Over a decade into their career, 5 Seconds of Summer return with their sixth studio album, and they’ve never sounded more assured.
EVERYONE’S A STAR! arrives as both a reclamation and a reinvention. The Australian quartet finally owns the boyband label that once felt like a constraint, transforming it into a celebration of everything they’ve become.
This record marks a significant sonic departure. Gone are the days of chasing radio-friendly pop-rock formulas.
Instead, Luke Hemmings, Calum Hood, Ashton Irwin, and Michael Clifford have crafted something genuinely exciting: a 40-minute journey through grunge-tinged pop, shoegaze textures, and punk energy that references everyone from N.E.R.D. to Gorillaz to The Prodigy.
The self-titled opener sets the tone immediately. Hemmings’ vocal range takes centre stage, stretching across hypnotic high notes that give the track an almost unsettling edge.
The song addresses the industry’s grip on young artists with a defiant message: they’re finally free to be their authentic selves. It’s theatrical, confident, and refuses to play it safe.
“NOT OK” explodes with the kind of mature energy that proves their punk roots haven’t disappeared. They’ve just aged like fine wine.
The track creates a possessed, Gorillaz-inspired atmosphere, and the rhythm section hits hard. When Hemmings sings about destructive desire, it lands with the kind of dark humour that feels earned rather than forced.
The album’s middle section demonstrates impressive range. “Telephone Busy” brings playful, industrial-tinged pop to the dance floor, with a backstory that adds to its charm: the track was initially created by Ashton Irwin during a writing camp in Nashville, with Calum Hood later describing the final result as “the most amazing thing I’ve ever heard.”
Meanwhile, “Boyband“ offers the record’s most pointed social commentary. Clocking in at slightly over three minutes, it’s a witty examination of fame and image, complete with a camera shutter opening that immediately signals paparazzi culture.
The band reclaims the term that once diminished them, turning it into an anthem of self-determination.
“No. 1 Obsession” kicks with guitar-heavy momentum that signals a definitive return to their roots. Opening with the vulnerable admission “I know that boys don’t cry, but I got teary eyes,” the track immediately establishes emotional depth.
The punchy chorus and layered backing vocals create something genuinely infectious. The track delivers emotional weight without drowning in sadness.
But EVERYONE’S A STAR! isn’t just swagger and confidence. “Ghost” represents the album’s emotional core.
Co-written with Hemmings’ wife Sierra Deaton, the track strips away the bravado for something genuinely vulnerable. The production feels deliberately sparse, letting the weight of the songwriting breathe.
“I’m Scared I’ll Never Sleep Again” continues this introspective thread. The track recalls early The 1975 material, and it also serves as a standout moment that showcases Calum Hood’s more “pensive and reflective” vocal sensitivity. It’s the kind of deep cut that reveals itself slowly, rewarding repeated listens.
“istillfeelthesame” starts with brooding R&B before transforming into a bombardment of pop-punk guitars.
The collaboration between Clifford and Hemmings’ vocals creates genuine chemistry. Calum Hood has called this one of his personal favorites, describing it as a “modern ballad” that is “kind of dark, but also a little sexy.”
The track slows dramatically in its final moments, creating a melancholic atmosphere that stays with you long after it ends. It’s dark, slightly provocative, and emotionally complex.
The record’s back half maintains momentum without sacrificing substance. “Sick of Myself” delivers a surprising surge of summer energy, using vibrant sonics to counterbalance surprisingly solemn lyrics.
The track successfully captures depth while remaining pure pop candy. It benefits from the perfect partnership between Clifford and Hemmings.
“Evolve” showcases Irwin’s drumming prowess while addressing gender dynamics with unexpected directness.
It’s clever without being preachy, and the production matches the ambition. Irwin is unapologetically himself here, delivering strong drum beats and dreamy vocals over lyrics that don’t hold back.
“The Rocks” examines the darker realities of parasocial relationships and pop stardom. The song captures raw energy that initially terrified the band.
That fear translated into something special, a track that combines emo sensibilities with genuine emotional weight. It’s rhythmic and punky while maintaining sharp lyrical interrogation of fame’s expendable nature.
Closer “Jawbreaker” functions as the perfect bookend, building to a cinematic finish that feels appropriately massive.
The song ties together the album’s themes of reflection and evolution, wrapping the diverse emotional threads with the feel of an epic soundtrack.
Production throughout the record favours texture over polish. The synth work adds layers without overwhelming the core performances. These choices feel intentional, serving the songs’ emotional honesty.
What makes EVERYONE’S A STAR! work is the band’s refusal to compromise. They’ve clearly studied their influences (the Britpop swagger, the industrial pop experimentation, the grunge authenticity) but they’ve filtered everything through their own experiences.
The album also benefits from the time spent on solo projects. Hemmings and Clifford particularly seem rejuvenated, bringing creative energy that suggests parenthood and individual artistic exploration have sharpened rather than dulled their collaborative edge. The chemistry between all four members feels intuitive throughout.
Minor criticisms exist. At times, the genre-hopping can feel slightly disjointed, though the runtime prevents this from becoming a major issue.
EVERYONE’S A STAR! succeeds because 5 Seconds of Summer sound liberated. They’re no longer fighting against the boyband label or trying to prove their legitimacy as musicians.
They’re simply making the music they want to make, on their own terms, with the confidence that comes from surviving the industry machine and emerging with their passion intact.
This is a band that spent their formative years under intense scrutiny, who dealt with the pressures of fame before they’d fully developed as artists.
That they’ve turned those experiences into something this vital speaks to genuine artistic growth. The playful marketing isn’t just stunts.
They’re the band having fun with the absurdity of pop stardom while making some of the most interesting music of their career.
For longtime fans, this album rewards patience. For newcomers, it’s an ideal entry point that showcases everything 5SOS can do when they’re firing on all cylinders.
The upcoming world tour should translate this material brilliantly, these songs would be great as live performances.
EVERYONE’S A STAR! positions 5 Seconds of Summer exactly where they want to be: as masters of their own narrative, creating without constraints, and proving that the best boybands are the ones that refuse to stay in their lane.