Released 18 May 2015 Length 3:51 | Format Digital download Label Warner Bros.
Helium-3 | |
Recorded 2014 at The Warehouse Studio
(Vancouver, British Columbia) Genre Alternative rock
electronic rock | ||
"Mercy" is a song by English rock band Muse from their seventh album, Drones. It was released as the second single from the album on 18 May 2015.
Contents
Background
The song is part of a concept album about "the journey of a human, from their abandonment and loss of hope, to their indoctrination by the system to be a human drone, to their eventual defection from their oppressors". On the band's website, writer and singer Matthew Bellamy stated that "[t]he opening line of ‘Mercy’ - Help me I’ve fallen on the inside - is a reference to the protagonist knowing and recognizing that they have lost something, they have lost themselves. This is where they realize they’re being overcome by the dark forces that were introduced in ‘Psycho’."
Song description
In his review of Drones, NME's Mark Beaumont described the song as "infectious electro-rock". Consequence of Sound's Collin Brennan called it an "anthem" reminiscent of "latter-day U2". In similar fashion, Gigwise's Andrew Trendell described the song as a "driving and pulsing piano-led arena power-anthem". Likening it to the music from the band's fourth album Black Holes And Revelations, he called the song a "close cousin to 'Starlight'[...], albeit with a rejuvenated energy and very forward-looking approach".
Music video
The music video is directed by Sing J. Lee. Shot in Los Angeles.
Usage in media
"Mercy" was used in promotional spots and launch trailer for the video game Batman: Arkham Knight.
Reception
Upon the album's release, the song was met with mixed reactions. Gigwise's Andrew Trendell praised the song as being "heartfelt" and "a pristine stadium gem". In his album review for Consequence of Sound, Collin Brennan, however, was less favourable, criticising that the song's "supposedly trenchant political commentary [is] negated by its almost palpable yearning to be played on commercial rock radio".