Muse: 'Survival' - Single review

We have to admit we did not expect Muse's return to music to begin with an official song for the London 2012 Olympics. It's not that we doubted the band's ability to write a good anthem, but more their established dark-rock vibe seemed at odds with the celebratory mood that surrounds the Games. However, as soon as we hit the play button, we knew the right decision was made.

In short, 'Survival' has all the hallmarks of a classic British anthem. A theatrical, almost patriotic-sounding orchestral intro slips into bouncy piano beats not too dissimilar from Queen's 'Bohemian Rhapsody'. "I'm gonna win," Matt Bellamy declares as the band roar into their traditional stadium-sized guitar riffs that build into a finale bigger than the Olympic Village. If writing a bona fide rock anthem was a sporting event, we're confident Muse would land a place on the podium.

Listen to Muse's 'Survival' below: