Muse was heard across the world this year with their official Olympic anthem “Survival.” Their sixth album, The 2nd Law, followed hot on its heels, and much like their Olympic debut, brought back the grandiose musicality and exuberant magnitude that Muse fans have been dying for the band to rediscover.

This album is incredibly adventurous and a little cheeky. While it doesn’t stray from the expected themes of political resistance and apocalyptic forecasts, some tracks, namely the standout number “Panic Station,” skirt the edges of funk, reminiscent of a mid-‘80s David Bowie. The band even ventures into ‘brostep’ territory, with Nero producing “Follow Me.” Strangely enough, these all come together under the banner of a quasi-sci-fi theme (the title of the album referring to the second law of thermodynamics) to form an epic, entertaining record. Unusually for Muse, The 2nd Law adds a second voice into the mix, as fans get to hear bass player Christopher Wolstenholme take vocal lead on “Save Me” and “Liquid State.”

It seems fitting then, that this album contains a minute-long instrumental “Prelude” in classic Baroque style, that segues into “Survival.” With its cacophony of operatic voices, bass heavy music, and thundering guitar that persist throughout, the album may perhaps be a modern take on the operatic form, based on an allegory including thermodynamics and the global economic crisis. Or, it could just be Muse doing what they do best: creating the kind of music that is meant to be played live in stadiums to enthralled audiences.

While this album is nothing like Muse classics (Black Holes; Revelations) The 2nd Law far outshines their last release—The Resistance—and sets the groundwork for a new spin on Muse’s well-oiled formula. The 2nd Law keeps the epic and adds the funk, and frankly, this new spin suits Muse well.