5 Seconds of Summer have finally returned with their fifth studio album entitled, 5SOS5. This album not only marks a new era for the band, but they are also showcasing a new sound. It’s also the first time the band has released a record independently since their EP ‘Somewhere New’.
The Australian band consisting of members Luke Hemmings, Michael Clifford, Calum Hood, and Ashton Irwin, could not tour after their previous album because of the pandemic. So they decided to take a group retreat to Joshua Tree, where they cut ties with the old and open themselves to new beginnings. 5SOS took this as an opportunity to write and for the first time, produce an album almost entirely by themselves.
The first single ‘Complete Mess’, perfectly set the tone for the album, showing the growth not only in the bands songwriting but also in their sound. It’s a slower, chilled-out track with 4-part harmonies, synthy guitars, and an infectious melodies. It’s a song that bound to be stuck in your head, and it’s success on the charts proves that. The bands spoke on the single and the direction of their new sound in a recent statement;
“For this record we realized if you want something done that truly represents how you feel, you’ve got to do it yourselves. We wanted that expansive sound that we naturally gravitate towards when we play together, so we had to learn how to record that. This new music is so authentically us. It’s exactly the kind of music we want to be making right now and it’s a good song to be able to reconnect to our fans after such a long time of not releasing music. We can’t wait for everyone to hear what we’ve been working on.”
The great thing about ‘5SOS5’ is the band is both their old selves and their newer mature selves on this album. My favorite song on the album is ‘Caramel’, it’s also a great addition to the record as it highlights just how versatile Luke’s voice is, and just how diverse his range is. With the repeated drum beats and change in speed and rhythm, this is an experimental song about the decline of a romantic relationship.
On the song ‘Best Friends’, 5SOS describe the power of relationships and how we all discover magical memories through them. A true reflection of the band’s unbreakable bond. 5SOS5 is perfectly crafted album, it experiments not only with sound, but with powerful lyricism. It shows us all that 5SOS will never stop striving to be their best selves. This album really is their best work up to date and can only be a promising sign of what’s to come. If you are not a fan of 5 Seconds Of Summer, this album will be sure to make you one.
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