Hades (album)

Hades
Studio album by
Melanie Martinez
ReleasedMarch 27, 2026 (2026-03-27)
Genres
Length70:19
LabelAtlantic
Producers
Melanie Martinez chronology
Portals
(2023)		 Hades
(2026)
Singles from Hades
  1. "Possession"
    Released: January 28, 2026
  2. "Disney Princess"
    Released: February 25, 2026
  3. "Uncanny Valley"
    Released: March 27, 2026
  4. "The Vatican"
    Released: May 22, 2026

Hades (stylized in all caps) is the fourth studio album by American singer Melanie Martinez. It was released on March 27, 2026, through Atlantic Records. The album serves as the first installment of a simultaneous release whose main theme would be both utopian and dystopian, with Hades mainly exploring the latter theme. Martinez released four singles from the album, "Possession", "Disney Princess", "Uncanny Valley" and "The Vatican".

Background and development

On the Q&A opened in Martinez's Instagram Stories on October 10, 2025, she revealed that her upcoming project would be a double album, set to be released in 2026.[1][2] She also shared that the recording of the albums has been finished,[3] and that she is planning to film an upcoming movie related to it,[4][5] featuring a new character other than Cry Baby.[6] On January 23, 2026, Martinez cleared her social media as well as her official website, sparking speculation that her new album was coming.[7]

Theme and composition

Hades is a dark pop album,[8] incorporating synth-driven elements and drawing on alt-pop styles.[9] It continues Martinez's use of elaborate conceptual storytelling, incorporating characters, surreal imagery, and a distinctive sonic style. It employs allegory to address themes such as religion, power, gender, and societal systems, including critiques of religious hypocrisy, exemplified by the line "Catholic, Christian, kissing Jesus, licking AR-15s".[10] According to Martinez, the theme of the simultaneous release is both utopian and dystopian;[11] she stated that the project began as a "futuristic dystopia" but came to be understood as a reflection of present reality, describing Hades as "a cracked mirror" that, despite its underlying anger, resists emotional detachment and instead encourages engagement and the possibility of creating "something beautiful from the chaos".[12] She emphasized that the album was less about imagining a distant dystopian future than about recognizing destructive power structures that already exist, where "control" is masked as "protection" and "exploitation" is framed as "opportunity".[9]

Expanding on the themes of her earlier work, which explored childhood and transformation, Hades adopts a darker perspective, examining contemporary issues such as corruption and capitalism through a mythological framework, according to Riff Magazine.[10] She explained that each song in Hades examines different "traps" created by an "evil, patriarchal energy".[9] Danielle Holian of Atwood magazine believed that Hades "appears poised to explore the underworld that follows. Not rebirth, but reckoning. Not fantasy, but the machinery beneath it."[13]

Marketing and packaging

Martinez released the lead single of Hades, "Possession", on January 28, 2026.[14][15][16] On February 1, she revealed the album's title and its release date,[17] with pre-orders available on February 4.[18][19] "Disney Princess" was released on February 25 as the second single from the album.[20] The third single, "Uncanny Valley", was serviced to radio stations on the same day of the album's release.[21] On May 22, Martinez released "The Vatican" as the album's fourth single.[22]

In March, Martinez announced a live performance of Hades, titled the Hades Ritual. It began on the day of the album's release at United Palace in New York, concluding at the United Theater on Broadway in Los Angeles.[23] In late June, Martinez performed various songs on The Today Show.[24]

Korean artist Cho Giseok designed the photoshoots for the Hades era.[19] The 18-track standard edition was released on cassette,[25] CD[26] and LP.[27] Martinez also shared a box set which contains a signed artcard, CD and hoodie, as well as 32-page storybook which "brings the Hades story to life, following the journey of Circle".[28]

Tour

On April 16, Martinez announced her sixth headlining and second all-arena tour, titled Hades: The Sacrifice. Set to be played between July and September of the same year, the tour will stop in several cities in the United States, as well as visit various European countries.[29][30][31]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic74/100[32]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStarStarStar[33]
Riff Magazine8/10[10]
Rolling StoneStarStarStarHalf star[34]
Slant MagazineStarHalf star[8]
Variety92/100[a]

According to the review aggregator Metacritic, Hades received "generally favorable reviews" based on a weighted average score of 74 out of 100 from 4 critic scores.[32]

