Muse Brings The Heaviness Into The 80s With 'Thought Contagion'

Muse's last single 'Dig Down' didn't quite sit well with a lot of Muse fans - including me. Though the song has definitely grown on me since it came out, it's certainly not the best of what they have to offer. The band are keeping up with their aesthetic, though, and the next single from their upcoming album puts them back on track for greatness. Muse brings the heaviness into the 80s with 'Thought Contagion,' their new single that's big and dark.

Matt Bellamy originally described 'Thought Contagion' as part 2 to the classic song 'Fury,' and it's not too far off. The pounding drums draw from Drones number 'The Handler,' while the whammy guitars certainly feel reminiscent of the unforgettable riff of 'Fury.' 'Thought Contagion' has a certain pop swagger to it, though, helping it maintain its radio presence. And don't forget the giant gang vocals (a clear takeaway from last summer's tour with Thirty Seconds To Mars), which help the song become even bigger. It's heavy and poppy, a mix Muse hasn't quite achieved successfully since 2006's Black Holes and Revelations.

The music video for the song really goes all out on maintaining the 80s aesthetic. The only real really retro elements about 'Thought Contagion' are the synths and perhaps the "woahs," but the videos and art for the cycle so far certainly have a theme. The video doesn't quite capture the theme of the song, moreso just a throwback to the 80s with the 'Dig Down' arcade machine, the 'Thriller' dance number, and the cheesy werewolf but when the pre-chorus chants "You've been bitten by, a true believer." It's screams of the aesthetic, and certainly serves as a groovy backdrop, but it doesn't quite capture the nature of the song.

Muse brings the heaviness into the 80s with 'Thought Contagion,' bringing together the best mix of their heavier sound and their poppier sound since 2006. It's certainly revitalized a lot of hope in their upcoming album, and hopefully they keep hitting that right space of new and old. All that's left is to see how big this song sounds live.

Rating: 92 / 100

Video Rating: 70 / 100

Stream or buy 'Thought Contagion' on Apple Music, and follow our 2018 Playlist: