Viva Las Vengeance | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | August 19, 2022 | |||
Recorded | 2019–2022 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 43:42 | |||
Label | ||||
Producer | ||||
Panic! at the Disco chronology | ||||
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Singles from Viva Las Vengeance | ||||
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Viva Las Vengeance is the seventh and final studio album by American pop rock solo project Panic! at the Disco, released on August 19, 2022, through Fueled by Ramen and DCD2 Records. It is their first studio album in 4 years since their 2018 album, Pray for the Wicked , marking their longest gap between studio albums, and the last album prior to the project's disbandment. [1] It was announced alongside the release of the lead single and title track "Viva Las Vengeance" on June 1, 2022, and was supported by a tour that began in North America in the third quarter of 2022, [2] and ended in Europe in March 2023. [3] The tour included support from Jake Wesley Rogers, Marina and the Diamonds, and Beach Bunny in the United States, and Fletcher on international dates. The tour saw Urie perform the album in its entirety, along with greatest hits. The tour sold out several venues worldwide and earned the band's highest grossing concert of all time at their Madison Square Garden show.
Brendon Urie called the album "a look back at who I was 17 years ago and who I am now with the fondness I didn't have before. I didn't realize I was making an album and there was something about the tape machine that kept me honest." [4] The album was also described as a "cinematic musical journey about the fine line between taking advantage of your youth, seizing the day, and burning out". [5]
Urie recorded Viva Las Vengeance live to an 8-track tape machine to capture a "retro vibe". [6] The album was recorded with notable contributions from Jake Sinclair, Mike Viola, and Butch Walker in Los Angeles. [5]
Viva Las Vengeance has been described as pop rock, [7] glam rock, [7] power pop, [8] rock and roll, [7] and soft rock. [9] The album also mixes new wave, [10] punk, [10] and baroque pop. [11] It has also been considered to be a "classic-rock callback", adding to a "sound that showcases guitars and nods to the arena-rock sound of decades past, primarily the 1970s." [5]
According to Chris Willman of Variety , while discussing the album's influences, "agreeable nods to the Police, Thin Lizzy, the Beatles and other late '60s/'70s/early '80s bands come fast and furious". [8] The album is also noted for its similarities to Queen, [8] [12] with its "swooning theatricality and falsetto... sparkling guitar work, and well-timed harmonies". [13] "Star Spangled Banger" and "God Killed Rock and Roll" have been cited as examples of Queen's influence. [7] [11]
In May 2022, a website called "Shut Up and Go to Bed" was set up, hinting at new music from Panic! at the Disco the following month. [14] This was followed by the announcement of the single "Viva Las Vengeance" on May 29, 2022. [15] On July 20, 2022, the second single "Middle of a Breakup" was released. [16] [17] On August 5, 2022, the third single "Local God" was released. [18] On August 16, 2022, the fourth single "Don't Let the Light Go Out" was released. [19] The album was released on August 19, 2022. [4] [5] On the same day, a music video for the song "Sad Clown" was released. [20] [21] On August 23, 2022, a music video for the song "Sugar Soaker" was released. [22] [23]
Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AnyDecentMusic? | 6.9/10 [24] |
Metacritic | 82/100 [25] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [26] |
Clash | 5/10 [7] |
Evening Standard | [27] |
Hot Press | 7/10 [12] |
Kerrang! | 4/5 [28] |
NME | [10] |
The Telegraph | [29] |
Viva Las Vengeance was well-received by music critics. It holds an average score of 82 out of 100 on Metacritic based on seven reviews. [25] Matt Collar of AllMusic described the album as a "declaration to everything sumptuously mythic, exultant, tragic, and...silly about loving and aspiring to be a part of the rock'n'roll world". [26] Emily Swingle of Clash noted that "[the album] does knock out some definite singalongs", but also noted that "there is something missing beneath the veneer of theatricality". [7] David Smyth of called the album "A classic-rock riot," and compared the guitar solos to Brian May. [27]
Edwin Mcfee of Hot Press described the album as "A love letter to rock's golden era." [12] Ali Shutler of NME complimented the sound of the album stating, Panic! typically strive for precision and polish but with this album recorded live to tape... [it] sounds like it belongs on a jukebox rather than Spotify, but...Panic! strut between the worlds of new wave, rock'n'roll and punk with utmost confidence. [10] The Telegraph noted that "[while] originality has never been Urie’s forte, his pearly-white star power and finger-clicking showmanship ably make up for it." [29]
All tracks are written by Brendon Urie, Jake Sinclair, and Mike Viola, except where noted, and produced by all three, except "Viva Las Vengeance", produced by Sinclair, Viola, and Butch Walker.
