Absolution moved Muse into the big halls in 2003. The third studio album, originally released in September 2003, ties heavy guitar riffs to piano, strings and choral parts, with lyrics about war, fear and an approaching end of days. 'Time Is Running Out', 'Hysteria', 'Stockholm Syndrome' and 'Butterflies & Hurricanes' became fixtures of the live set. The album entered the UK albums chart at number one, the first time the band reached that position.

Alongside the remastered album, the XX Anniversary edition collects demos, previously unreleased live versions and stripped-back vocal and piano takes, with a forty-page book and an interview with the band about the recording sessions. This edition is a box set with three LPs on silver and clear vinyl plus two CDs.