Writing for Riff Magazine, Vera Maksymiuk characterized Hades as "not designed to be easy listening", highlighting its chaotic and theatrical presentation as central to its intent.[10] Michael Savio of Slant Magazine remarked that, as the album is envisioned as the first installment of a dystopia–utopia diptych, its eventual counterpart would ideally do more than mirror "our tumultuous times", expressing hope that it might also "make them a little more bearable".[8] Variety's Jem Aswad described Hades as dense yet musically accessible, built on a melodic electronic pop framework that occasionally turns menacing. He also emphasized the intensity of the vocal performances and characterized the record as a powerful and socially resonant statement.[35] Writing for Rolling Stone, Julyssa Lopez described Hades as featuring a narrative that is "often hard to follow", noting that the second half "loses some of its momentum". Nevertheless, Martinez was praised for bringing "a new way into every song without repeating herself", with the album ultimately viewed as an imaginative and creatively driven work.[34] Rae Bozeman of Melodic Magazine noted that Martinez "will never shy away from controversial topics", highlighting how the album brings attention to issues "many tend to avoid". Bozeman also emphasized Martinez's use of an "evolving" sound to convey these themes, ultimately describing Hades as a "masterful and touching" work.[36]

In a fan poll conducted by Billboard, Hades was ranked as the most popular new release of the week, receiving 67% of the vote and outperforming releases by Conan Gray, Raye, Charlie Puth, and Miley Cyrus.[37]

Commercial performance

Hades debuted at number three on the US Billboard 200. It also reached the number 1 spot on the US Top Rock & Alternative Albums chart with 84,000 album-equivalent units in its first week.[38]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Melanie Martinez and CJ Baran and produced by Baran, except where noted.

Hades track listing[39]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Garbage"  3:11
2."Is This a Cult?"
  • Martinez
  • Baran
  • Cameron Cade
  • Baran
  • Halo Boy
3:07
3."Possession"  3:08
4."White Boy with a Gun"Martinez
  • Baran
  • Martinez
  • Justin Greenwood
4:03
5."Disney Princess"  4:05
6."Grudges"  3:38
7."Monopoly Man"  3:52
8."Avoidant"  4:30
9."Monolith" 
  • Baran
  • Martinez
4:42
10."Weight Watchers"  3:20
11."The Plague"
  • Martinez
  • Baran
  • Arthur Besna
  • Baran
  • Martinez
  • Besna
3:38
12."Batshit Intelligence"Martinez
  • Baran
  • Martinez
  • Greenwood
3:58
13."Gutter"  3:48
14."Uncanny Valley"
3:16
15."The Vatican"  4:16
16."Hell's Front Porch"  3:22
17."Chatroom" 
  • Baran
  • Martinez
6:25
18."The Last Two People on Earth"  4:05
Total length:70:24

Notes

  • ^[a] signifies an additional producer.
  • All track titles are stylized in all caps.

Personnel

Credits were adapted from the album's liner notes.[40]

Musicians

  • Melanie Martinez – vocals (all tracks), guitar (tracks 4, 12), keyboards (7)
  • CJ Baran – keyboards (1–8, 10–13, 15–18); bass, sound design, synthesizer programming (1–3, 5–11, 13, 15–18); drum programming (1, 2, 5–8, 10, 13, 15–18), string arrangement (1, 4, 9, 18), piano (2, 9), sequenced drums (3), guitar (5, 6, 8)
  • Rhys Hastings – drums (1–7, 10, 12, 13, 15, 16, 18)
  • Paul Cartwright – orchestration, string arrangement, concertmaster (1, 4, 9, 18)
  • Nolan Markey – conductor (1, 4, 9, 18)
  • Mark Robertson – principal second violin (1, 4, 9, 18)
  • Benjamin Jacobson – violin (1, 4, 9, 18)
  • Stephanie Yu – violin (1, 4, 9, 18)
  • Ina Veli – violin (1, 4, 9, 18)
  • Katie Sloan – violin (1, 4, 9, 18)
  • Ashoka Thiagarajan – violin (1, 4, 9, 18)
  • Anna Kostyuchek – violin (1, 4, 9, 18)
  • Carolyn Riley – principal viola (1, 4, 9, 18)
  • Linnea Powell – viola (1, 4, 9, 18)
  • Marta Honer – viola (1, 4, 9, 18)
  • Timothy Loo –principal cello (1, 4, 9, 18)
  • Hillary Smith – cello (1, 4, 9, 18)
  • Eric Shetzen – principal bass (1, 4, 9, 18)
  • Halo Boy – bass, drum programming, keyboards, piano, synthesizer programming (2)
  • Justin Greenwood – bass, drum programming (4, 12); keyboards (12)
  • Arthur Besna – bass, drum programming, keyboards, sound design, synthesizer programming (11)
  • Malay – drum programming, keyboards, synthesizer programming (14)
  • Fletcher Sheridan – male vocals (15)
  • Luc Kliener – male vocals (15)
  • Dermot Kiernan – male vocals (15)
  • Michael Lichtenauer – male vocals (15)
  • Brett McDermid – male vocals (15)

