The 2nd Law
by Muse
User Score
7.1

Generally favorable reviews- based on 408 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 287 out of 408
  2. Mixed: 77 out of 408
  3. Negative: 44 out of 408
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  1. Gabrielb24
    Aug 31, 2022
    7
    The 2nd law is alright in the same level as in The Resistance. The album went to direction like a comfort zone. You got a musical score piece like The 2nd Law unsustainable and Isolated System. Madness a standout some people except me, I like that song. Supremacy a song too similar to Paul McCartney’s Live and let die even through the lyrics is about earth is reach it’s end times. MyThe 2nd law is alright in the same level as in The Resistance. The album went to direction like a comfort zone. You got a musical score piece like The 2nd Law unsustainable and Isolated System. Madness a standout some people except me, I like that song. Supremacy a song too similar to Paul McCartney’s Live and let die even through the lyrics is about earth is reach it’s end times. My favorite song is Panic Station which I never figure out what the song means. All in all, the album is good.… Expand
  2. Musejonno
    Sep 29, 2019
    7
    A mixed bag more than any other Muse album. It starts with Supremacy, Madness, Panic Station and Survival, all exhilarating tracks. However, things quickly fall off. Follow Me is forgettable and while Animals and Explorers are decent tracks, they’re nothing special. Big Freeze is good fun but nowhere near good enough for what we expect from Muse. Save Me is one I always skip as there’sA mixed bag more than any other Muse album. It starts with Supremacy, Madness, Panic Station and Survival, all exhilarating tracks. However, things quickly fall off. Follow Me is forgettable and while Animals and Explorers are decent tracks, they’re nothing special. Big Freeze is good fun but nowhere near good enough for what we expect from Muse. Save Me is one I always skip as there’s nothing there and Liquid State is another mediocre song. Unsustainable is very divisive, but I actually really like that track, although again, it’s not one of their best. Isolated System is a pleasant closer but it’s only an instrumental. It’s a tale of two halves for me. First half is 9 or 10, but the second half is a huge let down.… Expand
  3. kevinhilldesign
    May 1, 2019
    10
    The 2nd Law's sound and general theme isn't unfamiliar to the typical Muse listener crashing the mainstream airwaves with conspiracy theories and political themes backed with a crunchy and whimsical sound and Matt's booming voice to carry us all into a new and better future but, unlike the previous Muse albums to date, The 2nd Law presents itself seemingly as a collection of singlesThe 2nd Law's sound and general theme isn't unfamiliar to the typical Muse listener crashing the mainstream airwaves with conspiracy theories and political themes backed with a crunchy and whimsical sound and Matt's booming voice to carry us all into a new and better future but, unlike the previous Muse albums to date, The 2nd Law presents itself seemingly as a collection of singles whereas each track takes on a new mask and presents the listener with something new and, at times, jarring.

    This of course doesn't take away the artistry and the brilliance behind each and every track on the album be it crashing of the gates with Supremacy's heavy guitar riff and Bellamy's undeniable vocals breathing life into the album or be it the synth driven single Madness bound by a crunchy and rythmatic voice modulation of rock love song or be it the polyrythmic patterns in the 5/4 track Animals lamenting the bureaucrats animalistic nature each song has it's place and each track distinctly create a mark of it's own on the album.

    To some this is the greatest detractor while each song stands alone and has a distinctly different feel to it the album as a whole doesn't feel as it if were a cohesive album front to back and the last four tracks can definitively support that claim. Both Save Me and Liquid State are sung by Chris and are the first two tracks of any album where Bellamy didn't sing lead vocals. These two tracks are on their own right great tracks but when seemingly tacked on the back end of an album powered by rallying cries and booming political themes these tracks lose most of their value on what should be an epic conclusion of a theme shifting album.

