"Dig Down", one of the first songs written, is a reaction to the social and political climate following the Brexit referendum and the 2016 US presidential election, hoping to "give inspiration, optimism and hope to people to fight for the causes they believe in." "Thought Contagion" was written in late 2017 following the band's move to Los Angeles, California, and the restart of production. The verses stem from Bellamy's anxieties observing American news at the time; its chorus recalls Bellamy's concerns about the power misinformed or ideological people have over their audiences. The track's title was inspired by scientist Richard Dawkins, who compared the spread of thoughts, "regardless of their accuracy and truth", to a viral disease. "The Void" was used for the opening titles of the 2019 BBC/PBC documentary series "The Planets."