Map of the Problematique (4:18)

“Map of the Problematique” is a song by English alternative rock band Muse, released on their 2006 fourth studio album, Black Holes and Revelations. It was released as the fifth single from the album on 18 June 2007 as a digital download only. The release date followed the two concerts Muse performed at Wembley Stadium on June 16 and June 17. The song has been closely compared to “Enjoy the Silence” by Depeche Mode due to its similar chord progression and arrangement. Muse frontman Matthew Bellamy has also cited Depeche Mode as inspiration for the song in interviews.

The title is a reference to a book called The Limits to Growth (1972) and the Club of Rome think-tank who would create a “map of the problematique” detailing the “global problematique” - a set of likely challenges the world might face in the near future. The Limits to Growth correctly predicted the economic crisis of 2008. In addition, the opening lyric, “fear and panic in the air” may be a reference to Mars, in that the red planet’s two moons are named Phobos and Deimos, who were the Greek gods of Fear and Panic. Such a connection would fit in with numerous references to Mars in the album. It bears similarity with the music of Depeche Mode, especially Enjoy the Silence, and is a rare track in musical terms as it does not use the dominant chord ever in the riff: C minor, E flat major, A flat major, F minor.

“Map of the Problematique” was used in trailers for Children of Men (2006). Also used in the commercial for Prison Break. A short clip of the song was also used during the BBC’s coverage of Rugby Sevens World Series.