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Viva Las Vengeance" | 3:27 | |
2. | "Middle of a Breakup" | 3:20 | |
3. | "Don't Let the Light Go Out" |
| 3:49 |
4. | "Local God" | 3:00 | |
5. | "Star Spangled Banger" | 3:09 | |
6. | "God Killed Rock and Roll" |
| 4:17 |
7. | "Say It Louder" |
| 3:30 |
8. | "Sugar Soaker" |
| 3:11 |
9. | "Something About Maggie" | 3:20 | |
10. | "Sad Clown" |
| 3:46 |
11. | "All by Yourself" |
| 4:18 |
12. | "Do It to Death" |
| 4:35 |
Total length: | 43:42 |
Panic! at the Disco
Brendon Urie – vocals, background vocals, drums, guitar, harpsichord, piano, synthesizer (all tracks); organ (2–12)
Musicians
Technical
Chart (2022) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australian Albums (ARIA) [30] | 10 |
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria) [31] | 46 |
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) [32] | 20 |
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia) [33] | 70 |
Canadian Albums (Billboard) [34] | 70 |
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) [35] | 34 |
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [36] | 18 |
Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ) [37] | 35 |
Japanese Albums (Oricon) [38] | 80 |
Japanese Digital Albums (Oricon) [39] | 23 |
Japanese Hot Albums ( Billboard Japan ) [40] | 64 |
Portuguese Albums (AFP) [41] | 34 |
Scottish Albums (OCC) [42] | 5 |
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE) [43] | 85 |
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [44] | 46 |
UK Albums (OCC) [45] | 5 |
US Billboard 200 [46] | 13 |
US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard) [47] | 2 |
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard) [48] | 3 |
Region | Date | Format | Label | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
Various | August 19, 2022 | [49] |
Panic! at the Disco was an American pop rock band formed in Las Vegas, Nevada in 2004 by childhood friends Ryan Ross, Spencer Smith, Brent Wilson, and Brendon Urie. Following several lineup changes, Panic! at the Disco operated as the solo project of frontman Urie from 2015 until its discontinuation in 2023.
A Fever You Can't Sweat Out is the debut studio album by American pop rock band Panic! at the Disco. Produced by Matt Squire, the album was released on September 27, 2005, through Decaydance and Fueled by Ramen. The group formed in Las Vegas in 2004 and began posting demos online, which caught the attention of Fall Out Boy bassist Pete Wentz. Wentz signed the group to his own imprint label, Decaydance, without them having ever performed live. It is the only album released during original bassist Brent Wilson's time in the band, but the exact nature of his involvement in the writing and recording process became a source of contention upon his dismissal from the group in mid-2006.
"Miss Jackson" is a song by American rock band Panic! at the Disco, released on July 15, 2013, as the first single for the band's fourth studio album, Too Weird to Live, Too Rare to Die! (2013). The song features vocals from Lolo. A music video directed by Jordan Bahat accompanied the song's announcement as well as the album's title and release date, and headlining tour dates. It was the band's first release since 2011, and the first release to feature Dallon Weekes on bass. The Butch Walker-produced track has been described as "darkly anthemic". It reached the top 10 on iTunes on its release and sold 56,000 digital downloads in its first week to debut at No. 68 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 27 on Digital Songs. It also became Panic! at the Disco's first top ten hit on the Alternative Songs chart since "Nine in the Afternoon" in 2008. In January 2015, it was certified Gold by the RIAA.
Brendon Boyd Urie is an American singer, songwriter, and musician who is best known as the former lead vocalist and frontman of Panic! at the Disco, the only constant member throughout the band's 19-year run.