Technical and visuals

  • Melanie Martinez – executive production, creative direction, art direction, design
  • CJ Baran – executive production, engineering
  • Arthur Besna – engineering (11)
  • Malay – engineering (14)
  • Nick Trapani – engineering assistance, editing (1–13, 15–18))
  • Zack Zajdel – engineering assistance (3)
  • Adam Michalak – orchestral engineering (1, 4)
  • Sonny DiPerri – drum engineering (3)
  • Mitch McCarthy – mixing
  • Nathan Dantzler – mastering
  • Josh Baldwin – drum technician (3)
  • Cho Gi-seok – creative direction, photography
  • Kim Jiyun – assistant direction
  • Seo Hyedan – assistant direction
  • Virgilio Tzaj – art direction, design
  • Malina Stearns – special makeup effects
  • Lisa Jarvis – styling
  • William Scott Blair – hair styling
  • Laurel Charleston – makeup
  • A Prjct – art production
  • Shin Yechan – director of photography
  • Park Byung Ju – lighting direction
  • Mumu Kim – production design
  • Satangelista – booklet illustrations

Charts

Chart performance
Chart (2026) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[41]4
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[42]9
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[43]6
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[44]7
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[45]13
Croatian International Albums (HDU)[46] 2
Czech Albums (ČNS IFPI)[47]88
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[48]7
French Albums (SNEP)[49]28
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[50]11
German Pop Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[51] 4
Greek Albums (IFPI)[52] 88
Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ)[53]10
Irish Albums (Official Charts)[54]8
Italian Albums (FIMI)[55] 16
Lithuanian Albums (AGATA)[56] 59
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[57] 7
Polish Albums (ZPAV)[58]10
Portuguese Albums (AFP)[59] 9
Scottish Albums (Official Charts)[60]2
Slovak Albums (ČNS IFPI)[61] 26
Spanish Albums (Promusicae)[62]12
Swedish Physical Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[63] 20
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[64]16
UK Albums (Official Charts)[65]5
US Billboard 200[66] 3
US Top Rock & Alternative Albums (Billboard)[67] 1

Release history

List of release dates and formats
Region Date Format Label Ref.
Various March 27, 2026 Atlantic [25][26][68][27]

Notes

  1. ↑ Although Variety does not offer the album's rating,[35] Metacritic displays its score of 92 out of 100.[32]

References

  1. ↑ Martinez, Melanie (October 10, 2025). "Will We Get the New Album in 2026 or 2027?". Instagram Stories. Retrieved January 24, 2026 – via Fandom.
  2. ↑ Martinez, Melanie (October 10, 2025). "Wait So Its a Double Album???". Instagram Stories. Retrieved January 24, 2026 – via Fandom.
  3. ↑ Martinez, Melanie (October 10, 2025). "Is the Album Finished?". Instagram Stories. Retrieved January 24, 2026 – via Fandom.
  4. ↑ Martinez, Melanie (October 10, 2025). "With Your New Albums Coming Up, Is There a Possibility of You Doing Another Movie?". Instagram Stories. Retrieved January 24, 2026 – via Fandom.
  5. ↑ Martinez, Melanie (October 10, 2025). "Did You Film the Movie Already????". Instagram Stories. Retrieved January 24, 2026 – via Fandom.
  6. ↑ Martinez, Melanie (October 10, 2025). "Will There Be a New Character?!?!". Instagram Stories. Retrieved January 24, 2026 – via Fandom.
  7. ↑ Martinez, Adrienne (January 23, 2026). "Melanie Martinez Wipes Her Instagram Clean — Is She Entering A New Era?". International Business Times. Retrieved January 24, 2026.
  8. 1 2 3 Savio, Michael (March 27, 2026). "Melanie Martinez Hades Review: Insubstantial Dark Pop for Substantially Dark Times". Slant Magazine. Archived from the original on March 28, 2026. Retrieved March 27, 2026. But the narratively byzantine, dark-pop concept album...
  9. 1 2 3 Brandle, Lars (February 4, 2026). "Melanie Martinez Sets Fourth Studio Album Hades". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 5, 2026. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
  10. 1 2 3 4 Maksymiuk, Vera (March 22, 2026). "Album Review: Melanie Martinez Builds a Dystopia That Already Exists on Hades". Riff Magazine. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
  11. ↑ Martinez, Melanie (October 10, 2025). "Melanie Martinez in Instagram". Instagram Stories. Retrieved January 24, 2026 – via Fandom.
  12. ↑ Brandle, Lars (March 27, 2026). "Melanie Martinez Takes Us to Hades: Stream It Now". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 27, 2026. Retrieved March 28, 2026.
  13. ↑ Holian, Danielle (February 4, 2026). "Melanie Martinez's 'Possession' Is a Candy-Coated Descent into Hades". Atwood Magazine. Archived from the original on March 31, 2026. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
  14. ↑ "Melanie Martinez Makes Comeback Amid Fresh Controversy". Daily Times. January 29, 2026. Retrieved January 29, 2026.
  15. ↑ Brandle, Lars (January 29, 2026). "'Cry Baby Is Dead:' Melanie Martinez Ushers in New Era with 'Possession'". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 29, 2026. Retrieved January 29, 2026.
  16. ↑ Schube, Will (January 28, 2026). "Melanie Martinez Shares Surprise New Single 'Possession'". Flood Magazine. Retrieved January 29, 2026.
  17. ↑ Martinez, Melanie [@littlebodybigheart]; (February 1, 2026). "My New Album Hades Comes Out March 27". Retrieved February 2, 2026 – via Instagram.
  18. ↑ Cuevas, Gabi (February 3, 2026). "Melanie Martinez Announces Her Comeback with 4th Studio Album, Hades". Melodic Magazine. Archived from the original on February 26, 2026. Retrieved February 4, 2026.
  19. 1 2 Schube, Will (February 5, 2026). "Melanie Martinez Announces New Album Hades". Flood Magazine. Archived from the original on February 13, 2026. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
  20. ↑ Stickler, Jon (February 26, 2026). "Melanie Martinez Shares New Single Disney Princess". Stereoboard. Archived from the original on February 26, 2026. Retrieved February 27, 2026.
  21. ↑ Martinez, Melanie; Malay (March 27, 2026). "Uncanny Valley". EarOne. Retrieved April 2, 2026.
  22. ↑ "The Vatican". Spotify. May 22, 2026. Retrieved May 19, 2026.
  23. ↑ Cuevas, Gabi (March 13, 2026). "Melanie Martinez Invites You to the Hades Ritual". Melodic Magazine. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
  24. ↑ Today show performaces:
  25. 1 2 "Hades - Cassette". Melanie Martinez Store. Archived from the original on February 5, 2026. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
  26. 1 2 "Hades - CD". Melanie Martinez Store. Archived from the original on February 5, 2026. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
  27. 1 2 "Hades - Victorian Blush Vinyl". Melanie Martinez Store. Archived from the original on February 5, 2026. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
  28. ↑ "Hades - CD + Storybook". Melanie Martinez Store. Archived from the original on February 5, 2026. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
  29. ↑ Cuevas, Gabi (April 17, 2026). "Melanie Martinez tells us to prepare for Hades: The Sacrifice Arena Tour". Melodic Magazine. Retrieved April 20, 2026.
  30. ↑ Stockton, Nick (April 17, 2026). "Melanie Martinez Announces Hades: The Sacrifice Tour for 2026". Vice. Archived from the original on April 17, 2026. Retrieved April 20, 2026.
  31. ↑ Harrison, Scoop (April 16, 2026). "Melanie Martinez Announces 2026 'Hades: The Sacrifice Tour'". Consequence. Archived from the original on April 17, 2026. Retrieved April 20, 2026.
  32. 1 2 3 "Hades by Melanie Martinez Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. April 18, 2026. Retrieved April 19, 2026.
  33. ↑ Collar, Matt. "Hades - Melanie Martinez | Album". AllMusic. Archived from the original on May 4, 2026. Retrieved May 4, 2026.
