Fourteen years in the industry have never seen the band afraid to try something new. With their first band release since 2022, this album moulds a sound, whilst intrinsically 5SOS, that combines new influences with the confidence of their debut, creating a sonic experience previously unheard from the Australian band.
The release of solo projects from all four band members led to rumblings about breakups and hiatuses, but instead, 5SOS continue to reinvent what it means to be in a band, pulling back the covers on their life in the spotlight. On the album, Luke Hemmings shared, “This record has more of our original spirit, but with 15 years of wisdom and a dash of reckless abandon”
The opening title track, ‘Everyone’s A Star!’, serves as an introduction to the darker tones within the record, driven by gritty synths and brightened by Ashton Irwin’s drumbeats. A clear refrain within the track, “Everyone’s a star” holds weight as a lyric, song and album title, acting as an anchor within this dazzling era.
A trio of released singles follow, ‘NOT OK!’ embracing the world of fame and temptation; “Where did the good boy go? / Killed by desire”; ‘Telephone Busy’, oozing confidence and club-ready basslines; and irony-fuelled ‘Boyband’ taking back the narrative on the label they’ve fought against for over a decade.
Genres collide as high-octane ‘No.1 Obsession’ shows off 5SOS’ musicality. Surrounding an insistent chorus, “Take me to heaven / kill the depression / make me your number one obsession”, the slowed-tempo bridge brings emotive call and response vocals, reminiscent of Twenty One Pilots. This album proves to be their most experimental work to date, with ‘I’m Scared I’ll Never Sleep’ combining a The 1975-esque introspective ballad with spoken-word from bassist Calum Hood marking the halfway point of the album. ‘istillfeelthesame’ follows, carefully complementing animated synths with catchy lyrical hooks.
‘Ghost’ immediately transports listeners to an arena lit up by phone torches. A masterclass in devastating lyricism, “haunted by a similar ghost”, simple textures allow space for Hemming’s soaring vocals, before giving way to a pounding instrumental. ‘Ghost’ will be a standout in any tour setlist. Guitar-driven ‘Sick of Myself’ feels like a more classic response to the pop-punk genre they built their earlier discography around. An 80s-esque disco bassline introduces ‘Evolve’, an unromanticised yet self-reflective confessional of their desires, “I wanna have fun / I wanna get hot / I wanna get drunk”. A cleverly inserted electronic voice recording, discussing girls' brains developing ahead of boys, further elevates the track beyond what could have been a lyrically simple, although incredibly catchy, study on hedonism and fame.
Penultimate track, ‘The Rocks’, returns to a reassuring sonic familiarity of 5SOS’s previous records, with a maturing in musicality, proof of the individual band member’s solo explorations. ‘The Rocks’ is a refreshing ode to the sound 5SOS fans know and love. Optimistic harmonies in ‘Jawbreaker’ close the album, a succinct love song to their “American jawbreaker”.
With ‘Everyone’s A Star!’, 5 Seconds Of Summer have yet again proven their relevancy, avoiding any allegation of creating music centred around nostalgia. By embracing a darker sound and unpacking the gritty reality under the glitz and glamour, this album promises them a place in the spotlight for many years to come.
Maisy Neale
Image: Brian Ziff
If you enjoyed reading this article, please consider buying us a coffee. The money from this pot goes towards the ever-increasing yearly costs of running and hosting the site, and our "Writer Of The Month" cash prize.