    The final two tracks being a two-part title track The 2nd Law: Unsustainable and The 2nd Law: Isolated System are these beautiful soundscapes of overlapping and a mixed media approach creating a cacophony of new and interesting sounds to the album. In Unsustainable they outfit a guitar to replicate the unmistakable attack of a Skrillix dubstep track while addressing the main motif of the album (more on that in just a bit) and the Isolated System is a piano driven elctro-journy that would be a launching point for nearly any other band in the genre with clippings of news broadcasts overlapping and spelling out what seems to be the complete breakdown of it all and the perfect ending to a unofficial concept album like The 2nd Law.

    What is most beautiful about the final two tracks is the explanation of "The 2nd Law" sprinkled thought out. If by the end of the album you look back and you are completely spent from trying to keep up after being taken every which way jumping genre to genre then it is totally understandable that when you get to the final two tracks there is an apathetic approach to grasping what the tracks are asking of you and that is simply to understand, generally speaking, the laws of thermodynamics, specifically the "2nd Law" of thermodynamics, and apply this concept and theme to every track you just listened to while keeping in mind the financial times of the post 2008 economic crash and the post 2001 war on terror along with various other political motivators.

    I'm no physicist but in my laymen attempt to talk about the second law of thermodynamics it is essentially that when no energy given to a system to maintain the system then everything naturally reduces to nothing, or better known as entropy. On the track Unsustainable the line "if no energy enters of leaves an isolated system, the entropy of that system increases" speaking to the general understanding of the second law of thermodynamics. Unsustainable then goes on to definitively tell us the listener how this connects to the album as a whole with the lines in the same stanza that read, "An economy based on endless growth is, Unsustainable."

    With the unofficial concept defined going back and seeing this theme flush in and out of tracks highlighting the consequences and our short-sided attempt to understand and control this ever increasing entropy in our lop-sided political and economic standing as individuals pushes this theme and this album from a solid "good" to "amazing". Each track now has several meanings and undertones that make you think about the other tracks before and after differently and it creates a conversation of ideas and perspectives that we are severely lacking in any considerable and respectable forum to this day and if an album can spark those ideas and encourage this sort of discussion, even if it is flawed and perhaps a bit too ambitious, than the album is brilliant in my book.    … Expand
  4. marcmyworks
    Sep 17, 2018
    8
    Muse returns and again aims to surpass their previous efforts by creating an even broader, more cinematic album. The result is The 2nd Law, a beautifully crafted Bond-themed entity, which proposes the same elements Queen once did when scoring the Flash Gordon soundtrack in 1980. Overall the album is a cohesive masterpiece of enchantment, with the single flaw that the tracks Save Me andMuse returns and again aims to surpass their previous efforts by creating an even broader, more cinematic album. The result is The 2nd Law, a beautifully crafted Bond-themed entity, which proposes the same elements Queen once did when scoring the Flash Gordon soundtrack in 1980. Overall the album is a cohesive masterpiece of enchantment, with the single flaw that the tracks Save Me and Liquid State, though brilliant, are not of the same ilk and sound as if they were slapped onto the final product last minute to increase the price on iTunes. Download: Supremacy, Madness, Survival… Expand
  5. Scratch
    Dec 31, 2016
    7
    With 'The 2nd Law', Muse has laid out a grand landscape, one that is built to tell an epic tale with ups and down, spanning different genres and ideas. Even though the album ends up being lengthy, none of the songs feel distinctly Muse. It's a great story being told by the wrong story teller, and it rarely hits a high point.
  6. owenrw89
    Dec 7, 2016
    5
    If you thought 'The Resistance' was Muse's first so-so album, think again. This was somewhat promoted as an electronic album, and this worried many fans. Muse have always incorporated electronica into their sound (Black Holes and Revelations), but 'Unsustainable' seemed like an all out dance track. Then the album was released. The biggest disappointment wasn't that Muse hadn't released aIf you thought 'The Resistance' was Muse's first so-so album, think again. This was somewhat promoted as an electronic album, and this worried many fans. Muse have always incorporated electronica into their sound (Black Holes and Revelations), but 'Unsustainable' seemed like an all out dance track. Then the album was released. The biggest disappointment wasn't that Muse hadn't released a rock album, but they hadn't released an electronic album either. It was nothing more than a well produced, well sang, standard Queen-esque stadium album. There's nothing overly bad here, but there's nothing great either.… Expand
  7. clinteastwoo
    May 11, 2016
    10
    ...................................................................................................................................The Masterpiece of Muse.... Hands Down
  8. Argeon
    Apr 3, 2016
    6
    Really, this album overall is a 6/10, but with Supremacy being on it, the album get a point for featuring the signature Bond-esque song that the group nails at every concert.

