Lorde has unveiled her fourth album, “Virgin”, four years after the release of her last record, “Solar Power”. The album marks a return to form for the young singer-songwriter, who initially suggested that doing so was a living nightmare in her previous work. However, “Virgin” is a far cry from “Solar Power”‘s resignation letter to the music industry.
The new album takes Lorde back to her sharp-eyed party girl mode of 2017’s “Melodrama”, but with a fresh perspective. “What Was That”, the lead single, compares falling in love to smoking while on MDMA, and features electronics that chatter, throb, and burst into rave-y hands-in-the-air riffs. The album is packed with big choruses, bangers, and epic ballads.
The tone of the album has shifted significantly compared to “Solar Power”. While “Melodrama” was concerned with events that happen in your late teens, “Virgin” is haunted by a late-20s kind of angst, born of the sense that you’re now an adult. The album explores themes of heartbreak, ennui, and irrational fears, but this time, it’s sharpened by the sense that the relationship was meant to be.
Despite its upbeat sound, “Virgin” is noticeably unsettled and rough. The synths are distorted, and the melody lines are regularly disrupted by bursts of incomprehensible vocals. However, Lorde seems less like an artist rehashing former glories than one who continues to grow up alongside her fans.
Throughout the album, Lorde’s writing remains as skilful and incisive as ever. The result is a powerful, moving, personal but universal record that sheds past trauma and finds fresh perspective.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/jun/26/lorde-virgin-review