The Wow Signal: Is it worth the hype?

Written by Chris Hyde

Band: Muse

Album: The Wow Signal

Producers: Dan Lancaster, Aleks von Korff, Muse

Teignmouth's proudest export, the trio that are Christopher Wolstenholme, Dominic Howard and Matthew Bellamy are better known as MUSE.

With their loud, eccentric and energetic style. It's no surprise that almost thirty years later they are on their tenth studio album release.

The Wow Signal (2026) album cover

The Wow Signal was released on the 26th of June 2026.

It marks Muse's return to the rock charts and one of their most anticipated releases yet.

I have to say. That while there are some interesting things going on, as a whole The Wow Signal fails to wow me completely.

Their last album Will of The People, felt like the beginning of a turning point for the band.

Both their 2010's albums 2nd Law and Simulation Theory used a heavy reliance on technology. From synths to dubstep we had Muse go down a very different route to what they were known for musically.

That being said, Will of The People showed that Muse still had an edge.

They went heavy on tracks like Kill or be Killed and Won't Stand Down which refreshed their stale image.

That's why I'm glad they kept going with not one but five tracks. Cryogen, The Sickness in You and I, Unravelling, Hexagons and Hush all go hard. Some still incorporating tech but with the edge turned up to eleven.

But is it enough to make the top 5? Honestly I think time is the best judge of that. I think my main gripe with this record is that as a thematic album it doesn't work.

The synth-pop Muse have aligned themselves with over the years mixed with rock and some moments of metal give the album a voice with nothing to say. It still holds to Muse's commercialism which disappoints the feel of the album. The Space and cosmos themes are lacking in a majority of the tracks, unless I'm missing something.

It's a shame because all it does is feel like a sequel to Will of The People instead of what it was supposed to be, a return to their roots (or Origins you could say).

But before I give my overall score on the album, here's my ranking from 1-10 of the songs on The Wow Signal and my breakdown of each song.

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10. The Dark Forest

The song starts out promising. But as soon as the lyrics kick in all I can think is it feels out of place. I've seen a lot of people compare it to Knights of Cydonia. There's very minimal comparison in my opinion. The only way I'd consider it even close to Knights is the galloping drum beat. Other than that it doesn't compare in anyway. It's almost like they had a few different songs they stuck together to make this somewhat coherent.

9. Be With You

One of the few songs to be released as a single, Be With You was one of those songs I needed to give time and multiple listens to get on board. I love the incorporation of the organ. It harkens back to Muse's roots using classical music to elevate their alternative edge. I feel the synth-pop elements let the song down a bit but is saved by the Brian May style guitar solo that plays in the last part of the song.

8. Nightshift Superstar

What can I say about this song? It's bold, exciting and one of the most baffling songs on the album. I won't deny it's an earworm. Chris' bassline gives the song the disco fever it's sick with. My only problem with this song is that it belongs in the Simulation Theory era. It's too 80's themed and heavily produced to the point where it feels like it was made in a nostalgia factory. It doesn't relate well to the themes of The Wow Signal and lets the album down.

7. Space Debris

It didn't take me long to like this song. I love Muse's signature hard and alternative rock style, but I also love their slower and more melodic sound. Songs like Map of Your Head and Falling Down show that Muse can sit with melancholy. Matt said in an interview that if he could he would've made it 10 minutes long. On this occasion I definitely agree with him. This could easily be a 10 minuter and still be an absolute tune from beginning to end.

6. Cryogen

This is a tough one. I can tell I may get a lot of flack for this being so low on the album. It's one of the few songs that made me feel like old Muse had returned. It could have easily fit in Origins of Symmetry or Absolution. It's still a great listen and deserves praise. I think maybe a few listens may boost it up in my ranking but for now I'm keeping it out of the top five.

5. Shimmering Scars

We kick off the top 5 with another beautiful Muse track. Shimmering Scars feels like something that again doesn't quite gel with the album's themes yet gives such a cathartic sensation that it's hard to ignore. The organ makes a return which I love because Matt has such a unique way of incorporating sounds that elevate the song. Compared to the soft tracks like Ghosts and Verona on their previous album, Shimmering Scars and Space Debris feel like a step up and in the right direction.

4. Hush

Hush marks their first official collaboration with another artist on a Muse record and it doesn't disappoint. Ellie Goulding matches Matt's rythmn and sound so perfectly. a duet that feels so unlike Muse yet it would solidify itself as one of my favourite songs on the album. If it wasn't for the top three I'd easily place it as the top song. The heaviness mixes perfectly with the pop-synth vibes a lot more than Nightshift Superstar does. I love the beginning riff (something Muse does exceptionally well) which is something I'll explore further.

3. The Sickness in You and I

Another killer riff that explodes into a heavier tone. This song has so much to offer yet pushes their sound and experimental feel further. All I want is this to be a sign that Muse will continue to push their heavier sound and give the pop-synth a bit of a break. It's time they harkened back to their roots and took their sound to a new level. I love how it flows into the next song on the list.

2. Unravelling

What a tune. I love this song so much. When it was first released as a single I was blown away. The release of the acoustic (or "Ghost Town" as it's called) version was even better. I love how heavy they go in this track because it shows what Muse have been neglecting for so many years. Kill or Be Killed was the nearest we had since Psycho or even Reapers.

1. Hexagons

Now for the best song on the album. Hexagons is truly exquisite in every conceivable way. I will happily call myself a hypocrite for calling out their reliance on 80's synth because the first 1:30 of the song is the best I've heard from them in their nearly 30 year history.

The riff is sublime. The drums are phenomenal. The layering in that beginning sequence is something to be studied. It made me think of Sci-Fi epics from the 20th Century. I could easily see this fitting in a 2001: A Space Odyssey type film.

I can't get enough of how much I love this song. It's one of the few songs that keep the album from slipping into self indulgent obscurity and captures the themes of the album that seemed to go amiss in other tracks.

My only gripe is that this song should be longer.

Despite my criticism, I do enjoy the album. I think it has potential but it fails to capture the themes of the album. For something that was heavily inspired by Space, it just feels like their last effort Will of The People. A compilation of their best sounds instead of a connected thematic piece.

Overall I'd give the album a 7/10.

You can find The Wow Signal on Spotify, Apple Music or wherever you stream.