    I think the negative reviewers have it right, so I won't reiterate too much. It's simply too experimental and uninspired. Dubstep and Muse? Ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-Mad Mad Madness? It feels so detached from what Muse was    Really, this album overall is a 6/10, but with Supremacy being on it, the album get a point for featuring the signature Bond-esque song that the group nails at every concert.

    I think the negative reviewers have it right, so I won't reiterate too much. It's simply too experimental and uninspired. Dubstep and Muse? Ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-Mad Mad Madness? It feels so detached from what Muse was and is that it's just awkward to listen to.

    But I will say that it has great gems like Explorers and Big Freeze - it's not all bad

    Not the first thing I would recommend buying. Only for the die-hard Muse lovers or for the rare individual who enjoys wildly different Muse.    … Expand
  9. Zaynhewsonjavad
    Apr 2, 2016
    10
    43 Stupid Fans or even not-fan

    In this sixth album Muse have found his Magnum Opus, All here is perfect!!!!

    In Black Holes & Revelations of 2006 have the bad, "City of Delusion" & "Hoodoo" ,In Absolution of 2003,Origin Of Symmetry of 2001 have some bad songs, and few in The Resistance 2009,

    But not in this one.
  10. Thenewone
    Dec 30, 2015
    10
    .................................................................43 Idiots..................................................... The 2nd Law is underrated for own fans of Muse is a disgrace...
  11. raciocinio
    Oct 21, 2015
    10
    In Their sixth album,Muse made an complete album in all terms,mainly in melodies great melodies,Sadly this album is underrated for "fans" only because have step pop-electronica... But Madness,Big Freeze,Panic Station,Follow Me,Supremacy,Prelude,Explorers and The 2nd Law: Isolated System & Unsustainalble are classics of Muse.. So shut up "Posers Fans" of Muse
  12. sicrano
    Jul 20, 2015
    10
    43 imbecis ou fãs do musers posers imbecis...............................................................................................................
  13. Zanessa250QI
    Jul 12, 2015
    10
    Super subestimado por retardados!!!.... Aqui temos 43 imbecis que votaram de 0 a 3 pontos por essa Obra-Prima do Muse... Mesmo 4 a 6 sendo poucos pontos para essa Obra-Prima 26 cidadãos o fizeram... Tenho que concorda com esses 216 gênios...
  14. pjbh
    Jun 17, 2015
    10
    I'm not much of a fan of early Muse, but this is my favourite album by anyone in years.I can't understand how it was not nominated for the Mercury album of the year; it knocks Bowie's insipid comeback effort into a cocked hat. I like every track; two, Madness and Unsustainable, are truly exceptional. The latter should be played loud to every politician and economist until they get it.I'm not much of a fan of early Muse, but this is my favourite album by anyone in years.I can't understand how it was not nominated for the Mercury album of the year; it knocks Bowie's insipid comeback effort into a cocked hat. I like every track; two, Madness and Unsustainable, are truly exceptional. The latter should be played loud to every politician and economist until they get it. You do need to listen the album on a proper hifi; it gets lost on tinny speakers.… Expand
  15. WolfLambert
    Jun 16, 2015
    7
    Not comparable to the others quality-wise, but this album is just so much fun. Everything is extremely over the top, but I love it. A great record to just jam out to or whatever.
  16. oDjento
    Jun 9, 2015
    8
    A few unnecessary tracks on here sure but this album is nice and diverse with some brilliant tracks on here that are memorable. Get this album to check out; Supremacy, Madness, Panic Station, Follow Me, Animals, Save Me and Unsustainable! The songs on these albums are definitely a bit of an experiment for Muse but some of them (i'll be honest not all of them) work greatly!
  17. EmmeKira
    Jun 9, 2015
    6
