To celebrate the 20th anniversary of our third studio album, we’re releasing ‘Muse Absolution XX Anniversary’.
Coming November 17th, the new edition of the album features remastered audio, never-before-released live versions, demos and photos as well as a new, in-depth interview… pic.twitter.com/QXmB9Nozeq

— muse (@muse) September 15, 2023

It may come as an astonishing surprise to those who grew up with Muse blaring out of their bedroom speakers, but Absolution turns twenty years old this month and the band are set to celebrate their seminal album with a massive new release. Absolution will be presented to fans as a deluxe boxset reissue that will feature a complete remastered edition of the record, plus bonus tracks and live recordings.

With Absolution, Muse were able to hit brand new heights, the likes of which the band had aspired to since their creation. Released on 15th September 2003, the album spawned four singles including “Stockholm Syndrome,” “Hysteria,” “Butterflies And Hurricanes,” and “Time Is Running Out.” The calibre of the songs, resonating with fans still to this day, also paved the ground for Muse to begin selling out arenas and included a headline slot at 2004’s Glastonbury festival.

The album was immediately praised by critics and fans alike, with most lauding the apocalyptic concept of the music and its finely polished sound credited to producer Rich Costey. Singer songwriter Matt Bellamy attributed at least part of the album’s success to the band’s conscience effort to take their time with the writing and recording process, instead of rushing it through as on previous efforts.

The album also became the first to break into the American market for the band, with the album eventually being certified gold in the United States. Importantly, the album signalled an evolution with the group that would continue to shape and define the sound that has made Muse a unique force within the genre and easily recognisable to their fans the world over.

The deluxe edition of Absolution will also feature demo recordings, photos, vinyl and CD versions and exclusive interviews with both the band and Costey. The boxset can be pre-ordered here.

Muse formed in Devon in 1994 and have maintained a consistent lineup throughout their history with Bellamy on guitar and lead vocals, Chris Wolstenholme on bass and Dominic Howard on drums. The band have won numerous awards over the nearly three decades that they have been active, including Grammy Awards, Brit Awards and MTV Europe Music Awards.

Muse will embark on a short run of UK and Ireland tour dates later this month. Tickets can be purchased here.

Muse UK and Ireland tour:

27/09/2023 – 3Arena – Dublin
29/09 – AO Arena – Manchester
01/10 – O2 Arena – London
02/10 – O2 Arena – London

The tour commemorates their ninth studio album Will Of The People. The first single from the album, ‘Kill Or Be Killed’ was released in July with frontman Matt Bellamy describing it as “Muse at their heaviest.” He told NME: “Lyrically the song takes influence from my favourite Paul McCartney song ‘Live And Let Die’, a dark take on how life’s adversity can sometimes bring out the worst human instincts to survival at any costs.”

Bellamy discussed the creation of the latest album with The Big Issue, he revealed that their record label wanted them to release a ‘best of’ compilation record. “We were reaching that point where there was talk about maybe doing a greatest hits album,” he said, “we weren’t really in favour of doing that,” “So it’s almost like we’ve made a record that is a greatest hits album – of new songs. That means this album might have a metal track on it – and it’s like, the best metal track we’ve ever done. Or there’s a sort of soft ballad, love song and it’s probably the best ballad love song we’ve ever done, and so on.”

Both the single and album have been released to strong reviews with Kerrang! describing the band as “masters of what they are doing” and agreeing with Matt Bellamy’s description of ‘Kill Or Be Killed’ saying the single alongside “the defiant Won’t Stand Down are some of the heaviest things the band have ever done.” Planet Radio described the album as “hyper-eclectic” and “ambitious.” The album is due for release on 26th August via Warner Records and can be pre-ordered here. 

Any fans who have pre-ordered the album through Muse’s online store will receive a unique code that allows early access to purchase tickets on 25th August at 9am. General sale is Friday 26th August at 9am and tickets can be booked through Gigs and Tours as well as Ticketmaster. When speaking to The Guardian, Matt Bellamy said: “Our live show is so much fun, I can’t even tell you,” “Massive lights, huge crowds, everybody singing along. It’s a little bit moreish. It’s akin to being in a football team and scoring the winning goal every day.”

Matt Bellamy (lead vocals, guitar, keyboards), Chris Wolstenholme (bass guitar, backing vocals), and Dominic Howard (drums) formed the band Muse in Teignmouth, Devon back in 1994. They’ve since gone on to win two Grammys, the Ivor Novello Award, and they have sold more than thirty million albums worldwide. They have also scooped up two Brit Awards, five MTV Europe Music Awards and eight NME Awards.

Muse’s UK tour dates 2023:

27/05/23 – Home Park – Plymouth

20/06 – John Smith’s Stadium – Huddersfield

23/06 – Bellahouston Park – Glasgow

25/06 – The National Bowl – Milton Keynes