Hann wrote that the "less poppy moments are the most exciting", citing the arpeggios and power chords of "Blockades" and the "none-more-jackbooted" synth bassline and "urgent" strings of "Algorithm". Christopher R. Weingarten of Rolling Stone found that the lyrical mix of relationships and political themes resulted in a confusing message. Yeung found Simulation Theory to be "the least complicated or overly conceptual [Muse album] in over a decade", and felt that "the orchestral and dubstep meandering of [Muse's] previous 2010s output" was absent. Trendell wrote that Muse present their "bombast" by "indulg[ing] their guiltiest pleasures" rather than through the "operatic prog" found in their previous albums, and Hann commented that producers such as Shellback and Timbaland found "a new face to Muse ... to a certain extent". DIY writer Will Richards saw Simulation Theory as a continuation of the "absurdities" of Drones and concluded: "If a Muse album isn't meant to make you laugh, gasp and double-take in its ridiculousness, then we don't wanna hear it." Track listing Personnel Muse Matthew Bellamy – guitars, lead vocals, keyboards, producer Chris Wolstenholme – bass guitar, backing vocals, producer Dominic Howard – drums, producer Additional musicians David Campbell – brass (track 3) Mike Elizondo – keyboard, producer and programmer (track 10) Tove Lo – additional vocals (track 8) Production Laurence Anslow – assistant engineer (track 10) Brent Arrowood – assistant engineer (track 10) Tom Bailey – assistant engineer (track 6) Tyler Beans – assistant engineer (track 2, 3, 7), assistant producer (track 6) Jeremy Berman – "assistant" (track 2, 3, 7) Rob Bisel – assistant engineer (track 2, 3, 7), assistant producer (track 6) Phillip Broussard – assistant engineer (track 10), assistant producer (track 6) Adrian Bushby – assistant engineer (track 10) Tommaso Colliva – assistant engineer (track 6) Martin Cooke – assistant engineer (track 7), assistant producer (track 6) Rich Costey – producer (track 1-7, 11), engineer (track 6), mastering (track 7) Nick Fournier – assistant producer (track 6) Michael Freeman – mixing (track 2, 6, 10) Pete Winfield - additional mixing Chris Gehringer – mastering (track 7) Noah Goldstein – assistant producer (track 6) Sam Grubbs – "assistant" (track 2, 3), assistant producer (track 7) Adam Hawkins – engineer (track 2, 3, 6, 7, 10), mixing (track 3, 7) Ted Jensen – mastering (track 10) Aleks Von Korff – assistant engineer (track 2, 3, 7), assistant producer (track 6) Randy Merrill