Pretty. Odd. is the second studio album by American pop rock band Panic at the Disco, first released in the Netherlands on March 21, and released in the US on March 25, 2008 by Decaydance and Fueled by Ramen. Recorded at the Studio at the Palms in Paradise, Nevada with additional production at Abbey Road Studios in London with producer Rob Mathes, the album was inspired by baroque pop and the works of the Beach Boys and the Beatles, with its psychedelic-styled rock sound differing greatly from the techno-influenced pop-punk of the band's previous album A Fever You Can't Sweat Out (2005). It is the band's only major release to not feature an exclamation point in their name, being credited as "Panic at the Disco" for all major activities until summer the following year.
Panic! at the Disco is an American rock band that originated in Las Vegas, Nevada. Their 2005 debut album, A Fever You Can't Sweat Out, reached number 13 on the US Billboard 200, and has sold more than 2.2 million copies in the US (pure) and been certified 4× platinum by the RIAA since its September 2005 release, spearheaded by the eight platinum top-10 hit single, "I Write Sins Not Tragedies". The band's second album, Pretty. Odd., was released on March 21, 2008, entering the US chart at, and peaking at, number 2 and is certified platinum by RIAA. Their third effort, Vices & Virtues, was released on March 18, 2011, and peaked at number 7 in the US and is certified gold by RIAA, spawned iconic comeback smash hit "The Ballad of Mona Lisa". Their fourth album, 2013's Too Weird to Live, Too Rare to Die!, entered and peaked at number 2 on the US chart, and contained hits such as "Miss Jackson", "This Is Gospel", and "Girls / Girls Boys". The band's fifth studio album, Death of a Bachelor, was released in January 2016 and became their first number-one album in the US. It has been certified 2× platinum in 2019. It is currently the most streamed album. Their sixth album, Pray for the Wicked, was released on June 22, 2018, and debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200. It has been certified 2× platinum by RIAA. It later became band's most successful era in terms of achievement and tour gross. Their seventh and final album, Viva Las Vengeance, released in August 2022, became the band's most critically acclaimed album to date.
Vices & Virtues is the third studio album by American pop rock band Panic! at the Disco, released on March 22, 2011, by Fueled by Ramen. Produced by John Feldmann and Butch Walker, the album was recorded as a duo by vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Brendon Urie and drummer Spencer Smith, following the departure of lead guitarist, backing vocalist and primary lyricist Ryan Ross and bassist/backing vocalist Jon Walker in July 2009.
"The Ballad of Mona Lisa" is a song by American alternative rock band Panic! at the Disco, released February 1, 2011, as the first single from the group's third studio album, Vices & Virtues (2011). Vocalist Brendon Urie wrote the song to express personal struggles and convictions many years prior to its official production for Vices & Virtues. The song impacted radio on February 15, 2011. The song has received positive critical reviews upon its release and reached number 89 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Too Weird to Live, Too Rare to Die! is the fourth studio album by American pop rock band Panic! at the Disco. The album was released on October 8, 2013 by Decaydance and Fueled by Ramen. Recorded as a trio, the album was produced by Butch Walker, and is the only album to feature bassist Dallon Weekes since he officially joined the band in 2010. This was also the final album to feature drummer Spencer Smith, thus making this Panic!'s final album as a rock band, with further releases being made as a solo project fronted by Brendon Urie.
"Hallelujah" is a song by American solo project Panic! at the Disco. It was released as a single on April 19, 2015 through Fueled by Ramen as the first single from their fifth studio album Death of a Bachelor. "Hallelujah" debuted at number 40 on the Billboard Hot 100 selling over 71,000 copies, becoming the band's second top-40 hit single and the first in nine years since "I Write Sins Not Tragedies" was released in 2006. It is the first single not to include drummer Spencer Smith and bassist Dallon Weekes, thus making "Hallelujah" Panic! at the Disco's first single as a solo project.
Death of a Bachelor is the fifth studio album by Panic! at the Disco, and their first as a solo project, released on January 15, 2016 by Fueled by Ramen and DCD2. It is the follow-up to the band's fourth studio album, Too Weird to Live, Too Rare to Die! (2013), with the entire album written and recorded by vocalist/multi-instrumentalist Brendon Urie, who collaborated with other writers including Jake Sinclair, Morgan Kibby, Lolo, and Sam Hollander. It is the band's first album to not feature drummer Spencer Smith and also follows bassist Dallon Weekes' departure from the official line-up, subsequently becoming a touring member once again.
