The themes of The 2nd Law were inspired by a BBC broadcast that Bellamy saw last year, where a panelist noted that "The laws of physics say that an economy based on endless growth is unsustainable." Bellamy told Rolling Stone. "Everyone is obsessed with constant, unchecked growth, and no one is pointing out that we might be maxing out. 'Survival' tunes into the insanity of that." However, the piano ballad "Explorers" "looks at the other side of the coin, this adventurous spirit we've created that is now in question, because the planet is saying, 'I'm only so big and have this much.'" 

The new track "Follow Me" samples the in-utero heartbeat of Bellamy's son with his fiancee, actress Kate Hudson, recorded on an iPhone. The album also features two songs written and sung by bassist Chris Wolstenholme, including the Beach Boys-inspired "Save Me."