The 2nd Law

The 2nd Law is the sixth studio album by the English rock band Muse. It was first released on 28 September 2012 in Europe, 1 October 2012 in the United Kingdom, and on 2 October 2012 in North America through Warner Bros. Records and the band's own Helium-3 imprint. Recording took place in studios between London and Los Angeles County, beginning in October 2011 and ending in August 2012. The 2nd Law was Muse's second album to be solely self-produced, following The Resistance (2009). It features additional musicians that performed brass, strings, and choir vocals.

The 2nd Law is a concept album about a deteriorating planet that its inhabitants can no longer live on. Major lyrical themes include societal collapse, totalitarianism, and the second law of thermodynamics, which the title references. Musically, the band chose to experiment significantly and create a sound that was distinct from their previous records. The album incorporates art rock, progressive rock, and electronic music with Muse's traditional alternative rock style. Acts such as Queen, David Bowie, and Skrillex were also key influences. The cover art features a map of the human brain's pathways, which was taken from the Human Connectome Project.