Originating from Las Vegas, Panic! At The Disco have never been short of theatricality and flamboyance, whether it be in musical style, album artwork, dress sense or in music videos. Death of a Bachelor continues to deliver on their signature vibe, despite the fact the only remaining member of the original band is singer Brendon Urie. Written just before his recent nuptials (which explains the title of the album), Death of a Bachelor is as over-the-top and explosive as the band’s previous material. The album opens with ‘Victorious’, reminding us from the offset of the sheer extent of Urie’s impressive vocal range – it has always been spectacular and nothing has changed on this record. ‘Hallelujah’ blends together a gospel chorus and powerful lyrics with just a touch of an RnB feel to it. The energetic ‘LA Devotee’ provides an unrelenting onslaught of poppy guitar riffs. ‘Golden Days’ is equally excitable and charged with a dynamic and lively beat, reminding us of Urie’s lyrical ability, with often sounds more like it should be written in a novel rather than sung in a song. The album closes with the haunting ‘Impossible Year’, a sweetly-sung ballad over a piano and horn section. It is a departure from the bold and fiery direction the album has followed thus far over the previous ten tracks, but gives the album an injection of musical diversity which does not go amiss. Despite losing and gaining (then losing again) a multitude of members of the years, fans from the beginning will undoubtedly be glad to see that all the unique aspects of the band that define Panic! At The Disco still remain. There are no signs that anything will be changing on that front whilst Brendon Urie is still flying the Panic! At The Disco flag.

Emily Clarkson