"Absolution" is the third studio album by English rock band Muse, released on 22 September 2003 through Taste Media. The album was produced by Muse alongside Rich Costey, with additional production from John Cornfield and Paul Reeve.
The majority of the album was recorded at Grouse Lodge in County Westmeath, Ireland. Additional recording took place at AIR Studios and Livingston Recording Studios in London, as well as Cello Studios in Los Angeles. Rich Costey aimed to give Muse a more powerful and aggressive sound, resulting in a more polished and direct approach compared to their previous works. The album features classical influences, incorporating orchestral elements on tracks such as "Butterflies and Hurricanes" and "Blackout," and explores apocalyptic lyrical themes. The production also involved the use of effects, synthesizers, and software to process various tracks.
Absolution achieved significant commercial success, reaching number one on the UK Albums Chart. It also produced Muse's first top-ten single, "Time Is Running Out," which reached number 8 on the UK Singles Chart. By 2018, the album had sold over 3.5 million copies worldwide. In 2023, a 20th-anniversary reissue of the album was released, featuring bonus tracks.
Muse set aside dedicated time to develop their third album, aiming for a more deliberate approach compared to their rushed previous sessions. In early 2002, the band rented a country house outside Brighton for six months to work on new material. During this period, they faced a significant setback when they were dropped by their American record label, Maverick.
Serj Tankian, the vocalist of System of a Down, attempted to sign Muse to his label, Serjical Strike. However, Maverick demanded half a million dollars to release them from their contract, and Tankian's efforts to secure funding from Sony fell through.
Facing this challenge, Muse chose to concentrate on the European market and completed the final leg of their tour supporting their previous album, Origin of Symmetry. During this tour, they previewed future tracks from Absolution, including "Hysteria" and "The Small Print." After the tour concluded, the band resumed writing and recording demos in an unused commercial loft in Hackney, London.
