After nearly five years, Lady Gaga released her newest studio album,”Mayhem,” earlier this month.

With 14 tracks the album’s opener, “Disease,” was an excellent choice to showcase a new side of Lady Gaga. Released as a single in October 2024, the song features industrial rock/dance mixed with pop to express darker themes that she hasn’t explored before. The multilayering of vocals are definitely highlighted within the song and just really takes me back to high school when I would listen to female rock bands like Evanescence, especially when Lady Gaga screams, “I can cure your Disease!”

The second track and single, “Abracadabra,” gained widespread popularity, showcasing the familiar dance music of Lady Gaga that we know and love. Unlike her previous dance hits, “Abracadabra” makes allusions to theatrical and classical vocal references reminiscent of “The Phantom of the Opera.”

The third track, “Garden of Eden,” is a significant nod to her earlier albums, particularly “The Fame,” which defined a pop era in the early 2000’s, revisiting the theme that love can be both a cure and a curse. Biblical references to Eve and the poisoned apple illustrate the idea of temporary pleasure leading to lifelong consequences.

The next track “Perfect Celebrity” is the masterpiece of this album. The song feels fresh and innovative, incorporating layers of industrial rock reminiscent of Nine Inch Nails while addressing the perils of fame.

“Vanish into You” is a powerful acapella introduction punctuated by a funky beat that pays homage to the amazing David Bowie. The uplifting transition into the chorus and underlying disco synths, similar to those used by ABBA, created a space for the lyrics about falling deeply in love.

“Killah” is full of character and features the talented music producer Gesaffelstein. Evoking classic Prince, ”Killah” showcases the fun and theatrical side of Gaga, highlighted by a sudden tempo change that follows a powerful scream, leading into a fantastic transition to the outro. Lady Gaga’s unforgettable performance of “Killah” on “Saturday Night Live,” which she recently hosted, is already making this song a standout in 2025. “Zombieboy” anticipates the summer with its roller rink vibe. It has a very contemporary disco feel with rock elements, and then combined with the cheerleading elements and a heavy bass and guitar riffs that lead into a smooth and amazing outro. Gaga delivers an exceptional disco song with a fresh and evolved sound.

“Lovedrug” is like an 80’s rock ballad. Comparing relationships to drugs isn’t new to Lady Gaga, and in this track, she sings about the way that love can be euphoric and make us rise to cloud nine but also descend to emotional lows.

“How Bad Do You Want Me” is very reminiscent of Taylor Swift’s 1989 era. The song explores the perspective of being a “bad girl” in love with a guy who only has affection for “good girls.” Much simpler and uncomplicated compared to the other tracks, “How Bad Do You Want Me” wasn’t the strongest on the album.

Similarly, “Don’t Call Tonight,” with its clapping elements and Daft Punk-style voice layover competes with the chorus, making the verses sometimes incomprehensible. Teased last year in the concert film of her previous album, “Chromatica,” the song, “Shadow of A Man,” uses the iconic mannerisms of Micheal Jackson.

“The Beast,” the 12th track, is incredibly powerful, vocally raw, and unfiltered. The production seamlessly blends cool 90s-style guitar riffs and synths, creating a perfect harmony with Lady Gaga’s voice.

“Blade of Grass” is a love song that was inspired by Lady Gaga’s fiancé, Micheal Polansky, after he had proposed to her. Polansky has several writing credits on the album as well as being an executive producer on the project. So let’s thank him for convincing Lady Gaga to “reheat her nachos.” This song has the cadence of a Beatles love song but with a cinematic twist. The artist expresses happiness and deep love, ensuring that her powerful delivery conveys the message that “forever is not enough.” This line truly resonates, as her vocals reflect the hopeful side of love. “Blade of Grass” serves as a beautiful prelude to the last track of the album.

The final track, “Die With a Smile,” pairs Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars. The song was released in August of last year. Bruno Mars’ style combined with Lady Gaga’s vocals rightfully won the Grammy for Best Pop Duo/Group.

“Mayhem” reflects a culmination of Lady Gaga’s music career but with an evolved sound. The diversity of the album’s tracks creates excitement with each listen. The intentional build-up and slow burn toward the end are evident, drawing you in initially and maintaining intrigue. One potential flaw is that the choruses in many tracks are often more memorable than the verses. Nevertheless, the multilayered sounds, synths, diverse genres, and powerful vocals showcase the incredible talent Lady Gaga possesses.

Having followed her since the “The Fame” era, I believe this album is among her best. I see great potential for its longevity. Once again, no one is doing what Lady Gaga does. Each track evokes a sense of familiarity while being infused with newfound innovation.

“Mayhem” is available on all streaming platforms and can also be purchased at major retail stores.