LOS ANGELES — With over 20 million monthly Spotify listeners and a career spanning more than a decade, 5 Seconds of Summer has long solidified its place in the modern rock-pop landscape. So when the Australian band announced their fifth studio album—fittingly titled 5SOS5—fans were more than ready.
Released Sept. 23, 2022, the 19-track album takes listeners on a deeply personal, hour-long journey through themes of love, loss, self-reflection, and growth. Michael Clifford summed up the album’s organic creation process in a conversation with Zane Lowe on Apple Music 1, saying:
“I think this album for us has been the first album that we’ve made without having any kind of [plan] … We didn’t plan to make it.”
Maybe that unstructured approach worked in their favor—because 5SOS5 is one of their most introspective and sonically diverse albums yet, bringing both soaring anthems and intimate ballads to the table.
Opening Strong: “COMPLETE MESS” and “Easy For You To Say”
The album kicks off with the dreamy, immersive “COMPLETE MESS,” a fan-favorite track with over 42 million streams and a lush mix of atmospheric instrumentals and heartfelt lyrics. The track’s layered soundscape and sweeping vocals immediately set the tone for the rest of the record.
Next up, “Easy For You To Say” takes a reflective turn, with poignant references to their hometown of Sydney and lyrics that explore regret, nostalgia, and personal growth. One of the most relatable lines—“A youth that was stolen and filled with mistakes / I turned all around, looked for someone to blame”—captures the universal experience of growing up and coming to terms with the past.
The Emotional Rollercoaster: “Bad Omens” to “Take My Hand”
“Bad Omens” is sonically deceiving—its upbeat tempo contrasts with its melancholic message about unrequited love and being caught in a cycle of watching someone love someone else. The relatability factor? Through the roof.
“Me, Myself, and I” follows, bringing raw honesty about self-imposed isolation. The lyrics delve into the stubborn cycle of independence—not the empowering kind, but the kind where you convince yourself that you are the only person you can rely on, even when that’s not necessarily true.
Then comes the emotional centerpiece of the album: “Take My Hand.” A thank-you note to fans, this song reflects on the band’s 11-year journey and the bond they’ve built with their audience. It’s an underrated gem that, despite being one of the least-streamed songs on 5SOS5, is arguably one of their most meaningful releases to date.
A Sonic Experiment: “CAROUSEL” to “HAZE”
Drummer Ashton Irwin described “CAROUSEL” as having “interesting coloring” within the record, and he’s right—it’s a track that requires multiple listens to fully appreciate. The complex musical layers and unconventional influences make it one of the more experimental tracks on 5SOS5.
On the other hand, “Older” (featuring Sierra Deaton) is immediately stunning. It’s a delicate, emotional ballad about loving someone so much that you can’t imagine life without them. The stripped-back production highlights the depth of its sentiment—a must-listen for anyone who loves soul-stirring love songs.
Then there’s “HAZE”—a track straight out of a coming-of-age movie. With its breezy rhythm, carefree lyrics, and effortlessly cool vibe, it feels like something you’d hear blasting from a car stereo on a late-night drive with friends.
Hits and Misses: “You Don’t Go to Parties” vs. “BLENDER”
While 5SOS5 is a well-assembled record, not every track hits the mark. “You Don’t Go to Parties” struggles to find cohesion between its lyrics and production, making it one of the weaker moments on the album.
However, “BLENDER” makes up for it with a high-energy, electro-pop rush that perfectly balances intensity and emotion. Bassist Calum Hood described it as capturing “the in-betweens of what it is to be in a relationship that can have a negative personal effect on you”—a feeling the song encapsulates flawlessly.
The Underrated Deep Cuts: “Bleach” and “Moodswings”
One of the most unexpected standouts on 5SOS5 is “Bleach”—a soft, melancholic track about loss, though not necessarily in the sense of death. The song’s subdued yet haunting quality makes it one of the album’s most underrated moments.
Similarly, “Moodswings” is shockingly raw, tackling mental health and emotional turbulence in a way that feels personal and deeply reflective. With callbacks to their earlier music, it’s a striking example of how much 5SOS has matured as artists.
Final Act: “Flatline” to “TEARS!”
Despite its grim title, “Flatline” is actually one of the album’s most uplifting tracks, offering a bright, pop-forward declaration of love.
Meanwhile, “Emotions” continues the mental health conversation, with its most powerful lyric—“I’m doin’ my best and I guess that’s the best I can do”—resonating on a deeply human level.
Closing out 5SOS5 is “TEARS!”, a track that disguises its emotionally heavy lyrics in an ironically upbeat production. The bittersweet contrast makes it a striking conclusion to the album’s emotional journey.
Final Thoughts: 5SOS5 Marks a New Era for 5 Seconds of Summer
With 5SOS5, 5 Seconds of Summer delivers their most mature, introspective album yet. Balancing intensely personal themes with genre-blending production, the record feels both deeply reflective and refreshingly new.
While not every track lands perfectly, the depth of storytelling and the sheer range of emotion on display make it one of their strongest projects to date. With an album as dynamic and honest as this, it’s clear that 5SOS isn’t just a pop-punk band anymore—they’re something much bigger.
And if this is the beginning of their next chapter, it’s safe to say: we’re all ready for the ride.