Muse- The Wow! Signal (review)

Published by Mason Oldridge, 26 June 2026

Muse return with their tenth studio album, encompassing an overarching space theme through its artwork, sound and title.

Thematically, The Wow! Signal is similar to Origin of Symmetry, though musically, it is closer to Simulation Theory thanks to its space-like synth.

The Dark Forest opens the record and is somewhat of a rock opera in the vein of Queen, with touches of Knights of Cydonia and Resistance, and sees his son Bing contribute to its percussion. Nightshift Superstar incorporates funk reminiscent of Panic Station and contains a vocal style not heard from Bellamy before on parts of the chorus as well as backing vocals from his daughter Lovella on the bridge. Shimmering Scars and Be With You are slower ballads, with the former opening to piano and the latter beginning with organ, though both grow into a bigger space as they progress. However, Shimmering Scars is so beautifully harmonised along with its magical piano melody that it shines as the better of the two. Cryogen features a guitar riff that immediately recalls Plug In Baby, though the song itself is differentiable enough to stand on its own and is aided by distorted vocals. Hexagons rapidly ascends and descends the scale, The Sickness In You & I is innovative and draws comparison to Marilyn Manson, whereas lead single Unravelling is arguably the heaviest. Hush marks their first collaboration with another artist on an album, with Bellamy’s vocals working nicely against those of Ellie Goulding, before Space Debris closes the tracklist and will likely transport listeners to the deepest, darkest depths of outer space due to its sound effects.

While rolling piano and screamo vocals of the band’s earlier days are still missed, The Wow! Signal features nice nods to their past work and is undeniably Muse at its core.

9/10