    Probably the worst records Muse have ever released. A mish-mash of everything Matthew and the band could think of.. going from a melodic stile, to funk rock, to some pop sounding tunes and even to experimenting with dubstep. It really feels like a very confusing set of tracks, even though some of them I still consider to be good, like the over the top Panic Station, the epic Supremacy orProbably the worst records Muse have ever released. A mish-mash of everything Matthew and the band could think of.. going from a melodic stile, to funk rock, to some pop sounding tunes and even to experimenting with dubstep. It really feels like a very confusing set of tracks, even though some of them I still consider to be good, like the over the top Panic Station, the epic Supremacy or the dramatic Animals. Despite this, there are some tracks I feel like they can be considered some of the worst material Muse have ever conceived, Follow Me and Save Me especially.
    Overall, because of some very cool tunes and because I appreciate the way they experiment and try always new ways of doing music, I can't give this LP a bad score.. still.. it does not hold up to its predecessors and it's clearly worse even compared the newest album Drones.    … Expand
  18. showbizjunkie
    May 21, 2015
    9
    The 2nd Law is an experiment, and a successful one: both at being an insanely well-done album and at annoying diehard "Origin of Symmetry" lovers. Loved Chris' singing in "Save Me" and "Liquid State," the dubstep was surprisingly captivating, and of course there was plenty of awesomeness all around.
  19. Ricko
    Mar 6, 2015
    7
    The fact that Muse got to album number 6 (and look to go well beyond that )is a surprise to me. Thinking back to their first two albums, I really didn't think they'd have lasting power but here we are. The thing is, I'm still not sure quite how they've managed to get away with knocking out 4 more albums after "Origin of Symmetry". You can't really accuse Muse of being unambitious orThe fact that Muse got to album number 6 (and look to go well beyond that )is a surprise to me. Thinking back to their first two albums, I really didn't think they'd have lasting power but here we are. The thing is, I'm still not sure quite how they've managed to get away with knocking out 4 more albums after "Origin of Symmetry". You can't really accuse Muse of being unambitious or boring but I think you could be forgiven for using the adjective "uninspiring". "The 2nd Law" is actually better than I was expecting. It's bombast and grandiose, but it wouldn't be a Muse record otherwise. Opener "Supremacy" sounds like they wrote it for Bond film but lost out to Adele instead. Its got drama and operatics everywhere and is quite listenable. This is followed by two quite decent pop songs "Madness" and "Panic Station". "Follow Me" is bizarre and sounds like Matt Bellamy doing a Europop version of The Phantom of the Opera. This kind of sets the tone for the album - a mix of pop rock, opera rock and loads of Muse weirdness thrown in on top. "The 2nd Law" isn't bad at all and fair play to the band for keeping their career's going this far. Muse are a strange bunch but what's even stranger is how this band are as big as they are and the fact that they have sold out Wembley Stadium.… Expand
  20. LoRevisor
    Jan 15, 2015
    10
    Excelente Álbum,o melhor até agora do Muse infelizmente The 2nd Law é muito subestimado.
    Top 6 The 2nd Law 2012
    1-Madness
    2-Big Freeze
    3-Panic Station
    4-Follow Me
    5-Explorers
    6-Supremacy
  21. Tarcar42
    Oct 13, 2014
    6
    With The 2nd Law, Muse tries to musically expand itself even further compared to previous releases, however, this time the results aren't as solid as past efforts. The bland dubstep on "Follow Me," the cheesy anthem "Survival" are a few examples of failed experiments with "Explorers" and "Big Freeze" also being included among them. However despite the misfires and lack of cohesivenessWith The 2nd Law, Muse tries to musically expand itself even further compared to previous releases, however, this time the results aren't as solid as past efforts. The bland dubstep on "Follow Me," the cheesy anthem "Survival" are a few examples of failed experiments with "Explorers" and "Big Freeze" also being included among them. However despite the misfires and lack of cohesiveness through the many different musical styles presented in The 2nd Law, the album has its moments of brilliance as well. The R&B/Soul ballad "Madness" is a standout along with the funky "Panic Station" and the simply beautiful "Save Me."

