Lady Gaga is one of the most wholly unique artists in the industry. Everything she does is to the beat of her own drum and she never changes who she is, no matter the circumstances. This remains true for her new album, “MAYHEM.”
Taking something from all her past albums and mixing all these styles into one album, “MAYHEM” feels like Gaga taking a walk down memory lane and reflecting on her own career, all while still making great original music.
What makes the album so great is Gaga’s ability to switch tone so effortlessly throughout the album. Every few songs change genre and they all flow well together. Three singles were released to promote the album, including “Disease” and “Abracadabra.” I would consider both to be great dance songs. “Disease” has a bit of a techno beat behind it that makes it stand out, while “Abracadabra” feels like old-school Gaga.
While originally unclear whether it would be featured on the album or a standalone collaboration, the monstrous mega-hit “Die With A Smile” with Bruno Mars closes the album as the fourteenth track. The single peaked at number one for five weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 and won “Best Pop Duo/Group Performance” at the 2025 Grammy Awards.
Due to this mix of multiple styles, your mileage may vary on how much you like the album. The album takes something from every area of Gaga’s past work, which I like quite a bit. This makes some of “MAYHEM” not work for me, particularly some songs in the middle of the album. However, the front and back half have so many incredible highs that make up for the middle’s lull.
The songs that stand out towards the end of the album are “Shadow of a Man,” “The Beast” and “Blade of Grass.” All of these showcase Gaga’s great lyricism and they break down the album’s themes. “Shadow of a Man” is pretty explanatory for what it means just from the title. “The Beast” is probably my favorite song from the album – it is one of the slowest songs, and I think it pairs well with “Blade of Grass,” which is another slower song.
Lady Gaga is one of the few completely fearless performers; ever since she emerged onto the scene, she has only been herself. Her new album continues this trend, and while creating art that reflects on her own career, she also uses it to showcase all her different styles. It seems that as long as Gaga continues to make music, she will never change for anyone.
Even with a few songs that I don’t completely love, “MAYHEM” is another standout album from Gaga. In an ever-changing genre like pop, Gaga continues to prove why she is and always will be a one-of-a-kind talent.
Rating: 9/10
