“Swear to shake it up, you swear to listen” frontman Brendon Urie sings in “The Only Difference Between Martydom and Suicide is Press Coverage.” Twenty years later, those lyrics continue to ring true as Panic! has undergone multiple line-up changes and redefined their sound from pop-punk to pop.
Among bands like Fall Out Boy, My Chemical Romance, and Paramore, Panic! At The Disco was one of those bands that got us through our teenage years. Nothing is quite as formative as hearing the opening notes of “I Write Sins Not Tragedies” for the first time.
However, after 20 years on stage, Brendon Urie, the only remaining member of Panic!, decided it was time to hang up the top hat and trench coat. Rather than going out with a theatrical bang, the band went out with a fall of blazing glory with its last album, Viva Las Vengeance.
Early origins
Panic! at the Disco was formed in the heart of Las Vegas in 2004 by long-time friends Ryan Ross (guitarist, lyricist, and singer), Spencer Smith (drummer), and Brent Wilson (bassist), originally under the name Pet Salamander. Later, Brendon Urie joined the band and became the lead vocalist after the group recognized his vocal talents. While covering Blink-182 songs, the band also started making its own music.
After finishing and recording 3 demos, Ross posted them to Fall Out Boy’s LiveJournal, with the intention of bringing their music to a larger audience. Rather than gaining a larger audience, Ross unexpectedly grabbed the attention of Pete Wentz, Fall Out Boy’s bassist. Impressed by the demos, Wentz flew out to Vegas to hear the band at their practice space.
There, Wentz met the group of lanky, acne-ridden teens who had never even performed live before this. Despite this, Wentz saw a flourishing talent in them. “It was kinda a mess, “ Wentz said in an interview with Rolling Stone, “But I could see something…this little glittering spot. As far as hooks go, everything they write gets stuck in your head.”
After getting signed to Wentz’s label, Decaydance Records, the band was well on its way to creating its major debut album and launching into emo and pop-punk stardom.
A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out
Fever is Panic! At The Disco’s debut album and acts as their official introduction into the pop-punk scene (despite their presence being relatively short-lived there). The album blends electronic and pop-punk sounds with elements of cabaret and theatrical sounds. Although this was only their first album, Fever became an instant classic. One of those albums that everyone must hear at least once in their life.
However, 20 years later, the music scene has changed. Gone is the era of skinny jeans, obnoxiously bright dyes, and fried flat-ironed hair. Although the pop-punk and emo scenes are not dead, their mainstream dominance had fizzled out by the 2010s. Fever is very much an album of its time, and it’s uncertain to say if the album would have become a staple in music culture if it were released today. To celebrate the album’s 20th anniversary, I decided to re-listen to the album and see if it still holds up (spoiler alert: it does).
The Only Difference Between Martyrdom and Suicide is Press Coverage
“Martyrdom” is the first official song on the record and acts as an introduction to the album’s overall sound. It’s a catchy song filled with blaring drums and groovy guitar riffs. The bridge of the song dives into a more techno-synth sound until it returns to the familiarity of the guitars. Overall, a perfect punky introduction to the band.
London Beckoned Songs About Money Written By Machines
Perhaps one of the catchier songs off the record, “Londoned Beckoned,” is a perfect song to headband to. Ross’s thrashing guitar riffs and Urie’s loud vocals perfectly encapsulate the high energy of the song. The song acts as a satirical critique of how bands often “sell out” to become popular.
Nails for Breakfast, Tacks for Snacks
This is one of the weaker songs off the album, however, its still good in its own way. The song deals with alcohol and drug abuse, Ross having taken inspiration from his father’s own struggles with alcohol abuse. It takes on a more experimental and unique sound with Urie’s auto-tuned vocals accompanying the techno beats.
Camisado
Camisado is another track off the record that deals with alcohol abuse. It’s glittering and techno synths make the song stand out on the album and from other songs during this era.
Time to Dance
One of my favorite songs off the album. It’s an upbeat and highly energetic song that makes you want to get up on your feet and dance. A perfect song in my book.
Lying Is the Most Fun a Girl Can Have Without Taking Her Clothes Off
“Lying” is an explicitly horny song about sex. It’s an intense and oddly beautiful song that makes you have an eargasm. How did acne-ridden teens lacking any essence of sex appeal manage to make a song so hot? I guess we’ll never know.
But It’s Better If You Do
This track marks the album’s departure from the techno sound into a jazz and cabaret one. Despite losing its electric component, the song manages to sound even bigger and flashier. It really begins to hone its theatricality with the carnival music at the end of the song, which acts as a transition into the next track.
I Write Sins Not Tragedies
One of Panic’s biggest hits, “Sins,” is built around violins and trumpets, accompanied by the thrashing of guitars and drums. It feels as if it has been plucked straight from a musical soundtrack. If you haven’t heard this song, you need to.
I Constantly Thank God For Esteban
Another highly theatrical song off the record. Although it is criminally underrated, this song has spiteful lyrics that pair well with the acoustics present in the track.
There’s a Good Reason These Tables Are Numbered Honey, You Just Haven’t Thought Of It Yet
Another one of my favorites of the record, “There’s a Good Reason,” brings out the jazz sounds as the piano plays a ragtime-like melody in the background. The trumpets in the song also elevate it to a whole new level, something I wouldn’t expect in a pop-punk album.
Build God, Then We’ll Talk
“Build God, Then We’ll Talk” acts as the final track off the record. It continues to build off the imagery of prostitution that was present in the past songs, as it covers the upsetting aspects of cheating.
Closing the curtain
In October of 2025, Panic! returned from an almost 3-year-long disbandment to perform as a headliner at When We Were Young Festival. Urie performed the entirety of A Fever You Can’t Sweat, along with some other hits from his other albums. Getting to hear Urie’s mature vocals sing the songs he performed 20 years ago as a teen feels like a full-circle moment. Urie also brought back former drummer Spencer Smith to perform an encore of ‘I Write Sins Not Tragedies” at the end of their setlist, a welcome surprise and heartwarming moment for many fans.
After the performance, the band rereleased an HD version of one of their best performances in 2006, “Live In Denver,” a highly loved movie by fans. They also released an album version of the movie on music platforms titled Live In Denver. They also plan to release a 20th anniversary deluxe edition of A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out on January 23, 2026, which features remastered versions of the songs and demos.
