Written by: Darina Honusova
Australian multi-platinum alt-pop/rock band 5 Seconds of Summer have made their highly anticipated return with their new album Everyone’s A Star! Released on 14th November, 5 Seconds of Summer showcase a newly evolved sound, bigger and bolder than ever, blending sounds from previous eras with fresh takes on mature themes and production. This new album serves as more than just their newest release since 2022; it is an ode to their past selves and fans who have grown up with the band. This album ushers in a new era, characterised by a strikingaesthetic identity paired with a sonically seasoned sound nurtured by 14 remarkable years in the industry.
In 2025, 5 Seconds of Summer reclaimed the boyband title on their own terms, embracing the label with confidence and acceptance. Their growth in musicianship (with all members now embarked on successful solo endeavours), directly aided in their musical exploration of mature themes reflecting their youth in the industry. Themes such as chasing short-term highs, surrender to temptations, and grappling with the pressure of fame at a young age, converge to create a stark narrative on what it means to be in the global spotlight.
The lyricism in ‘Boyband’ reads as a satire on the interpretation of a stereotypical boyband persona, the band’s proximity to One Direction’s iron grip on popular culture in the 2010s bleeds through in this track. As a band whose roots leaned more intorock bands such as Green Day, Blink 182 and Good Charlotte, 5 Seconds of Summer often found themselves in an awkward position when it came to defining their genre and audience. The track ‘Boyband’ explores the contradictory desire to remain in the spotlight while questioning the consequences of such visibility within an artificial environment. Such environments are constructed and sustained by marketing the members as‘imaginary’ boyfriends for a younger female audience. The boyband formula was imposed on the band simply because it works. Record labels actively promote parasocial relationships between the fans and their favourite artists, especially when they are young and impressionable. Through this commodification, the boyband business model thrives at the cost of the band’s agency. The lasting impact of this acclaim echoes through lyrics such as ‘Now I only feel alive if you’re looking at me’, a hauntingly compelling statement that underlines the distortion of an artist’s sense of self when fleeting attention and commercial success become metrics for self-worth.
A new sense of confidence is highlighted through the band leaning towards a hyper-pop sound. Pulling inspiration from artists like Gorillaz and The Prodigy, the band conquers new ground with experimentation with vocal delivery and production. Echoes of previous gritty alt-pop tracks such as ‘Teeth’ and ‘Easier’ are prominent in the general sound of thealbum. This new sound forwardly expresses 5 Seconds of Summer’s musical expertise honed over the years, with rhythm section serving as the sonically defining element that brings the band’s storytelling prowess to life.
5 Seconds of Summer is a band that knows how to play their strengths, evidenced by the return of Jake Sinclair, the co-writer of the number 1 hit ‘She Looks So Perfect’ and another setlist staple from their album Youngblood, ‘Why Won’t You Love Me?’ The quartet show that they understand the importance of balancing old and new avenues in the creative process. Track 11‘The Rocks’ follows a doomed relationship that resembles a force that brings about the downfall of both individuals involved. Anaphoric lyrics ring through, ‘Can’t kick my way up out of the ditch / Can’t kill my mind, it’s started again’,encapsulate the personal stagnancy in the turbulent relationship.The dynamic rhythmic arrangement serves as a vehicle ineffectively portraying the stalemate reached between the two parties.
Consensus among both fans and the band has already emergedregarding favourite tracks from Everyone’s A Star! More specifically, the reception and promotion of certain songs, such as The 1975-esque ‘I’m Scared I’ll Never Sleep Again’, a strong contender for a setlist spot on the next tour. The dreamy and light production paired with vulnerable lyrics perfectly portraysenseless yearning. Calum’s spoken lyrics in the bridge, ‘Pink tears falling tonight / Through the red blush on the other side / I was thinking this would never end / Now I’m screaming through a nightmare’, add a unique air of hopelessness, which is then solidified in the yell-worthy melody in the chorus. Cathartic and infectious, this song is one of their strongest tracks to date.
Another standout track ‘Start Over’ is featured on the Fully Evolved version with the 80s-inspired synth steadily builds tension in the verse which is then taken to a new height by Luke’s vocals in the explosive chorus.
The title track ‘Everyone’s A Star!’ opens with a self-aware narration, immersing the listener in the chaotic and polarisinginstability that comes with A-list level stardom. The track follows a stream of consciousness voiced by a hyperbolic,egocentric persona enacting an archetype of an artist in a state ofuntouchable, euphoric high. Both metaphorical and literal, Hemmings delivers the line with unmatched confidence:‘Someone call a dealer / Feeling like a God,’ perpetuating the caricature of a narcissistic rockstar reminiscent of how the band was portrayed in the momentous issue of Rolling Stonepublished exactly ten years ago. The direct dialogue between their younger and present selves cements this album as their magnum opus.
The Everyone’s A Star! Tour kicks off the European leg in March 2026, with stops at London’s famous O2 and The Co-op Live in Manchester. 5 Seconds of Summer shared that they have meticulously planned every detail of this tour, claiming it differs significantly from The 5SOS Show of 2023. Tickets are available now! This is a tour that is not to be missed.
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