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Panic! At The Disco - Vices & Virtues

One of the most forward thinking pop-rock acts around.

Rating: 8

When Panic! At The Disco exploded into the public consciousness back in 05 with ‘A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out’, no one could have guessed the path the group would take over the next half-decade. Their story is one full of theatre and unexpected twists – they’ve lost members, they’ve found members, they lost the exclamation mark then brought it back again; Panic! At The Disco have kept the internet gossipers gossiping since inception. ‘Vices & Virtues’ is two years in the making, having been the highest-profile victim of such dramas. However, the band’s apparent current stability shines through on album number three, and the result is a record that stands just as tall as their critically acclaimed debut. ‘The Ballad Of Mona Lisa’ opens things as a gentle burner, but the towering chorus soon reminds us what Brendon Urie and Spencer Smith are capable of. Despite the fact P!ATD are now effectively a two-piece, this is a sonically massive, intricate record with ‘Memories’ and ‘Trade Mistakes’ shining brightest. While Panic! At The Disco have always had an electronic element to their sound, ‘Vices & Virtues’ focuses much more on programmed drums and synths than they have previously. ‘Ready To Go (Get Me Out Of My Mind)’ is a string-heavy radio smash-in-waiting that preludes the dainty ‘Always’ which, if criticisms are necessary, only serves to break the flow of an otherwise fluid and consistent release. Above all, ‘Vices & Virtues’ is a complete package that secures Panic! At The Disco as one of the most forward thinking pop-rock acts around.

Andy Ritchie