2nd Law

Personnel: Matthew Bellamy (vocals, guitar, keyboards, synthesizer); Chris Wolstenholme (vocals, synthesizer); Alyssa Park, Serena McKinney, Songa Lee, Michele Richards, Tamara Hatwan , Mario de León, Sara Parkins, Gerardo Hilera, Kevin Connolly , Ruth Breugger, Sarah Thornblade, Josefina Vergara (violin); Matthew Funes , Dave Walther , Alma Fernandez, Andrew Duckles (viola); Erika Duke-Kirkpatrick, Kim Scholes , Suzie Katayama, Steve Richards (cello); Tom Saviano (tenor saxophone); Donald Markese (baritone saxophone); Nathan Campbell , Joseph Meyer (French horn); Charlie Morillas, Alan Kaplan, Nick Lane, Craig Gosnell (trombone); Dominic Howard (synthesizer, drums, percussion).
Recording information: Air Studios, London; Capitol studios, Los Angeles, CA; EastWest Studios, Los Angeles, CA; Shangri-la Studios, Malibu, CA.
Photographer: Gavin Bond.
England's masters of maximalist rock expand their sound even further on their sixth album, The 2nd Law. Continuing to draw on electronic influences like synth pop and dubstep, Muse looked to artists like Justice and Skrillex as they sought out new ways to open up their already grandiose symphonic rock sound even further. The album also finds bassist Chris Wolstenholme stepping into the vocal spotlight for the first time on a pair of songs written by him about his personal struggles with alcoholism. Fans worried that the band might be straying away from its bombastic wheelhouse should check out the album's lead single (and official song of the 2012 Summer Olympics), "Survival," an epic and determined song proving that it takes a little more than some electronics to snuff out the influence of Queen.