    Lyrically, it is a bit of continuation on Muse's political/apocalyptic themes (on The 2nd Law they particularly cover the sustainability of society's energy/resource consumption) but they also explore more personal themes such as on the aforementioned "Madness" or "Follow Me." The 2nd Law covers a lot of musical ground (perhaps too much) but it still is bold and ambitious and includes moments of greatness that make up for the duller ones.    … Expand
  22. alecvl08
    Oct 13, 2014
    5
    All the songs on the album are great, the only problem is that they sound nothing like each other, to the point where they could come from completely different bands. This album has no story or any connection between songs at all. However, I love songs like Animals and Explorers, so buy those if nothing else.
  23. Oliverthecat
    Oct 1, 2014
    7
    On their own the songs on The 2nd Law are great(with the exceptions of Madness, Follow me and Big Freeze), but as an album The 2nd Law tries to mix far to many genres(they did it in Black Holes & Revelations but it was much more structured and they did not wander it that particular genre to much), you get Prog-Rock then Pop then funk, then classical the Rock with a choir then pop for aOn their own the songs on The 2nd Law are great(with the exceptions of Madness, Follow me and Big Freeze), but as an album The 2nd Law tries to mix far to many genres(they did it in Black Holes & Revelations but it was much more structured and they did not wander it that particular genre to much), you get Prog-Rock then Pop then funk, then classical the Rock with a choir then pop for a couple of songs and it keeps going and that's what annoys the most(listening to it on strait through on an Ipod is difficult). The song Unsustainable is one of their masterpieces despite being dubstep, with a strings section to start it and then wham we get hit with a dubstep section which was made using a guitar and some pedals, but it is a song that has to be listened too to be appreciated. Overall a bad album but when taken apart it is very good.… Expand
  24. hboscoe1
    Aug 11, 2014
    10
    From the in your face deep rock riffs of Supremacy, to the chilled piano of Isolated system, The 2nd Law is, although unique and brave in many ways, still truly fantastic. The follow up to 2009's The Resistance, the album sees even further changes and experimentation from the days of 1999's Showbiz and 2001's Origin of Symmetry, but it's not ashamed of it.
    The album opens with Bond-esque    From the in your face deep rock riffs of Supremacy, to the chilled piano of Isolated system, The 2nd Law is, although unique and brave in many ways, still truly fantastic. The follow up to 2009's The Resistance, the album sees even further changes and experimentation from the days of 1999's Showbiz and 2001's Origin of Symmetry, but it's not ashamed of it.
    The album opens with Bond-esque hard hitter Supremacy, featuring some of Bellamy's strongest falsettos to date. There's no messing around or progressive introductions with this opener, it throws you straight in at the deep end, which feels rather fitting given the concept behind the album.
    At the end of Supremacy there are only two thoughts going through a listener's head. "Bloody hell that was awesome" and "was Bellamy joking about the electronic stuff?" And then BOOM. Madness. Featuring the classically electronic "m-m-m-m-m-m-m-m-mad-mad-mad" at the intro accompanied by Dominic Howard's steady beat on the drum machine.
    Despite being different in every way from all of Muse's other tracks, it certainly doesn't disappoint. And boy, does it grow on you. The music slowly builds up, becoming one of the bands greatest songs to date as the electronics slowly drop out. Pay attention, Coldplay. This is how Magic should have sounded! It crams in many rock features throughout despite the electronic side, we still get a kick-ass (if admittedly a little brief) guitar solo accompanied by light hints of overdrive on Bellamy's Manson.
    Emerging from the calmness of Madness comes Panic Station... otherwise known as Everything Great About 80's Rock Jammed Into 3 Minutes. Everything you would possibly want in a Muse song is here. Clean Falsettos, about 500 uses of the word "you", one of the greatest bass lines since Hysteria or Another One Bites The Dust, and a melody that you just have to tap your foot to. 'Nuff said, give it a listen.
