Album Review: 5 Seconds of Summer - '5SOS5'
5 Seconds of Summer uncover new ways to shock us with their dynamic and arresting fifth album ‘5SOS5’.
The Australian Pop-Rock band 5 Seconds of Summer (5SOS) has tugged on Pop music’s heartstrings for over 10 years. Comprising of Luke Hemmings, Calum Hood, Michael Clifford, and Ashton Irwin, the four members grew up together in the music industry, strengthening their friendship as well as their music. 5SOS are the only band in history to have their first three-full length studio albums enter the Billboard 200 at No.1, with their epic hit ‘Youngblood’ joining Spotify’s exclusive Billions Club. Unable to tour following the release of their fourth album ‘CALM’ in March 2020 due to the COVID- 19 pandemic, 5SOS took this as an opportunity to write and for the first time, produce an album almost entirely by themselves. With heavy lyricism and a passion for production, this kicks off a new era for 5SOS.
Lifting us to a higher place is the album’s first single and track ‘Complete Mess’. As the faint chattering of birds and an underwater guitar line nestle into the back of your mind, the breaks in the drums and distorted guitar pull you back into reality. ‘Easy for You to Say’ radiates peace, with swelling synths and Hemmings distant falsetto, it feels ever so nostalgic. Its delicate bridge begins playing a film reel of your cherished memories that you’ll beg for it never end. The third track ‘Bad Omens’ focuses on the ending of a relationship that was already anticipated. Unable to fully comprehend its conclusion, Hemmings desperately sings ‘Going round again, we jump back in bed, that’s what you do when you love somebody’, holding on to the fragments of what is left of the relationship.
Following the belters ‘Me, Myself & I’ and ‘Take My Hand’, is the fast-paced and roller-coaster track ‘CAROUSEL’. Tinkering piano notes fuel the band’s vicious circle, finding themselves struggling to break free from their doubts, which are holding them to the carousel. A change of pace comes in the form of ‘Older’, a heart-warming and heart-breaking piano ballad. A beautiful dedication to each other, the track focuses on the eventual demise of the lovers. The line, ‘It’s not worth it if I lose my one-way ticket for two’, encompasses the meaning of the entire song, with the narrator believing that living isn’t worth it without the other.
An indie repetitive guitar line introduces the dance track ‘HAZE’. Deep muted bass booms underneath, whilst the band sings ‘It’s a hell of a ride loving you’, bringing us along with them. Dark energy emerges from ‘You Don’t Go To Parties’ with Hood taking the lead vocally, as he mourns a person who he thought he knew better. With the pattering drums in ‘Blender’, staying still is impossible. Caught up in ‘an emotional blender’, the toxic relationship begins taking its toll. Bringing us back down from a high is the silky folk-inspired track ‘Caramel’, leading to the charming and summery ‘Best Friends’. A song that recognises the power of relationships and the gratitude for these magical memories, the band don’t ever want to let go of them. A true reflection of the band’s unbreakable bond.
Prepare yourself for the tender and tearful track ‘Bleach’. Following the downfall of a relationship, the band wishes for a clean slate, as their regrets echo and bounce back, hindering them from healing. ‘Red Line’ has a slow, enchanting groove, with an ending reminiscent of Bon Iver as faint voice notes and late-night traffic bring the track to a close. ‘Mood Swings’ and ‘Flatline’ lean more towards a Pop sound with bright acoustic guitar and a fun memorable melody, as ‘Emotions’ take us back to the 2000s indie scene. A tiptoeing bass line takes over in ‘Bloodhound’, with clapping and chanting bringing it all together in the bridge. Ending this epic album is the spacey and demanding track ‘TEARS!’. With the band attempting their escape from their doubts, they scream out ‘I just wanna feel alive’, desperate for freedom.
The growth from their fourth album 'CALM' and '5SOS5' is unbelievable. Poetic lyricism and intricate production go hand in hand, showing the world that 5SOS is thriving and enjoying the high. There are times when everything falls into place perfectly – 5SOS5 is no exception as it’s the album everyone, including the band, has been waiting for.
Words by Amy Mealing
