Following two electric singles and the chart-topping collaboration with Bruno Mars, “Die With a Smile”, Lady Gaga released her studio album “MAYHEM” on March 7, 2025. The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart and is a delightful return to the signature sound that made Lady Gaga’s career.
The album opens with the two singles Gaga previously released, “Disease” and “Abracadabra”. Both embrace the darker themes that were prevalent in Gaga’s previous albums, like ARTPOP or The Fame, while bringing in a new sound. “Disease” features lyrics like “I can play the doctor / I can cure your disease”, playing with darkly romantic themes behind an infectious beat.
“Abracadabra” follows and does not disappoint. It features the iconic chanting —“Abracadabra /Amor oo nana / Abra oo na na / Morta oo gaga”—that has been a staple of Gaga’s music since “Bad Romance.” The song contains metaphors about heaven and hell and compels the listener to get up and dance. The chorus is addictive, making the song—along with “Disease”—a compelling start to the album.
Luckily, “MAYHEM”’s first two songs are largely reflective of the entire work. It is an incredibly well produced album that is eager to explore different sounds. Gaga made satisfying beats for almost every song, making the whole album an interesting listen.
“Killah” featuring Gesaffelstein is a standout, featuring a funky bassline along with Gaga’s darker pop style. Using killer metaphors, the song’s lyrics tell an intense story of sadistic love in an extremely catchy and fun way.
Another song on the album with a memorable beat is “Zombieboy.” Its vibe is reminiscent of Gwen Stefani’s 2004 hit “Hollaback Girl” and even features an electric guitar solo. This carefree vibe is continued by funny lyrics like “You zombieboy / Think you’re really sly” and “So put your paws all over me.” Gaga’s ability to balance silly lyrics with a seriously good bass line is a trend throughout “MAYHEM.”
In addition to experimenting with sound and lyricism, many of the songs also take inspiration from classic pop tropes. This is exemplified in “How Bad Do U Want Me”, a track where Gaga embraces a “bad girl” persona that’s featured in a lot of modern pop. She sings “The good girl in your dreams / Is mad you’re loving me” on a track that sounds like it could be on Taylor Swift’s Midnights.
Although it seems stereotypical, Gaga is able to fully embrace this persona and make it her own. She tells a cohesive story while showcasing her impressive vocal talent.
This talent is something that is evident on all 14 songs on “MAYHEM.” For example, on “LoveDrug,” she belts impressive notes in a powerful post-chorus.
Aside from her vocal abilities, Gaga is able to weave a cohesive story throughout “MAYHEM.” Never shying away from metaphor, lyrics about monsters, love, and hell are woven throughout multiple songs.
One of the best examples of this is in the songs “Garden of Eden” and “Blade of Grass.” The first song features Gaga saying she’ll “Take you to the Garden of Eden.” It’s a song about a new relationship and intimacy.
Later, in “Blades of Grass”, she sings “Lovers kiss in a garden made of thorns.” These lyrics imply the relationship has gone sour and the song is a heartfelt ballad about making a relationship last.
Unfortunately, despite these lyrical and musical strengths, there are moments where “MAYHEM” falls a bit flat. Some of the songs simply fail to stick out when compared to hits like “Abracadabra” and “Disease.”
This is especially felt in the track “The Beast.” The rhythm feels unnaturally slow compared to the rest of the album and the monster metaphor feels like a rehash of what has already been heard from Gaga on “MAYHEM”. These shortcomings make the middle of the album less memorable.
Despite this dip in energy, Gaga ends the album strong with her Grammy-winning hit “Die With A Smile” featuring Bruno Mars. “Die With A Smile” is heart wrenching and authentic. Its raw emotion is reflected in lyrics like “I don’t even want to do this anymore” or “I want to hold you just for a while.” Mars and Gaga sing incredible harmonies as well. “Die With A Smile” demonstrates Gaga’s growth as an artist and ends “MAYHEM” on a high note.
By bringing back electro pop as a developed artist, Lady Gaga was able to produce an album that embraces both her old and new music. The lyrics are meaningful, using imagery and metaphor to tell a cohesive story, and each song is expertly produced. “MAYHEM” is a staple of Lady Gaga’s discography and a thrilling reentrance into pop music.