    At this point you know the album is diverse, and just to prove you right comes along an orchestral prelude (stunning) followed by the official song for the olympics 2012, Survival. With choirs, orchestras, and some of Bellamy's most powerful vocals to date. This is, in many people's opinion, the best song on the album. But not in mine, as the middle of the album ups the game yet again, with tracks Follow Me, sounding like something half way between the Pet Shop Boys and an extremely well produced Muse song. It's camp, it's poppy. And it's bloody brilliant. Even the rather irritating wubwubwub'd in the background grow on you, and suit the songs, and the live performances... wow, just wow. The song even features Bellamy's son, Bingham's heartbeat, setting the beat and tone for Bellamy's deepest vocals yet (both in pitch and meaning)
    Following Follow Me (yes I did that on purpose) is Animals, in my opinion, not just the best track on the album, but the best track of the year. it's so good! Lyrics from the next track, Big Freeze sum up my feelings about it "What words cannot convey"
    Big Freeze is the U2 style pop rock load of brilliant cheesiness. The vocals are Bellamy's best and hardest to sing to date, in particular on the above lyrics. It is a definite Muse future classic, and unfortunately marks an unbeatable high for the album, which is not what you want, the best should be saved for last, just look at The Resistance and Black Holes & Revelations as perfect examples.
    Explorers is wonderful, beautiful and one of Muse's best ballads, and it is unbelieveably hard to compare with the previous track, but it's better than the remaining 4 tracks, that much is certain. The next 2 songs are written and sung by Chris Wolstenholme, the band's bassist. And despite Chris being one of the greatest living bass players, it really doesn't make sense to have him singing on an album dominated by one of the greatest voices in modern rock. Of course the songs are about Chris, so it's only right that he should sing them, and they are good songs. They just don't fit in too well with the concept or style of the album. The same can be said to some extent about the 2nd Law electronic 2 part symphony. I was expecting another Exogenesis Symphony, which was an absolute masterpiece, but no. The orchetsral parts for the 2 tracks are great, but the UNSUSTAINABLE stuff does get a little tedious. But as usual Bellamy's vocals, even though they are only "woah, oh oh oh, oooh, ah ooh oh oh oohahwoahoh" are still brilliant, and almost too powerful for a man of his height.
    Isolated system is better in almost every way, and is extremely fitting in World War Z, and also to this album. It is the opposite to the intro of the album, it is calm, steady and peaceful, and a wonderful conclusion to this 52 minute masterpiece.
    The next album is said to go back to basics, and one thing is certain. I'll be queueing overnight to buy it.    … Expand
  25. Muddsjr
    Jun 18, 2014
    1
    I've always loved muse, mainly for they're loud, powerful sound. I've always found them to be a band who've taken they're music to a level where it might feel a little ridiculous at times, but for me, The 2nd Law is ridiculously over-hyped in the wrong way. As 2012 was a massive year for Britain, Muse clearly felt the need to come out with the most superior and out there thing they could.I've always loved muse, mainly for they're loud, powerful sound. I've always found them to be a band who've taken they're music to a level where it might feel a little ridiculous at times, but for me, The 2nd Law is ridiculously over-hyped in the wrong way. As 2012 was a massive year for Britain, Muse clearly felt the need to come out with the most superior and out there thing they could. The end result, and no offence to any fans here, is rubbish.… Expand
  26. Charlyrockstar
    Apr 8, 2014
    4
    an poor album, but don't leave the great work that doing the band, but is an poor album is the truth that I have to say, I know it hurts to say, but this album don't completing the expectatives of the band, I'm sorry for the fans of the good band
  27. Lelandskell
    Dec 23, 2013
    7