"Death of a Bachelor" is a song by American solo project Panic! at the Disco from the solo project's fifth studio album of the same name. The song premiered during an Apple Music broadcast hosted by Pete Wentz on September 1, 2015. A music video for the song was uploaded to Fueled by Ramen's YouTube channel on December 24, 2015. It was later sent to alternative, hot adult contemporary and pop radio as the album's fourth and final single.
"Victorious" is a song by American solo project Panic! at the Disco released as the second single from the band's fifth studio album, Death of a Bachelor, on September 29, 2015 by Fueled by Ramen and DCD2. The song was written by Brendon Urie, CJ Baran, Mike Viola, White Sea, Jake Sinclair, Alex DeLeon, and Rivers Cuomo and was produced by Sinclair with additional production by Suzy Shinn. A music video for the song was released on YouTube on November 13, 2015. It was the final song released during Dallon Weekes's tenure in the band, though it was never confirmed if he played bass on the single. Notably, "Victorious" was the band's first single in almost 10 years to chart on Billboard Pop Songs chart, since 2006's "I Write Sins Not Tragedies".
"Emperor’s New Clothes" is a song by American solo project Panic! at the Disco released as the third single from the project's fifth studio album, Death of a Bachelor, on October 21, 2015 through Fueled by Ramen and DCD2.
"Say Amen (Saturday Night)" is a song by American pop rock solo project Panic! at the Disco from their sixth studio album, Pray for the Wicked (2018). It was released as the lead single for the album on March 21, 2018. The song became Panic! at the Disco's first number one single on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart in June 2018.
Pray for the Wicked is the sixth studio album by American pop rock solo project Panic! at the Disco. The album was released on June 22, 2018 on Fueled by Ramen in the United States. It is the follow-up to the band's fifth studio album, Death of a Bachelor (2016). The album was produced by Jake Sinclair and promoted by the singles "Say Amen ", "High Hopes" and "Hey Look Ma, I Made It", with "(Fuck A) Silver Lining", "Dancing's Not A Crime" and "King of the Clouds" as promotional singles. It received generally positive reviews upon release, with many critics noting Urie's Broadway influences following his performance in Kinky Boots.
"Hey Look Ma, I Made It" is a song by Panic! at the Disco from their sixth studio album, Pray for the Wicked, through Fueled by Ramen and DCD2 Records. It was written by frontman Brendon Urie with Michael Angelakos, Sam Hollander, Morgan Kibby, and the track's producers Jake Sinclair and Dillon Francis. The song was made available via album release on June 22, 2018, and it was serviced to alternative radio on February 19, 2019, and US contemporary hit radio on February 26, 2019 as the album's third single. The music video was released on June 21, 2018.
"High Hopes" is a song by American pop rock solo project Panic! at the Disco. Their song was released through Fueled by Ramen and DCD2 Records on May 23, 2018, as the second single from the band's sixth studio album, Pray for the Wicked (2018). Their song was written and produced by Jake Sinclair and Jonas Jeberg, and co-written by Brendon Urie, Jenny Owen Youngs, Lauren Pritchard, Sam Hollander, William Lobban-Bean, Taylor Parks, and Ilsey Juber, with additional production by Jonny Coffer. It was serviced to alternative radio on July 31, 2018, and impacted hot adult contemporary radio on August 27, 2018, and US pop radio the following day.
"Viva Las Vengeance" is a song by Panic! at the Disco, released on June 1, 2022, as the lead single from their seventh and final studio album of the same name. It was written by Brendon Urie, Jake Sinclair, and Mike Viola, and produced by Butch Walker, Sinclair, and Viola. The song was announced on May 29, 2022, and released alongside its music video.
The Viva Las Vengeance Tour was a concert tour by American pop rock band Panic! at the Disco. The tour supported the project's seventh studio album Viva Las Vengeance, and visited North America and Europe. The tour began on September 8, 2022, at the Moody Center in Austin, Texas, and concluded on March 10, 2023, at the AO Arena in Manchester, England. The tour was promoted by Live Nation Entertainment and Crush Management.