Imagine Dragons is an American alternative pop band from Las Vegas, Nevada. The band gained exposure following the September 2012 release of their debut studio album, Night Visions, which peaked at number 2 on the weekly Billboard 200 chart.
Musically, "Radioactive" is an alternative rock song with elements of electronic rock and dubstep, while containing cryptic lyrics of apocalyptic and revolutionist themes.

I'm waking up to ash and dust
I wipe my brow and I sweat my rust
I'm breathing in, the chemicals
I'm breaking in, shaping up
They're checking out on the prison bus
This is it, the apocalypse

I'm waking up, I feel it in my bones
Enough to make my system blow
Welcome to the new age, to the new age
Welcome to the new age, to the new age
I'm radioactive, radioactive
I'm radioactive, radioactive

I raise my flags, out of my clothes,
It's a revolution I suppose
We'll paint it red, to fit right in
I'm breaking in, shaping up
They're checking out on the prison bus
This is it, the apocalypse

I'm waking up, I feel it in my bones
Enough to make my system blow
Welcome to the new age, to the new age
Welcome to the new age, to the new age
I'm radioactive, radioactive
I'm radioactive, radioactive

All systems go, sun hasn't died
Deep in my bones, straight from inside

I'm waking up, I feel it in my bones
Enough to make my system blow
Welcome to the new age, to the new age
Welcome to the new age, to the new age
I'm radioactive, radioactive
I'm radioactive, radioactive

Speaking on the song, front man Dan Reynolds said:
"Radioactive, to me, it's very masculine, powerful-sounding song, and the lyrics behind it, there's a lot of personal story behind it, but generally speaking, it's a song about having an awakening; kind of waking up one day and deciding to do something new, and see life in a fresh way,"