"Apocalypse Please" was originally recorded with an orchestral backing, which was removed simply for being, according to Bellamy, "too much."[1] Drummer Dominic Howard described the song as "a very theatrical song about religious fanatics and their wish that their prophecies come true [...] So that they can confirm their religion."[6] Producer Rich Costey explained, in an interview with Sound on Sound in 2003, that "[he] really wanted ["Apocalypse Please"] to sound just ridiculous and as epic as possible," revealing that "the studio had a swimming pool [...] and what we did was bring over a couple of kick drums, put them on stands, and miked one of them really close [...] to get a low, thumping sound," in order to create the desired result.[7]