Albums

Album Review : Muse : ‘The Wow! Signal’

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Review by Kimmarie Erickson for MPM

In the world of music, after ten studio albums, it would stand to reason that a band would struggle to keep switching things up and surprising fans.

That is not the case with Muse and their June 26th, 2026 release, The Wow! Signal. I guess you could say I am late to the party as far as being in the Muse Universe.

You could also say I was a huge Muse fan before I even knew who they were. To be honest, I think most modern mixed-genre metal fans who listen to any type of mixed streaming service are Muse fans. Muse is a shape-shifting creation that can slip into most multi-genre playlists and become staples extremely quickly.

For example, track 4, Cryogen, with its infectious guitar intro and cryptic lyrics, stopped me in my tracks. It randomly started playing while I was running, and I had to stop what I was doing to see who the band was. I, of course, had to dive headfirst down the Muse rabbit hole and was titillated by what I found.

Title track, Dark Forrest, is the type of song that I would label as Epica, giant, dramatic sound, ominous and erie vibe. The song is split into acts, creating an even fuller feel. Track 2, Nightshift Superstar, solidifies my opinion that Muse has reached a masterclass in musical chameleonism.

Smooth intro, plummeting into a disco techno swirl with a tight bass line and velvety vocals. Track 3 is worth mentioning simply because Shimmering Scars gave my goosebumps, goosebumps. Slow and liquid, hitting all the feels. Track 5, Be with You, drips with Freddie Mercury and Queen nostalgic goodness.

Hexagons, track 6, with it’s gigantic percussion and riveting pulsating techno, is almost a mic drop moment of this album. Track 7, The Sickness in You & I, is sticky, naughty and plain delicious.

Darkly erotic but guitar-driven, 100% masterfully arranged. Unraveling, Track 8, had me feeling kind of Def Tone adjacent. Deep, dark, robust and heavy with vocals riding above all the chaos.

Hush, second-to-last track, feature Ellie Goulding, is bold and crisp, highlighting the obvious simpatico pairing of the two lead vocalists. Last track, Space Debris, slowly unfolds with a mysterious vocal line, leaving the next line in the abyss.

Honestly, I was in the dark about how this song would peak. I am going to go out on a limb and say this track might be an omage to the late great David Bowie, but that is just my take.

Muse started in 1994, math is not my strong suit, but in the land of recording artists staying relevant for this long is a magnificiant feet. I am mystified how this band continues to mutate into newer, more creative versions of themselves with each album. This album and Muse is are definitely Skullgurl Metalchick approved.