The 2nd Law
{{About|the Muse album|the rule of energy transfers|Second law of thermodynamics|other theoretical laws|Second law (disambiguation){{!}}Second law}}
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{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2015}}
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{{Infobox album
| name = The 2nd Law
| type = studio
| artist = Muse
| cover = Muse 2nd law.jpg
| alt = A map of a human brain's pathways placed over a black background. In the top-left, from top to bottom, "MUSE" is written in white, followed by "THE" in white, "2ND" in orange, and "LAW" in red.
| caption = Cover art by the Human Connectome Project
| released = {{start date|df=yes|2012|9|28}}
| recorded = October 2011 – August 2012
| studio =
- AIR Lyndhurst (London)
- EastWest (Los Angeles){{efn|Additional recording at Shangri-La in Malibu, California, and Capitol in Los Angeles.}}
| genre =
| length = 53:49
| label =
| producer = Muse
| chronology = Muse
| prev_title = The Resistance
| prev_year = 2009
| next_title = Live at Rome Olympic Stadium
| next_year = 2013
| misc = {{Extra chronology
| artist = Muse studio album
| type = studio
| prev_title = The Resistance
| prev_year = 2009
| title = The 2nd Law
| year = 2012
| next_title = Drones
| next_year = 2015
}}
{{Singles
| name = The 2nd Law
| type = Studio
| single1 = Survival
| single1date = 27 June 2012
| single2 = Madness
| single2date = 20 August 2012
| single3 = Follow Me
| single3date = 7 December 2012
| single4 = Supremacy
| single4date = 20 February 2013
| single5 = Panic Station
| single5date = 31 May 2013
}}
{{Extra album cover
| caption = Vinyl cover
| image = muse-the_2nd_law_lp.jpg
| type = studio
}}
}}
The 2nd Law is the sixth studio album by the English rock band Muse, first released on 28 September 2012 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.
The singles "Survival", "Madness", "Follow Me", "Supremacy", and "Panic Station" were released in promotion. "Survival" had been chosen as the official song for the 2012 Summer Olympics, "Madness" became an international hit, most notably topping the Billboard Alternative Songs chart for a record-breaking 19 weeks, and "Supremacy" was performed live to begin the 2013 Brit Awards. The track "The 2nd Law: Isolated System" was included in the 2013 movie World War Z. The 2nd Law received positive reviews from critics and performed well commercially; it was a top ten-charting album in 31 countries and a number one album in 13 countries. For its sales figures, it was certified platinum in four countries, including the United Kingdom, and triple-platinum in France. At the 55th Annual Grammy Awards, the album was nominated for Best Rock Album and "Madness" was nominated for Best Rock Song. "Panic Station" was later nominated for Best Rock Song at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards the following year. As of 2018, The 2nd Law has sold over 2.3 million copies worldwide.
Background and recording
The 2nd Law was primarily recorded at AIR Studios in London, England and EastWest Studios in Los Angeles, California, with additional recording taking place at Shangri La Studios in Malibu, California and Capitol Studios in Hollywood.{{cite AV media notes|title=The 2nd Law|year=2012|type=album liner notes|publisher=Warner Bros. Records / Helium-3}} In an interview with Billboard on 18 October 2011, the band's manager Anthony Addis revealed that Muse had begun recording their sixth album in London and that he expected it to be released by October 2012.{{cite magazine | url=http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/genre/rock-and-pop/muse-manager-anthony-addis-talks-new-album-1005416432.story | title=Exclusive: Muse Manager Anthony Addis Talks New Album, Touring and the Challenges of Conquering America | magazine=Billboard | date=17 October 2011 | access-date=9 July 2015 | author=Smirke, Richard | archive-date=24 June 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120624084631/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/genre/rock-and-pop/muse-manager-anthony-addis-talks-new-album-1005416432.story | url-status=dead }} Muse bassist Chris Wolstenholme had stated in an interview with BBC Radio 1 that they had aimed to begin recording The 2nd Law in either September or October 2011.{{cite news | url=http://www.gigwise.com/news/65755/Muse-To-Begin-Recording-New-Album-In-September | title=Muse To Begin Recording New Album in September | work=Gigwise | date=10 August 2011 | access-date=9 July 2015 | author=Gregory, Jason}} During the recording of the album, band frontman Matt Bellamy jokingly described the album as a "Christian gangsta rap jazz odyssey, with some ambient rebellious dubstep and face-melting metal flamenco cowboy psychedelia" on his Twitter account.{{cite web | url=http://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/muses-the-2nd-law-trailer-decoded | title=Muse's 'The 2nd Law' Trailer Decoded | work=NME | date=6 June 2012 | access-date=9 July 2015 | author=Perry, Kevin EG}}
In an interview with Kerrang! on 14 December 2011, Wolstenholme stated that the next Muse album would be "something radically different" from their prior releases. He also said that it felt as if the band were "drawing a line under a certain period" of their career with their sixth album.{{cite web | url=http://www.nme.com/news/muse/60983 | title=Muse: 'It feels like it's time to do something radically different on our next album' | work=NME | date=14 December 2011 | access-date=9 July 2015 | author=Wilkins, Henry}} In another interview Chris mentioned that the band had experimented with music and sounds in particular."We spent a lot of time experimenting with a lot of things, with the music and sounds in particular, and I think that's why this album has this kind of freshness to it". It was revealed via Muse's publicist Tom Kirk on his Twitter account that composer David Campbell was helping the band compose the album.{{cite web | url=http://instagr.am/p/HYJaGsOyFH/ | title="Matt discusses his score with David Campbell." // Photo by nowherethomas | via=Instagram. nowherethomas's account |year=2012 | access-date=9 July 2015}} In an interview in the April 2012 issue of NME, Bellamy said that the band were set to include elements of electronic music, with influences coming from acts such as French house duo Justice and UK dance-punk group Does It Offend You, Yeah?.{{cite web | url=http://www.themusicnetwork.com/music-news/artists/2012/06/07/new-muse-album-set-for-september | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120719084333/http://www.themusicnetwork.com/music-news/artists/2012/06/07/new-muse-album-set-for-september | archive-date=2012-07-19 | title=New Muse album set for September | website=The Music Network |via=Internet Archive | date=7 June 2012 | access-date=9 July 2015 | last=Reid | first=Poppy}}
