“Most bands are scared of ridicule – we embrace it.” Every Muse album ranked from worst to best
Developed over time first seen 2 months ago
Loudersound has published a ranked retrospective of all ten Muse studio albums, tracing the Devon trio's evolution from cult outsiders to one of Britain's biggest stadium acts, underpinned by eight consecutive UK number-one albums. The piece frames frontman Matt Bellamy as inheriting the theatrical unpredictability of bands like Queen, recalling how footage of Jimi Hendrix burning his guitar convinced him, aged 15, that music "didn't have to follow rules but could be full of chaos" — an ethos the band say has guided them ever since, with Bellamy noting that most bands fear ridicule while Muse embrace it.
The ranking moves through the catalogue chronologically and by merit, weighing mid-table records such as Drones (2015), a heavy-handed concept album about authoritarianism co-produced by Robert "Mutt" Lange, against Simulation Theory (2018), an '80s-inspired synth-rock effort featuring Timbaland production. It also considers the band's earlier, more grandiose works and their more experimental later output, ultimately building towards a top pick that the piece presents as the definitive Muse statement, reflecting the trio's long-standing willingness to lean into bombast and genre-hopping rather than play it safe.
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In short
- Loudersound ranks all ten Muse studio albums worst to best
- Bellamy says the band embraces ridicule others fear
- Eight consecutive UK number-one albums underline their mainstream success
How this story developed
- 2 months ago Loudersound has published a ranked retrospective of all ten Muse studio albums, tracing the Devon trio's journey from cult outsiders to one of Britain's biggest stadium acts, underpinned by eight consecutive UK number-one albums.
- 2 months ago Loudersound has published a ranked retrospective of Muse's ten studio albums, tracing the Devon trio's evolution from cult rock outsiders to one of Britain's biggest stadium acts, with eight consecutive UK number-one albums to their name.
- 2 months ago Loudersound has published a ranked retrospective of all ten Muse studio albums, tracing the Devon trio's evolution from cult outsiders to one of Britain's biggest stadium acts, underpinned by eight consecutive UK number-one albums.
Explained simply
Muse are a rock band from Devon made up of Matt Bellamy on vocals and guitar, Chris Wolstenholme on bass and Dominic Howard on drums. Formed in the mid-1990s, they built a reputation for theatrical, high-energy shows and a sound that mixes hard rock with electronic and orchestral elements, and they have gone on to score eight consecutive UK number-one albums.
Bellamy, the band's frontman, has often been compared to Freddie Mercury for his flamboyant stage presence and willingness to take musical risks. He has said his approach was shaped as a teenager by seeing footage of Jimi Hendrix smashing up a guitar, which convinced him that music could break the usual rules.
The band's back catalogue spans ten studio albums released over roughly three decades, ranging from early guitar-driven records to more experimental works incorporating electronic production and political themes. This body of work, and the band's continued output as they prepare new material, is why outlets periodically revisit and rank their albums for fans and newcomers alike.
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