Muse is both heavy-handed and clever, an improbable personality combo that makes it stand out among its Brit-rock brethren. A concept album based on the second law of thermodynamics would likely be awful if done by Radiohead or Coldplay, but Muse nails it on “The 2nd Law,” creating a tale about survival within an imploding society. Chief Muse Matthew Bellamy leaves no tone unturned as he leads the band through arena bombast, funk rock, techo-tinged alt-pop, and orchestral interludes. But such a grab bag is Grammy-winning Muse’s trademark, not its weakness. And that’s where having the framework of a big idea comes in handy. Muse pits dark and angry songs such as “Survival” and “Animals” against hopeful and empathetic numbers “Follow Me” and“Explorers.” And “Madness,” the album’s key song, pulls it all together into one neat package of soul versus techno, man versus machine. While the song ideas are prog, the execution is pure pop, tipping Muse toward the commercial heights of Queen and Led Zeppelin, rather than to the cerebral depths of King Crimson. (Out Tuesday)

ESSENTIAL “Madness”