A Wickedly Theatrical Album

Panic! At The Disco released its sixth studio album, “Pray for the Wicked,” on June 22, with the same energy and eccentricity so characteristic of the now 13-year-old band. The band’s evolution is epitomized in this album with a new baroque pop sound and the slightly chaotic feel that longtime followers have come to know so well.

Born out of Brendon Urie’s 10-week run as the main character, Charlie, in the musical “Kinky Boots,” the album is vibrant and full of color, especially in songs such as “Roaring 20s” and “High Hopes,” which are reminiscent of classic Broadway shows. The album incorporates a variety of instruments in unique ways, particularly in “The Overpass,” which opens with a brilliant trumpet sound, and in “Dying in LA,” a desolate ballad that ends with a beautiful string section. The dynamic use of instruments and ecstatic feel is what makes this album stand out amongst its predecessors.

Some argue this album is simply a continuation of “Death of a Bachelor” (2016), as the hedonistic theme that unifies this album is similar to that of the band’s fifth album. Nevertheless, “Pray for the Wicked” remains an impressive feat of artistry from Urie. He wrote all of the songs, played most of the instruments, and showcased his impressive vocal range, once again, by hitting an A5 at the end of “Say Amen (Saturday Night),” which became Panic! At the Disco’s first number one single on the Billboard Alternative Song Charts in June 2018.

A musical ode to the theater, “Pray For The Wicked,” with its lyrical dexterity, glittery sound, and classical undertones, proved to be a great way to start off the summer and the title of its third track to be true (“Hey Look Ma, I Made It”).