Composition
{{listen |filename=Muse - The 2nd Law - Unsustainable sample.ogg |title="The 2nd Law: Unsustainable" (2012) |description=A 22-second sample from "The 2nd Law: Unsustainable" by Muse. The song was influenced by dubstep producer Skrillex. |pos=right }}
The 2nd Law has been described by The Arts Desk as a concept album with main themes of "chaos, control, societal collapse and totalitarianism".{{Cite web |last=Muggs |first=Joe |date=29 September 2012 |title=CD: Muse - The 2nd Law |url=https://theartsdesk.com/new-music/cd-muse-2nd-law |access-date=14 January 2022 |website=The Arts Desk}} The iTunes review of the album similarly described it as a concept album telling the story of "a resource-strapped planet that can no longer support its inhabitants". The music of The 2nd Law has been described as art rock,{{cite web | url=http://www.spin.com/reviews/muse-the-2nd-law-warner-bros/ | title=Muse, 'The 2nd Law' (Warner Bros.) | work=Spin | date=11 December 2014 | access-date=9 July 2015 | author=Farrar, Justin F}} alternative rock,{{Cite web |last=Fynes |first=Conor |date=9 October 2012 |title=Muse - The 2nd Law |url=https://www.prog-sphere.com/reviews/muse-the-2nd-law/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190926180227/https://www.prog-sphere.com/reviews/muse-the-2nd-law/ |archive-date=26 September 2019 |access-date=12 June 2019 |website=Prog Sphere}} progressive rock, and electronic music.{{cite web | url=http://mccourier.com/2012/10/19/muse-the-2nd-law/ | title=Muse: The 2nd Law | work=Monmouth College Courier | date=19 October 2012 | access-date=14 October 2015 | author=Docherty, Dylan | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208195254/http://mccourier.com/2012/10/19/muse-the-2nd-law/ | archive-date=8 December 2015 | url-status=dead | df=dmy-all }} The album's first track, "Supremacy", has been compared to James Bond theme songs.{{cite web|title="Supremacy" leaked from upcoming album|date=24 September 2012|url=http://musicfeeds.com.au/news/listen-new-muse-track-supremacy-leaked-from-forthcoming-album/|access-date=22 January 2013}} "Madness", according to NME, features influences which draw from Queen's "I Want to Break Free" and David Bowie's Scary Monsters album.{{cite web | url=http://www.muselive.com/the-2nd-law-album-summary-1343246880/ | title=The 2nd Law – Album Summary – News – Muselive | publisher=Muselive.com | date=25 July 2015 | access-date=9 July 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150629225353/http://www.muselive.com/the-2nd-law-album-summary-1343246880/ | archive-date=29 June 2015 | url-status=dead | df=dmy-all }} Instead of using a bass guitar for the song, Wolstenholme opted to use a Misa Kitara, a digital MIDI controller, to create the song's main bass riff. "Panic Station", the third track, has been noted as a funk rock song{{cite magazine | url=http://consequenceofsound.net/2012/10/video-muse-on-saturday-night-live/ | title=Video: Muse on Saturday Night Live | magazine=Consequence of Sound | date=7 October 2012 | access-date=9 July 2015 | last=Young | first=Alex}}{{cite magazine | url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/muse-pack-london-set-with-new-songs-20121001 | title=Muse Fill London Show With Songs From 'The 2nd Law' | date=1 October 2012 | access-date=9 July 2015 | last=Sutherland | first=Mark | magazine=Rolling Stone}}{{cite web|url=http://blogs.edmontonjournal.com/2012/10/01/album-review-muse-the-2nd-law/|title=Album review: Muse, The 2nd Law|work=Edmonton Journal|publisher=Postmedia Network|first=Sandra|last=Sperounes|date=1 October 2012|access-date=8 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150912230318/http://blogs.edmontonjournal.com/2012/10/01/album-review-muse-the-2nd-law/|archive-date=12 September 2015|url-status=dead}} and features collaborations from people who had worked on Stevie Wonder's "Superstition".{{cite AV media | people=Muse | date=28 September 2012 | title=The Making of The 2nd Law | medium=Documentary | publisher=Helium-3}} It also includes explicit lyrics, making The 2nd Law Muse's first album to feature the Parental Advisory label.{{cite web | url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-2nd-law/551989940 | title=The 2nd Law by Muse | publisher=Apple Music |year=2012 | access-date=14 January 2022}}
Bellamy stated that dubstep producer Skrillex was an influence when writing one of the final two tracks on the album – "The 2nd Law: Unsustainable".{{cite web | url=http://newsroom.mtv.com/2012/07/25/muse-reveals-skrillex-as-major-influence-on-new-album-the-2nd-law/ | title=Muse Reveals Skrillex As Major Influence on New Album 'The 2nd Law' | publisher=MTV | date=25 July 2012 | access-date=9 July 2015 | author=Swickey, Zachary | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010085226/http://newsroom.mtv.com/2012/07/25/muse-reveals-skrillex-as-major-influence-on-new-album-the-2nd-law | archive-date=10 October 2012 | df=dmy-all }} He also stated that the song "Follow Me" was written about his newborn son, Bingham Bellamy. The song was produced by electronic music trio Nero. Bassist Chris Wolstenholme wrote two songs for the album about his battle with alcoholism – "Save Me" and "Liquid State" – and provided lead vocals on both tracks, thus marking the first time Wolstenholme sang lead vocals on a Muse song.{{cite web | url=http://www.nme.com/news/muse/65148 | title=Muse's Chris Wolstenholme on alcohol battle: 'I had to stop or die' | work=NME | date=26 July 2012 | access-date=9 July 2015}} Bellamy revealed that during the recording of The 2nd Law he was reading the novel World War Z, which became a major influence on the album, especially the tracks "The 2nd Law: Isolated System" and "Survival".{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ot1vCR8jfSc | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211114/Ot1vCR8jfSc| archive-date=2021-11-14 | url-status=live| title=Matt Bellamy from Muse talks about World War Z at premiere | publisher=YouTube | date=2 June 2013 | access-date=9 June 2015}}{{cbignore}} "The 2nd Law: Isolated System" was featured in the film adaptation of the novel.{{cite magazine | url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1565668/brad-pitt-bigs-up-muses-work-on-world-war-z-soundtrack | title=Brad Pitt Bigs-Up Muse's Work on 'World War Z' Soundtrack | magazine=Billboard | date=4 June 2013 | access-date=9 July 2015}}