    Decent Muse album, but there isn't really any memorable songs, kind of boring actually. Panic Station is alright, and reminds me of 'Get Lucky' by Daft Punk, and Survival and Madness are good, but meh overall, if you want a really good Muse album, check out Absolution.
  28. raviopatra
    Nov 18, 2013
    6
    Muse will be one of the greatest rock band that emerged from the 2000 decade, no matter how many people love or hate them. As for this album, while I believe this sounds more like Muse rather than their previous effort, this isn't nearly as good as their other releases. It opens promisingly with "Supremacy", "Madness", the "Prelude", and "Survival" ("Panic Station" is a weakling for me).Muse will be one of the greatest rock band that emerged from the 2000 decade, no matter how many people love or hate them. As for this album, while I believe this sounds more like Muse rather than their previous effort, this isn't nearly as good as their other releases. It opens promisingly with "Supremacy", "Madness", the "Prelude", and "Survival" ("Panic Station" is a weakling for me). But right after Survival, it went downhill boring and nowhere near exciting. "The 2nd Law: Unsustainable" stands out but that's all to the second half of the album.… Expand
  29. linx21
    Sep 18, 2013
    6
    OoS was the reason I can't normally function without music (rock especially). Each of MUSE albums was very close to my heart, until now. As much Resistance was a bit of let down, The 2nd Law is just disappointment. I can't think of one great song (on Resistance at least we had few older style MUSE songs which I still listen to this very day). 2nd Law is just mixture of 13 decent tracks.
  30. VatsalSharma
    Sep 6, 2013
    10
    All the age old Muse fans will cringe and moan about how the album is not "real muse", but really, the album is excellent! Electric Rock is a really tricky genre to meddle into and Muse is one of the few bands to have done it right. Songs like Follow Me and Madness show the careful and intricate production that Muse have mastered over the years, while Supremacy, Panic Station and AnimalsAll the age old Muse fans will cringe and moan about how the album is not "real muse", but really, the album is excellent! Electric Rock is a really tricky genre to meddle into and Muse is one of the few bands to have done it right. Songs like Follow Me and Madness show the careful and intricate production that Muse have mastered over the years, while Supremacy, Panic Station and Animals deliver the classic Muse melodies and guitar riffs! The two Instrumentals, Unsustainable and Isolated System are the exact opposite of the 3-part symphony in The Resistance, as they exhibit the far ends of the electronic prowess that Muse tried to accomplish and succeeded in my opinion.
    So really, i am a Muse fan since Absolution, and everyone needs to grow up and accept that a band ventures and experiments with different music and all albums cant be like your old time favourites. Muse has incredibly shown their growth with The 2nd Law and it only makes me more excited for their future works, along with giving me, what is arguably the best Muse song ever, Madness!    … Expand
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Awards & Rankings

12
#12 Most Discussed Album of 2012
78
#78 Most Shared Album of 2012

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
70

Generally favorable reviews - based on 30 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 30
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 30
  3. Negative: 0 out of 30
  1. Absolute Punk (Staff reviews)
    Dec 5, 2012
    65
    From its atmospheric nineties leanings to Bellamy's consistently on-the-mark channeling of Bono, it's not too hard to imagine The 2nd Law having a similar legacy ten or twenty years down the road: not a great album, but an adventurous one.
    Read full review
  2. Kerrang!
    Oct 29, 2012
    80
    Does this all meld together into the cohesive whole of a perfect album? Well, no, not really. But does The 2nd Law represent a band whose only limitations seem to be the high ceiling of their collective imagination? The answer here is an emphatic yes. [6 Oct 2012, p.52]
  3. Mojo
    Oct 22, 2012
    80
    Muse and David Campbell's melodramatic arrangements occasionally raise a smile, but if you like your rock symphonic and your vocals histrionic, The 2nd Law delivers. [Nov 2012, p.87]
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