Muse will release their ninth album, will of the peopleAugust 26. British trio alt-prog introduced the project with lead single “Compliance”, paired with a disturbing video.

“Compliance” is a funky, synth-streaked track built on a distorted bass groove, punchy drums and rushing vocoder chords to color Matt Bellamy’s soaring chorus. The video adds a spooky twist, using footage of burning cars, glowing eyes, masks and mysterious pills.

You can watch the clip below.

In a press release, Bellamy detailed the inspiration for “Compliance,” calling it a song “about submitting to authoritarian rules and reassuring untruths to accept in a band.”

“Gangs, governments, demagogues, social media algorithms and religions seduce us in times of vulnerability, creating arbitrary rules and distorted ideas that we must abide by,” he noted. “They sell us comforting myths, telling us that only they can explain reality while simultaneously diminishing our freedom, autonomy, and independent thought. of compassion. They just need our conformity.

He also described how will of the peoplewhich follows 2018 Simulation theorywas “influenced by growing uncertainty and instability in the world”.

“A pandemic, new wars in Europe, mass protests and riots, an attempted insurrection, a faltering Western democracy, growing authoritarianism, wildfires and natural disasters and the destabilization of the world order, all is informed will of the people“, he wrote. “This has been a disturbing and frightening time for all of us, because the western empire and the natural world, which have cradled us for so long, are truly threatened. This album is a personal navigation through those fears and a preparation for what comes next.

self-produced will of the people was recorded in London and Los Angeles. Grammy winner Serban Ghenea (Bruno Mars, Taylor Swift) mixed eight of the album’s 10 songs.

Fans can pre-order the album, with “Compliance” and “Won’t Stand Down” offered as instant downloads. Several formats will be available: digital, CD, black vinyl and other collector’s editions, including a marbled double vinyl sold only through the band’s official store.