Packaging
The name "The 2nd Law" references the second law of thermodynamics,{{cite magazine | title=The Madness of Muse | date=28 February 2013 | last=Fricke | first=David | magazine=Rolling Stone | issue=1177 | pages=30–31 | issn=0035-791X}} which is quoted in the track "Unsustainable" as follows:
All natural and technological processes proceed in such a way that the availability of the remaining energy decreases. In all energy exchanges, if no energy enters or leaves an isolated system, the entropy of that system increases. Energy continuously flows from being concentrated, to becoming dispersed, spread out, wasted, and useless. New energy cannot be created and high-grade energy are being destroyed. An economy based on endless growth is unsustainable.{{cite web | url=http://www.metrolyrics.com/the-2nd-law-unsustainable-lyrics-muse.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402074226/http://www.metrolyrics.com/the-2nd-law-unsustainable-lyrics-muse.html|archive-date=2019-04-02|url-status=dead | title=Muse – The 2nd Law: Unsustainable Lyrics | website=MetroLyrics | access-date=26 December 2015}}
The album's cover art, taken from the Human Connectome Project, represents the map of the human brain's pathways, "tracking the circuits in our heads and how we process information with bright, neon colors."{{cite magazine | url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/muse-map-out-brain-on-the-2nd-law-album-art-20120730 | title=Muse Map out the Brain on 'The 2nd Law' Album Art | magazine=Rolling Stone | date=30 July 2012 | access-date=9 July 2015}}
The artwork was subsequently used by Muse in a social Connectome Project on 21 September 2012. As more fans joined the online project, the album art was built, representing the network of the neurons within the brain. As the album art branched and more fans joined the network, incremental segments of the album track "The 2nd Law: Isolated System" were released.{{cite web |url=http://hangout.altsounds.com/news/152561-muse-launch-social-connectome.html |title=Muse Launch Social Connectome | Altsounds.com News |publisher=Hangout.altsounds.com |date=21 September 2012 |access-date=2 October 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120923171952/http://hangout.altsounds.com/news/152561-muse-launch-social-connectome.html |archive-date=23 September 2012 |df=dmy-all }}
The album was released as a digital download, CD, CD+DVD (with The Making of The 2nd Law and bonus feature),{{cite web | url=http://store.muse.mu/uk/music/the-2nd-law-deluxe-cd-dvd.html | title=The 2nd Law Deluxe CD + DVD | publisher=muse.mu | year=2012 | access-date=9 July 2015 | archive-date=10 July 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150710051443/http://store.muse.mu/uk/music/the-2nd-law-deluxe-cd-dvd.html | url-status=dead }} and vinyl. A deluxe edition box set of The 2nd Law included a CD, DVD, double vinyl and three posters.{{cite web | url=http://store.muse.mu/uk/music/the-2nd-law-box-set.html | title=The 2nd Law Box Set | publisher=muse.mu | year=2012 | access-date=9 July 2015 | archive-date=10 July 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150710012646/http://store.muse.mu/uk/music/the-2nd-law-box-set.html | url-status=dead }}
Promotion
On 6 June 2012, Muse released a trailer for The 2nd Law with a countdown on the band's website suggesting a 17 September release date.{{cite web | url=http://rekwired.com/news/muse-publish-trailer-for-their-new-album/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120626022810/http://rekwired.com/news/muse-publish-trailer-for-their-new-album/ | url-status=usurped | archive-date=26 June 2012 | title=Muse publish trailer for their new album | publisher=Rekwired | date=6 June 2012 | access-date=9 July 2015 | author=Aghababyan, Gayane}} The trailer, which included dubstep elements, was met with mixed reactions from fans.{{cite web | url=http://www.nme.com/news/muse/64168 | title=Fans react to Muse's brostep-tinged trailer for new album 'The 2nd Law' | work=NME | date=6 June 2012 | access-date=9 July 2015 | author=Wilkins, Henry}}{{cite web | url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1686756/muse-second-law-trailer-dubstep.jhtml | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120629010445/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1686756/muse-second-law-trailer-dubstep.jhtml | url-status=dead | archive-date=29 June 2012 | title=Muse Move Toward Dubstep in Apocalyptic The 2nd Law Trailer | publisher=MTV | date=6 June 2012 | access-date=9 July 2015 | last=Montgomery | first=James}} "Survival" was released as the album's first single on 27 June 2012 and premiered on BBC Radio 1's Zane Lowe show, along with the song's counterpart intro, "Prelude".{{cite web | url=http://rekwired.com/news/new-muse-song-survival-is-the-main-olympics-song-to-premiere-today/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120630124652/http://rekwired.com/news/new-muse-song-survival-is-the-main-olympics-song-to-premiere-today/ | url-status=usurped | archive-date=30 June 2012 | title=New Muse song Survival is the main Olympics song, to premiere today | publisher=Rekwired | date=27 June 2012 | access-date=9 July 2015 | author=Aghababyan, Gayane}} The song served as the official song of the London 2012 Olympic Games{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-18607319 | title=Muse unveil official Olympic song | publisher=BBC | date=28 June 2012 | access-date=9 July 2015}} and peaked at number 22 on the UK Singles Chart.{{cite web | url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/4712/muse/ | title=Muse – full Official Chart History | publisher=Official Charts Company | access-date=9 July 2015}}
It was revealed by the band in an interview with NME magazine that "Madness" would be released as the second single.{{cite web | url=http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad83/westhamwellsy/t2l3.jpg | title=NME Magazine Interview, July 2012 | work=NME | date=July 2012 | access-date=9 July 2015}} Released on 20 August, it was announced that the song would make its world premiere on BBC Radio 1 at 19:30 BST, but the track was leaked online beforehand, due to an unintentional early release in South Korea.{{cite web | url=http://www.muselive.com/index.php?m=single&id=6780 | title=Madness Monday – Update: Leaked | publisher=Muselive.com | date=20 August 2012 | access-date=9 July 2015 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224113608/http://www.muselive.com/index.php?m=single&id=6780 | archive-date=24 December 2013 | df=dmy-all }}{{cite web | url=http://muse.mu/news/article/792/1st-single-announced--new-album-release-date/ | title=1st Single Announced // New Album Release Date | publisher=muse.mu | date=6 August 2012 | access-date=9 July 2015 | archive-date=7 August 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120807085702/http://muse.mu/news/article/792/1st-single-announced--new-album-release-date/ | url-status=dead }} The official music video for the song was uploaded on 5 September to the band's YouTube channel.{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ek0SgwWmF9w | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211114/Ek0SgwWmF9w| archive-date=2021-11-14 | url-status=live| title=Muse – Madness | publisher=YouTube | date=5 September 2012 | access-date=9 July 2015}}{{cbignore}} The song had significant chart performance by peaking in the top 40 in several countries. It has peaked at number 25 in the UK, as well as number 45 in the Billboard Hot 100, making "Madness" the band's second-highest-charting song in the US, behind "Uprising".{{cite magazine | url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/muse/chart-history/hsi/ | title=Muse Hot 100 Chart history | magazine=Billboard | access-date=15 September 2022}} The song was also notable for topping the Billboard Alternative Songs chart for a cumulative amount of nineteen weeks, making it the longest-running number-one song on the chart. The previous record was eighteen weeks, held by the Foo Fighters with their song "The Pretender".{{cite magazine | url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/1538751/muses-madness-rewrites-record-for-longest-reigning-alternative | title=Muse's 'Madness' Rewrites Record For Longest-Reigning Alternative Songs No. 1 | magazine=Billboard | date=11 February 2013 | access-date=9 July 2015 | author=Trust, Gary}} The song has been certified platinum by the FIMI in Italy{{cite certification | access-date=9 July 2015 | artist=Muse | region=Italy | type=single}} and the MC in Canada.{{cite certification | access-date=9 July 2015 | artist=Muse | region=Canada}} The song has also been certified double-platinum by the RIAA in the US for 2,000,000 copies of the song sold.{{cite web | url=https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?&artist=%22Muse%22 | title=American certifications – Muse | publisher=Recording Industry Association of America | access-date=9 July 2015}}
"Follow Me" was revealed as the third single when several promo CD's allegedly sent to radio stations appeared on eBay.{{cite web | url=http://www.muselive.com/index.php?m=single&id=6875 | title=Next Muse Single Confirmed as Follow Me | publisher=Muselive.com | date=30 October 2012 | access-date=9 July 2015}} The official lyric video was released on 1 November{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mO49PZwTPco | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211114/mO49PZwTPco| archive-date=2021-11-14 | url-status=live| title=Muse – Follow Me (Lyric Video) | date=November 2012| publisher=YouTube | access-date=9 November 2012}}{{cbignore}} and the official music video was released on 11 December, both on the band's official YouTube channel.{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kH0OEJxUlE | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211114/5kH0OEJxUlE| archive-date=2021-11-14 | url-status=live| title=Muse – Follow Me | publisher=YouTube | date=11 December 2012 | access-date=9 July 2015}}{{cbignore}} The song failed to chart in the UK, but it ended up charting in Belgium,{{cite web | url=http://www.ultratop.be/nl/song/101a97/Muse-Follow-Me | title=ultratop.be – Muse – Follow Me | publisher=Ultratop | access-date=9 July 2015}}{{cite web | url=http://www.ultratop.be/fr/song/101a97/Muse-Follow-Me | title=ultratop.be – Muse – Follow Me | publisher=Ultratop | access-date=9 July 2015}} France,{{cite web | url=http://www.lescharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Muse&titel=Follow+Me&cat=s | title=lescharts.com – Muse – Follow Me | publisher=Les classement single | access-date=9 July 2015}} Italy,{{cite web | url=http://www.fimi.it/classifiche#/category:digital/year:2015/id:1535 | title=FIMI – Classifiche – Top Digital – Classifica settimanale WK 6 del 2013 | publisher=Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana | access-date=9 July 2015}} and Japan.{{cite web | url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/muse-mn0000514563/awards | title=Muse – Awards | website=AllMusic | access-date=9 July 2015}} "Supremacy" was released as the fourth single from the album on 25 February 2013.{{cite web | url=http://www.nme.com/nme-video/muse---supremacy/2145463273001 | title=Muse – 'Supremacy' video | work=NME | date=6 February 2013 | access-date=9 July 2015}} The song gained popularity when it was performed at the beginning of the 2013 Brit Awards.{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fzxrr8shtkk | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130224123113/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fzxrr8shtkk&gl=US&hl=en| archive-date=2013-02-24 | url-status=dead| title=Muse 'Supremacy' : BRITs 2013 : OFFICIAL HD | publisher=YouTube (video available in Great Britain only) | date=21 February 2015 | access-date=7 December 2015}} Due to this performance, the song charted and peaked at number 58 on the UK singles chart. The band conducted a competition to produce a music video for "Animals". The winning video was created by Inês Freitas and Miguel Mendes (Oneness Team) from Portugal. The winning entry was released on 20 March 2013.{{cite news | url=https://www.spin.com/2013/03/muse-animals-video-the-2nd-law-debt-crisis/ | title=Muse's Crowd-Sourced 'Animals' Video Occupies Greed-Ensnarled Dystopia | work=Spin | date=21 March 2013 | access-date=9 July 2015 | last=Hogan | first=Marc}} "Panic Station" was released as the fifth single on 31 May 2013,{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/zanelowe/2013/04/hottest_record_-_muse_-_panic.html | title=Hottest Record – Muse – Panic Station (Madeon Remix) | publisher=BBC | date=17 April 2013 | access-date=9 July 2015 | author=Lowe, Zane| author-link=Zane Lowe }} accompanied by a music video shot during the Japanese dates of The 2nd Law Tour. The music video was released on 22 April 2013 at 10:00 AM PDT on the official Muse YouTube channel.{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uBK5kvakD8 | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211114/6uBK5kvakD8| archive-date=2021-11-14 | url-status=live| title=Muse – Panic Station (Official Video) | publisher=YouTube | date=22 April 2013 | access-date=9 July 2015}}{{cbignore}} An interactive lyric video for the song was released, as well.{{cite magazine | url=https://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2013-05/9/muse-panic-station | title=Muse's interactive Panic Station video exclusively premieres on Wired.co.uk | magazine=Wired | date=9 May 2013 | access-date=9 July 2015 | author=Lanxon, Nate}} The band had previously performed this track, as well as "Madness", on the 6 October 2012 episode of Saturday Night Live. The song failed to chart in the UK, but it peaked at number two on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart.{{cite magazine | url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/311949/Muse/chart?f=377 | title=Muse – Alternative Songs Chart history | magazine=Billboard | access-date=9 July 2015}} Furthermore, "Big Freeze" was released in April 2013, but only for French radios and without a commercial release.{{cite web | url=http://fr.news.yahoo.com/muse-choisit-big-freeze-nouveau-single-fran%C3%A7ais-094600983.html | title=Muse choisit 'Big Freeze', son nouveau single français | publisher=Yahoo! | date=10 April 2013 | access-date=9 July 2015 | language=fr}}
=Tour=
On 7 June 2012, Muse announced a European Arena tour; the first leg of the 2nd Law World Tour. The leg included dates in France, Italy, Ireland, Spain, Finland and the United Kingdom as well as other countries. They had also added North American dates to the tour.{{cite web|url=http://muse.mu/news/article/781/uk--european-tour-announced/ |title=UK & European Tour Announced |publisher=Muse |date=2012-06-07 |access-date=2012-06-07}}
Furthermore, the tour has an official live release on CD/DVD/Blu-ray: Live at Rome Olympic Stadium, which was filmed on 6 July 2013 at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, in front of a crowd of 60,963 people. A show in Tokyo described by drummer Dom as 'the funniest ever' was also filmed. However, a release date for this recording has yet to be confirmed, with only one song from the concert being released as a Muse website members 'Christmas present.' At the conclusion of 2013, the tour was placed on Pollstar's annual "Year End Top 20 Worldwide Tours", and appeared 13th worldwide, earning over $103 million with 79 shows in 2013.{{cite news |url=http://www.pollstarpro.com/files/charts2013/2013Top20WorldwideToursChart.pdf |title=2013 YearEnd: Top 20 Worldwide Tours |publisher=Pollstar's |date=2013 |access-date=1 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924075542/http://www.pollstarpro.com/files/charts2013/2013Top20WorldwideToursChart.pdf |archive-date=24 September 2015 |url-status=dead }}
Reception
=Critical=
{{Music ratings
| MC = 70/100{{cite web |url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/the-2nd-law/muse |title=Reviews for The 2nd Law by Muse |website=Metacritic |access-date=9 July 2015}}
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1score = {{rating|3|5}}{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-2nd-law-mw0002406726 |title=The 2nd Law – Muse |website=AllMusic |access-date=9 July 2015 |last=Heaney |first=Gregory}}
| rev2 = The A.V. Club
| rev2score = C−{{cite web |url=http://www.avclub.com/review/muse-emthe-2nd-lawem-86383 |title=Muse: The 2nd Law |work=The A.V. Club |date=9 October 2012 |access-date=9 July 2015 |last=Mapes |first=Jillian}}
| rev3 = The Daily Telegraph
| rev3score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/rockandpopmusic/9571590/Muse-The-2nd-Law-CD-review.html |title=Muse, The 2nd Law, CD review |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=28 September 2012 |access-date=9 July 2015 |last=Brown |first=Helen}}
| rev4 = Entertainment Weekly
| rev4score = C+{{cite magazine |url=http://www.ew.com/article/2012/10/01/2nd-law-review-muse |title=The 2nd Law |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=1 October 2012 |access-date=9 July 2015 |last=Anderson |first=Kyle}}
| rev5 = The Guardian
| rev5score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/sep/27/muse-the-2nd-law-review |title=Muse: The 2nd Law – review |work=The Guardian |date=27 September 2012 |access-date=9 July 2015 |last=Petridis |first=Alexis |author-link=Alexis Petridis}}
| rev6 = Los Angeles Times
| rev6score = {{rating|3|4}}{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/la-xpm-2012-oct-01-la-et-ms-review-muses-the-2nd-law-20121001-story.html |title=Review: Muse's 'The 2nd Law' |work=Los Angeles Times |date=1 October 2012 |access-date=9 July 2015 |last=Wood |first=Mikael}}
| rev7 = NME
| rev7score = 8/10{{cite journal |url=http://www.nme.com/reviews/muse/13730 |title=NME Reviews – Muse – 'The 2nd Law' |journal=NME |date=28 September 2012 |access-date=9 July 2015 |last=Martin |first=Dan |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130509182808/http://www.nme.com/reviews/muse/13730 |archive-date=9 May 2013}}
| rev8 = Pitchfork
| rev8score = 5.5/10{{cite web |url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/17281-the-2nd-law/ |title=Muse: The 2nd Law |work=Pitchfork |date=2 October 2012 |access-date=9 July 2015 |last=Cohen |first=Ian}}
| rev9 = Rolling Stone
| rev9score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/the-2nd-law-20121002 |title=The 2nd Law |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=2 October 2012 |access-date=9 July 2015 |last=Dolan |first=Jon}}
| rev10 = Spin
| rev10score = 4/10{{cite journal |url=http://www.spin.com/2012/12/muse-the-2nd-law-warner-bros/ |title=Muse, 'The 2nd Law' (Warner Bros.) |journal=Spin |date=11 December 2012 |access-date=9 July 2015 |last=Farrar |first=Justin F.}}
}}
The 2nd Law received generally positive reviews upon release. On Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 70 based on 30 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews". BBC music critic Ian Winwood also gave the album a positive review, highlighting "Supremacy", "Liquid State" and "The 2nd Law: Isolated System", saying that Muse "present themselves in any guise they please".{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/953q |title=Review of Muse – The 2nd Law |publisher=BBC |date=28 September 2012 |access-date=9 July 2015 |last=Winwood |first=Ian}} The Telegraph{{'}}s Helen Brown rated the album four out of five stars, noting the album's eclectic influences and reserving praise for "Madness" in particular. The Observer{{'}}s Kitty Empire also alluded to Muse's bombastic tendencies, saying "Bellamy is not blind to the contradictions of his band's attempts continually to ramp the ludicrousness up to 11; endless growth is, of course, unsustainable. But for now they remain pretty comfortable with the idea of obscene over-inflation. So should we."{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/sep/30/muse-the-2nd-law-review |title=Muse: The 2nd Law – review |work=The Observer |date=29 September 2012 |access-date=9 July 2015 |last=Empire |first=Kitty |author-link=Kitty Empire}}
AllMusic rated the album three out of five stars, noting "their excursions into dubstep and dance music on tracks like "Madness" and "Follow Me" feel more like remixes than original songs. Songs like these definitely have the spine of Muse tracks, but the production that's built up around them feels almost alien." Kyle Anderson of Entertainment Weekly gave the album a grade of C+, claiming that "the band goes overboard with Queen-isms" and expressing disappointment at the lack of electronic music elements compared to the band's expectations that the album would be a departure from previous releases. The Guardian{{'}}s Alexis Petridis rated the album four out of five stars, complimenting the band's ambition but finding fault with the album's bombastic tendencies which were also present on their previous albums, stating "no one goes to see a blockbuster for its profundity and deep characterisation. They go for the stunts and the special effects, both of which The 2nd Law delivers."
=Accolades=
The album was a nominee for Best Rock Album at the 2013 Grammy Awards. The song "Madness" was also nominated for Best Rock Song.{{cite web | url=http://www.eonline.com/news/368952/55th-annual-grammy-awards-complete-list-of-nominees | title=55th Annual Grammy Awards: Complete List of Nominees | publisher=E! | date=5 December 2012 | access-date=9 July 2015 | author=Nessif, Bruna}} The album listed at number 46 on Rolling Stone{{'}}s list of the top 50 albums of 2012, saying "In an era of diminished expectations, Muse make stadium-crushing songs that mix the legacies of Queen, King Crimson, Led Zeppelin and Radiohead while making almost every other current band seem tiny."{{cite magazine | url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/50-best-albums-of-2012-20121205/muse-the-2nd-law-19691231 | title=Muse, 'The 2nd Law' – 50 Best Albums of 2012 | magazine=Rolling Stone | date=5 December 2012 | access-date=9 July 2015}}
=Commercial=
The 2nd Law had a very positive commercial performance, selling around 475,000 copies worldwide on its release. It debuted at number 2 on the Billboard 200 with 102,000 copies sold in its first week, giving Muse the highest charting debut of their career in the US, although it sold fewer copies than the debut of their previous album The Resistance, which debuted at number three with 128,000 copies.{{cite magazine | url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/267309/jay-z-still-reigns-on-billboard-200-muse-and-kid-cudi-bow-high | title=Jay-Z Still Reigns on Billboard 200, Muse And Kid Cudi Bow High | magazine=Billboard | date=23 September 2009 | access-date=9 July 2015 | author=Caulfield, Keith}} It has sold 485,000 copies in the US {{as of|2015|05|lc=y}}.{{cite magazine|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150515165056/http://hitsdailydouble.com/new_album_releases |archive-date=15 May 2015 |url=http://hitsdailydouble.com/new_album_releases |title=Upcoming Releases |magazine=Hits Daily Double}} It also debuted at number 2 in Australia, Germany, Ireland, Korea and Spain. The album gave Muse their fourth number 1 debut in the UK with first week sales of 108,536 copies, while also debuting at number 1 in 13 other countries. It has sold 255,000 copies in the UK in 2012 alone.
Track listing
{{Track listing
| headline = The 2nd Law {{nobold|– Standard edition}}
| all_writing = Matt Bellamy, except "Save Me" and "Liquid State" written by Chris Wolstenholme.
| total_length = 53:49
| title1 = Supremacy
| length1 = 4:55
| title2 = Madness
| length2 = 4:39
| title3 = Panic Station
| length3 = 3:03
| title4 = Prelude
| length4 = 0:57
| title5 = Survival
| length5 = 4:17
| title6 = Follow Me
| length6 = 3:51
| title7 = Animals
| length7 = 4:23
| title8 = Explorers
| length8 = 5:48
| title9 = Big Freeze
| length9 = 4:41
| title10 = Save Me
| length10 = 5:09
| title11 = Liquid State
| length11 = 3:03
| title12 = The 2nd Law: Unsustainable
| length12 = 3:47
| title13 = The 2nd Law: Isolated System
| length13 = 4:59
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = The 2nd Law {{nobold|– Deluxe edition (DVD)}}
| total_length = 40:19
| title1 = The Making of The 2nd Law
| length1 = 32:27
| title2 = Bonus Feature
| length2 = 7:52
}}
Personnel
Personnel adapted from album liner notes.
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
Muse
- Matt Bellamy – vocals (tracks 1–3, 5–9, 12), guitar, keyboards, synthesisers, orchestral arrangements, production, additional mixing (track 6)
- Chris Wolstenholme – bass guitar (all tracks except 13), Misa Kitara (track 2), synthesisers, backing vocals, lead vocals (tracks 10–11), additional drums (track 1), production
- Dominic Howard – drums, acoustic and electronic percussion, synthesisers, production
Additional musicians
- David Campbell – conductor and additional orchestral arrangements
- Alyssa Park – first violinist
- Gerardo Hilera, Josefin Vergara, Kevin Connolly, Mario Deleon, Michele Richards, Ruth Bruegger, Sara Parkins, Sara Thornblade, Serena McKinny, Songa Lee, Tamara Hatwan – violins
- Andrew Duckles – principal viola
- Alma Fernandez, David Walther, Matthew Funes – violas
- Steve Richards – principal cello
- Erika Duke-Kirkpatrick, George Kim Scholes, Suzie Katayama – cellos
- Dave Stone, Oscar Hidalgo – basses
- Rodrigo D'Erasmo – additional violin (tracks 4, 8)
- Daniela Savoldi – additional cello (tracks 4, 8)
- Wayne Bergeron – trumpet solo (1)
- Joseph Meyer, Nathan Campbell – French horns
- Alan Kaplan, Charles Morillas, Craig Gosnell, Nick Lane – trombones
- Charles Findlay, Steven Madaio – trumpets (track 3)
- Tom Saviano – tenor saxophone
- Donald Markese – baritone saxophone
- Katie Razzall – spoken words (tracks 12–13)
- Tom Kirk – additional chanting (track 5)
- Bingham Bellamy – Additional sound effects (track 6)
- Aaron Page, Antonio Sol, Baraka Williams, Beth Anderson, Bobbi Page, Christian Ebner, Chyla Anderson, Clydene Jackson, Edie Lehmann Boddicker, Francesca Proponis, Gabriel Mann, Gerald White, Gregory Jasperse, Gregory Whipple, Guy Maeda, Joanna Bushnell, John Kimberling, Karen Harper, Karen Whipple Schnurr, Kathryn Reid, Kimberley Lingo Hinze, Michael Geiger, Oren Waters, Raven Kane, Reid Bruton, Robert Joyce, Scottie Haskell, Susie Stevens Logan, Teri Koide, Walter Harrah – choir
{{col-2}}
Production
- Tommaso Colliva – additional production, engineering, mixing (tracks 4, 6)
- Adrian Bushby – additional production, engineering
- Paul Reeve – additional vocal production (tracks 10–11)
- Nero – additional production and mixing (track 6)
- Chris Lord-Alge – mixing (tracks 1, 5, 7, 9, 12)
- Mark Stent – mixing (tracks 2, 8, 10)
- Rich Costey – mixing (tracks 3, 11, 13)
- Alessandro Cortini – additional synthesizer engineering
- Brendan Dekora – engineering assistance
- Olga Fitzroy – engineering assistance
- Sean Oakley – engineering assistance
- Tom Bailey – engineering assistance
- Ted Jensen – mastering
Additional personnel
- Gavin Bond – photography
- The Human Connectome Project – cover art
{{col-end}}
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Weekly chart performance for The 2nd Law ! Chart (2012) ! Peak |
| {{album chart|Australia|2|artist=Muse|album=The 2nd Law|rowheader=true|access-date=21 October 2017}} |
| {{album chart|Austria|1|artist=Muse|album=The 2nd Law|rowheader=true|access-date=21 October 2017}} |
| {{album chart|Flanders|1|artist=Muse|album=The 2nd Law|rowheader=true|access-date=21 October 2017}} |
| {{album chart|Wallonia|1|artist=Muse|album=The 2nd Law|rowheader=true|access-date=21 October 2017}} |
| {{album chart|BillboardCanada|2|artist=Muse|rowheader=true|access-date=21 October 2017}} |
| scope="row"| Croatian Albums Chart{{cite web | url=http://www.hdu-toplista.com/index.php?what=arhiva&w=details&id=1088 | title=Top Kombiniranih – Tjedan 41, 2012. | publisher=Hrvatska Diskografska Udruga | access-date=9 July 2015 | language=hr}}
| 9 |
|---|
| scope="row"| Czech Albums Chart{{cite web|url=http://www.ifpicr.cz/hitparada/index.php?hitp=P |title=ČNS IFPI (Select "Albums – Top 100" then "2012 40") |publisher=Ifpicr.cz |access-date=9 July 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081218010646/http://www.ifpicr.cz/hitparada/index.php?hitp=P |archive-date=18 December 2008 }}
| 5 |
| {{album chart|Denmark|2|artist=Muse|album=The 2nd Law|rowheader=true|access-date=21 October 2017}} |
| {{album chart|Netherlands|1|artist=Muse|album=The 2nd Law|rowheader=true|access-date=21 October 2017}} |
| {{album chart|Finland|1|artist=Muse|album=The 2nd Law|rowheader=true|access-date=21 October 2017}} |
| {{album chart|France|1|artist=Muse|album=The 2nd Law|rowheader=true|access-date=21 October 2017}} |
| {{album chart|Germany4|2|artist=Muse|album=The 2nd Law|id=199524|rowheader=true|access-date=21 October 2017}} |
| {{album chart|Hungary|2|week=41|year=2012|rowheader=true|access-date=9 Jul 2015}} |
| {{album chart|Ireland|2|artist=Muse|year=2012|week=40|rowheader=true|access-date=9 July 2015}} |
| {{album chart|Italy|1|artist=Muse|album=The 2nd Law|rowheader=true|refname="acharts"|access-date=21 October 2017}} |
| scope="row"| Japanese Albums (Oricon){{cite web | url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ja/w/2012-10-15/ | title=Weekly Ranking CD album of 07 October 2012 to 01 October 2012 | publisher=Oricon | access-date=9 July 2015 | language=ja}}
| 5 |
| {{album chart|New Zealand|1|artist=Muse|album=The 2nd Law|rowheader=true|access-date=21 October 2017}} |
| {{album chart|Norway|1|artist=Muse|album=The 2nd Law|rowheader=true|access-date=21 October 2017}} |
| {{album chart|Poland|2|artist=Muse|album=The 2nd Law|id=770|rowheader=true|access-date=21 October 2017}} |
| {{album chart|Portugal|1|artist=Muse|album=The 2nd Law|rowheader=true|access-date=21 October 2017}} |
| scope="row"| Russian Albums (2M){{cite web | url=http://lenta.ru/articles/2012/12/28/chart | title=Lenta.ru: Культура: Триумф нестыдной попсы | publisher=Lenta.ru | access-date=9 July 2015 | language=ru}}
| 2 |
| {{album chart|Scotland|1|date=20121007|rowheader=true|access-date=21 October 2017}} |
| scope="row"| Slovenian Albums Chart{{cite web | url=http://www.val202.si/2012/10/slo-top-30-med-peterico-so-pridrveli-motorhead-in-muse/ | title=Slo Top 30: Med peterico Motörhead in Muse | publisher=Radiotelevizija Slovenija | date=12 October 2012 | access-date=9 July 2015 | language=sl}}
| 4 |
| {{album chart|Korea|2|date=2012.30.09-2012.10.06|rowheader=true|access-date=9 July 2015}} |
| {{album chart|Spain|2|artist=Muse|album=The 2nd Law|rowheader=true|access-date=21 October 2017}} |
| {{album chart|Sweden|6|artist=Muse|album=The 2nd Law|rowheader=true|access-date=21 October 2017}} |
| {{album chart|Switzerland|1|artist=Muse|album=The 2nd Law|rowheader=true|access-date=21 October 2017}} |
| {{album chart|UK2|1|artist=Muse|album=The 2nd Law|date=20121007|rowheader=true|access-date=7 June 2017}} |
| {{album chart|UKRock|1|date=20121007|rowheader=true|access-date=16 November 2017}} |
| {{album chart|Billboard200|2|artist=Muse|rowheader=true|access-date=7 June 2017}} |
| {{album chart|BillboardDigital|2|artist=Muse|rowheader=true|access-date=7 June 2017}} |
| {{album chart|BillboardAlternative|2|artist=Muse|rowheader=true|access-date=7 June 2017}} |
| {{album chart|BillboardRock|2|artist=Muse|rowheader=true|access-date=7 June 2017}} |
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
{{col-end}}
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for The 2nd Law}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Belgium|type=album|award=Gold|relyear=2012|title=The 2nd Law|artist=Muse|certyear=2012}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|award=Platinum|type=album|relyear=2012|artist=Muse|title=The 2nd Law}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|type=album|award=Gold|relyear=2012|title=The 2nd Law|artist=Muse|certyear=2013|id=6438|certmonth=2}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Finland|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=2012|artist=Muse|title=The 2nd Law|certyear=2012|salesamount=16,427}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=France|award=Platinum|number=3|source=infodisc|type=album|relyear=2012|artist=Muse|title=The 2nd Law|certyear=2012|access-date=November 18, 2021}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=2012|artist=Muse|title=The 2nd Law|certyear=2016}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Ireland|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=2012|artist=Muse|title=The 2nd Law|certyear=2012}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|award=Platinum|type=album|relyear=2012|artist=Muse|title=The 2nd Law|access-date=29 November 2021|number=2|certyear=2021|id=9414}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Mexico|type=album|award=Gold|relyear=2012|title=The 2nd Law|artist=Muse|certyear=2012|access-date=19 December 2019}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Netherlands|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=2012|artist=Muse|title=The 2nd Law|certyear=2012}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=2012|artist=Muse|id=2012-10-05|source=newchart|access-date=2024-11-20|title=The 2nd Law}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Poland|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=2012|artist=Muse|title=The 2nd Law|certyear=2012|date=7 November 2012|access-date=20 April 2021}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Spain|type=album|artist=Muse|title=YThe 2nd Law|award=Gold|relyear=2012|certyear=2015}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Switzerland|award=Platinum|type=album|relyear=2012|artist=Muse|title=The 2nd Law}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|award=Platinum|type=album|relyear=2012|artist=Muse|title=The 2nd Law|id=8876-2056-2}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=2012|artist=Muse|title=The 2nd Law}}
{{Certification Table Summary}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Europe|type=album|award=Platinum|relyear=2012|certyear=2013|title=The 2nd Law|artist=Muse}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Worldwide (2012)|artist=Muse|title=The 2nd Law|nocert=yes|type=album|salesamount=1,600,000|salesref={{cite news|url=http://www.aria.com.au/documents/RIN2013.pdf |publisher=International Federation of the Phonographic Industry|year=2013|title=Recording Industry in Numbers|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130409080309/http://www.aria.com.au/documents/RIN2013.pdf|archive-date=9 April 2013|page=11|access-date=15 September 2020}}}}
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Release history
Notes and references
Notes
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References
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External links
- [http://tingen.org/a-dip-in-the-muse-kitchen-sink/ A Dip In The Muse Kitchen Sink] – Article on the making of The 2nd Law
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Category:Warner Records albums
Category:Albums recorded at Shangri-La (recording studio)