  34. 1 2 Lopez, Julyssa (March 30, 2026). "Melanie Martinez Raises Hell on Her Dystopian New Album". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on March 30, 2026. Retrieved April 1, 2026.
  35. 1 2 Aswad, Jem (March 27, 2026). "Melanie Martinez Skewers Toxic Masculinity, Online Haters, Climate Change and Lots More on the Intense Yet Accessible Hades: Album Review". Variety. Archived from the original on March 27, 2026. Retrieved March 28, 2026.
  36. ↑ Bozeman, Rae (April 2, 2026). "Melanie Martinez Leans into the Depths of Hades — Album Review". Melodic Magazine. Archived from the original on April 2, 2026. Retrieved April 3, 2026.
  37. ↑ Iasimone, Ashley (March 29, 2026). "Melanie Martinez Fans Choose Melanie Martinez's Hades As This Week's Favorite New Music". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 30, 2026. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
  38. ↑ Rutherford, Kevin (April 9, 2026). "Melanie Martinez Scores Top Rock & Alternative Albums No. 1 with Hades". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 10, 2026. Retrieved April 18, 2026.
  39. ↑ "Hades - Album". Melanie Martinez. Spotify. 2026. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
  40. ↑ Hades (Liner notes). Melanie Martinez. Atlantic Records. March 27, 2026.
  41. ↑ "Australiancharts.com – Melanie Martinez – Hades". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 8, 2026.
  42. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Melanie Martinez – Hades" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved April 4, 2026.
  43. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Melanie Martinez – Hades" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved April 5, 2026.
  44. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Melanie Martinez – Hades" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved April 5, 2026.
  45. ↑ "Melanie Martinez Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 7, 2026.
  46. ↑ "Lista prodaje 13. tjedan 2026" [Sales list week 13, 2026] (in Croatian). HDU. March 29, 2026. Archived from the original on April 17, 2026. Retrieved April 19, 2026.
  47. ↑ "ČNS IFPI – CZ Albums – Top 100 – 14. týden 2026" (in Czech). ČNS IFPI. Retrieved April 7, 2026.
  48. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Melanie Martinez – Hades" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved April 4, 2026.
  49. ↑ "Top Albums (Semaine du 3 avril 2026)". Syndicat national de l'édition phonographique. Retrieved April 7, 2026.
  50. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Melanie Martinez – Hades" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved April 3, 2026.
  51. ↑ "Offizielle Deutsche Charts Top 20 Pop-Charts – 3 April 2026" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved April 7, 2026.
  52. ↑ "Official IFPI Charts Top-100 Albums Sales Chart (Combined) – Εβδομάδα: 16/2026" (in Greek). IFPI Greece. Archived from the original on April 29, 2026. Retrieved April 29, 2026.
  53. ↑ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2026. 14. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved April 8, 2026.
  54. ↑ "Official Irish Albums Chart on 3/4/2026 – Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 4, 2026.
  55. ↑ "Album – Classifica settimanale WK 14 (dal 27.03.2026 al 02.04.2026)" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Archived from the original on April 5, 2026. Retrieved April 4, 2026.
  56. ↑ "2026 14-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. April 3, 2026. Archived from the original on April 5, 2026. Retrieved April 4, 2026.
  57. ↑ "Official Top 40 Albums". Recorded Music NZ. April 3, 2026. Archived from the original on April 5, 2026. Retrieved April 3, 2026.
  58. ↑ "OLiS - oficjalna lista sprzedaży - albumy" (in Polish). OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Note: Change the date to 27.03.2026–02.04.2026 under "zmień zakres od–do:". Retrieved April 9, 2026.
  59. ↑ "Top 200 Álbuns Semana 14 de 2026" (PDF) (in European Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. p. 2. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
  60. ↑ "Official Scottish Albums Chart on 3/4/2026 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 4, 2026.
  61. ↑ "Top 100 Slovak Albums". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved April 7, 2026.
  62. ↑ "Top 100 Álbumes Semanal-semana 14-2026". Productores de Música de España. Retrieved April 7, 2026.
  63. ↑ "Veckolista Album Fysiskt, vecka 14, 2026" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Archived from the original on April 5, 2026. Retrieved April 3, 2026.
  64. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Melanie Martinez – Hades". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 6, 2026.
  65. ↑ "Official Albums Chart on 3/4/2026 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 4, 2026.
  66. ↑ Caulfield, Keith (April 5, 2026). "BTS' 'Arirang' Spends Second Week Atop Billboard 200". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 13, 2026. Retrieved April 7, 2026.
  67. ↑ "Melanie Martinez Chart History: Top Rock & Alternative Albums". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 21, 2026. Retrieved April 7, 2026.
  68. ↑ "Hades - Digital Album". Melanie Martinez Store. Archived from the original on February 5, 2026. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
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