Muse

Evolving from its late-'90s alt-rock roots into a bombastic force that merged progressive rock, electronica, and pop, the English trio Muse sculpted a niche as a genre-blurring powerhouse that balanced intergalactic science-fiction and government-conspiracy-theory themes with longing anthems of love and heartbreak.

Initially plagued by Radiohead comparisons on the debut of Showbiz in 1999, the trio has evolved continuously over a decade, integrating a wide variety of sonic inspirations ranging from the exquisite rock arena of Queen and the R&B-funk of Prince to the dubstep grind of Skrillex on the Second Law (2012). They earned their second Grammy award for Best Rock Album in 2016 with the powerful, antiwar Drones. As their albums consistently outperformed international charts, Muse also built a reputation as a top live draw with award-winning concerts that often featured big-budget, U2 stage set-ups, selling arenas and stadiums all over the world. Muse took a step back from the electronic textures of The 2nd Law, returning to a heavier rock sound in early 2015, issuing the singles 'Psycho' and 'Dead Inside,' their first offerings from their seventh studio long-player, Drones. The conceptual album was their fifth consecutive U.K. number one album and their first release to top the U.S. charts, netting them a Grammy Award for Best Rock Album in February 2016. An international tour occupied the band for much of 2019, and they closed 2019 with a massive box set that commemorated their Showbiz and Origin of Symmetry eras.