Music review: Muse, Simulation Theory

Muse should change their name to A-muse. They're certainly having fun with this, their eighth studio album.

And that's important to keep in mind, lest you take their apocalyptic lyrics a little too seriously.

"We are cages in simulations ... This means war. With your creator!," frontman Matt Bellamy pronounces on track one, Algorithm.

It's a grand opening for yet another grand album, and one in which Muse spread their wings even further, playing with genres beyond stadium space rock.

Like on Propaganda, with its breathy Prince-like vocals amid electro-madness and even a steel guitar solo.

It's one example of the heavy 80s-retro theme throughout the album and its accompanying music videos.

The slower yet catchy track Something Human is a standout, alongside the synth-heavy Dark Side, performed like they're tortured early 80s new romantics.

But for the best time on Simulation Theory, check out Pressure (including its Back to the Future- referencing video).

The Super Deluxe version of the album includes a fantastic marching band version of the track, as well as "alternate reality" and acoustic versions of the other tracks.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars