What do Panic! At The Disco have left to offer in 2018? Well, their signature emo pop-punk sound has gone – and so too have several band members. What we’re left with is a curious brand of theatrical dance-pop. Unfortunately, any kind of organic, human contribution present on Pray For The Wicked is ultimately rendered lifeless by the soul-less production. Singer Brand Urie’s vocal acrobatics are frequently lost amidst a barrage of percussion, synthesised string sections and sterile digital beats. It all feels like some nightmarish, Broadway-meets-indie-nightclub mash-up. There’s more cheese here than your local farmer’s market: ‘Dancing’s Not A Crime’ sounds like Steps on steroids, while ‘Old Fashioned’ features the sort of bland chorus that typically soundtracks mobile phone commercials. You know, the kind that cheery millennials enjoying wi-fi coverage at a crowded music festival, or some such, are thought to enjoy! Urie’s compositions and performances, of course, have always carried an element of theatre. But his experiences on Broadway musical Kinky Boots seem to have prompted unprecedented levels of maximalism: too often these songs descend into farcical melodrama. Indeed, there is a chronic lack of directness and sincerity. Then again – when was the last time you heard an intimate showtune? OUT NOW

Rating: 4/10