Showbiz and 2021’s Origin of Symmetry established their credentials (and they were wrongly seen as the “new Radiohead”) it was because of the sheer skill, volume, and quality inherent in their writing and performance. “The Dark Forest” begins The Wow! Signal in what feels like a return to form. It rocks and hard and builds in a way that feels like, well, Muse. What is fascinating is that “Nightshift Superstar” follows with a sultry electronic groove, a pop song dream hook of a chorus, and gang vocals from children. Immediately the album is set up as a career-spanning collection of the sounds of the band.

Recent single “Cryogen” is another case in point. It’s chorus (“Cryogen, I can never cry again”) is classically obtuse from Matt Bellamy but the song rolls along as if it is from 2003’s Absolution or Origin of Symmetry and I would have no doubt that fields full of fans will be yelling the hooks when the band tour the record. If Muse had lost form, it feels very much like a return. For those who remember “Plug in Baby” fondly, here’s one for you. And just when things might have gone too far the chunky metal riffs of the outro take things home. Classic Muse.

This is followed by…organs, as “Be With You” slow-builds to an epic whammy and falsetto-laden climax. And then “Hexagons” arpeggiates in various forms through five and a half minutes. The band sound like they are significantly having fun. Especially when Dominic Howard’s Genesis-esque toms roll into view later on.

In case that all sounds a little over-complicated we return to the hard rock of “Unravelling,” which very much is trying to show listeners that the band can “metal” as well as anyone else. There’s something powerful about a band still seeking to prove itself 10 albums in and showing such range as they do. We’re a long way from Showbiz, but Muse deserve credit for not caring about relevance and doing things as they want to, as they always seem to have done. The Wow! Signal is a strong collection of real quality and, more than that, is a thoroughly enjoyable listen. (www.muse.mu)

Author rating: 7/10