If you’ve clicked on this article, I’m going to assume that you are one of two types of people: you either think I’m rage-baiting you or you’re in complete agreement. If you’re the former, hear me out. If you’re the latter- hey, we were probably friends on Twitter back in 2011.

I was first introduced to 5 Seconds of Summer that same year, when they uploaded their cover of “Teenage Dirtbag” and Twitter completely lost it. This was peak One Direction infection era, so for a group of four teenage Aussies with deep V-necks, an acoustic guitar and a cajon to break through the noise, they had to have something special, and they did. Their (very rough, in hindsight) harmonies hit me like lightning. I was hooked, and the rest, as they say, is history.

But here’s the thing about 5 Seconds of Summer – this isn’t just nostalgia talking. I’m twenty-eight now, a mum of two, far from the fourteen-year-old who stayed up watching grainy YouTube covers on a cracked iPhone screen. And yet, one thing remains: I love 5 Seconds of Summer. Not because I’m stuck in the past and can’t move on, but because their music truly is just that good. Their growth, musicianship and ability to reinvent themselves and constantly explore new sonic territories will make them one of the greatest Australian bands of all time.

Their 2014 self-titled debut was a cultural reset for Australian pop music. It introduced me and countless other young people to the world of pop-punk (though let’s be honest, it was far from being a pop-punk record). It had heart, and it was fun. Songs like “She Looks So Perfect” and “Amnesia” might have been overplayed, but I bet every single one of you reading this is now singing about American Apparel underwear in your heads. Listening back, it’s absolutely not their most refined work, but it had that spark. That’s the magic of 5SOS- every record since has outgrown the last, evolving with their listeners.

Then came Sounds Good Feels Good in 2015, an ambitious step into something grander. While it leaned heavier on their pop roots, it carried a new emotional weight. 2018’s Youngblood was the turning point- the record that demanded the world take them seriously. Suddenly, 5SOS weren’t just that band who opened for One Direction (this is a peak memory for me, by the way), they were global chart-toppers in their own right.

Calm entered the world in 2020, and what a leap this was. When “Easier dropped”, I remember hearing that distorted bassline for the first time and realising this wasn’t “Heartbreak Girl” 5SOS anymore. This was something darker, bolder- almost industrial. The whole album felt like a metamorphosis. 2022’s 5SOS5 deserves far more recognition than it got. It’s arguably their most introspective and emotionally cohesive record to date- mature without losing its playfulness, grounded yet experimental. It was reflective and warm —a full-circle moment for a band that had spent a decade proving its worth.

Fast forward to 2025, and now each member has put out at least one full-length solo album, with Michael Clifford’s Sidequest and Calum Hood’s ORDERchaosORDER both debuting earlier this year. This era had fans a little worried, questioning the future of 5SOS as each member discovered their own unique sound, but the band assured their listeners that they weren’t going anywhere anytime soon.

Which brings me to today. As I’m writing this, we’re just days out from the release of their sixth studio album, EVERYONE’S A STAR!, and this is by far their most ambitious record to date. I’m not sure where the months between the album announcement and its release went, but somehow we’re here and bursting with anticipation.

When I first pressed play on this album, it was immediately clear that 5SOS had levelled up their sound once again, somehow outdoing the last record even more than I’d ever thought possible. It’s not just an improvement on their sound, but a different sound entirely, and one that works in their favour.

The album kicks off with the titular track, “Everyone’s A Star!”, followed by the lead singles “NOT OK”, “boyband”, and “Telephone Busy” – all of which have left fans dying for more. “No. 1 Obsession” follows, and together these five tracks form almost a concept album in their own right. A commentary on fame and reclaiming the title of ‘boyband’ that they once pushed away, these collective tracks feel very self-aware. Sonically, they’re leaning into a Gorillaz-inspired sound, and I am so here for it. Each track is upbeat, high-energy, and danceable yet deep.

Then we get “I’m Scared I’ll Never Sleep”, and this is where things shift slightly. Though slightly more restrained, this is a beautiful song and a personal highlight. A standout moment in this track is Hood’s spoken-word between the pre-chorus and chorus, where his once long-lost Australian accent really shines through. “istillfeelthesame” follows, carrying a similar vibe. Across all the tracks on the record, we get to hear each member lend their vocals, something that was only occasionally present on previous records. It feels more like a cohesive collaboration, each bringing to the table elements of their solo work.

“Ghost” slows things down further, a devastatingly beautiful track that I have no doubt will send fans into a frenzy. “Sick of Myself” picks the pace back up slightly and is a witty, self-deprecating track that features a melody that will instantly get stuck in your head.

“Evolve” is sure to be a fan-favourite. It’s anthemic, edgy, and so much fun, capturing the vibe of the first half of the record. It’s about growing up, wanting to have fun, and making mistakes, and I know this is going to be taken to a whole new level in a live setting. “Rocks” and “Jawbreaker” close out the record, both maintaining the momentum as catchy rock tracks and concluding the record on a perfect note.

Having such a strong focus on promotion within Australia has made 5 Seconds of Summer feel more connected to their roots than ever, which has added to the allure and anticipation for EVERYONE’S A STAR! – we’re getting hilarious interviews, alter egos, fake fan press conferences, and grand limousine entrances. It’s chaotic, fun and unapologetically 5 Seconds of Summer.

Okay, so maybe I’m biased because I’m in a little too deep, but I say this with complete confidence: EVERYONE’S A STAR! is the best pop record of 2025, and 5 Seconds of Summer are one of the greatest Australian bands of all time. Their ability to mature as artists and level up with each new release is unmatched, and their confidence in exploring new sonic territories and venturing into the unpredictable is refreshing.

5 Seconds of Summer have given me the ultimate life soundtrack so far- from buying their EP on Twitter when I was 14, to pre-ordering their debut album at Sanity and graduating high school to Sounds Good Feels Good. Youngblood came out when I was newlywed, Calm was me driving my newborn twins around peak-COVID to get them to sleep, and 5SOS5 gave me dance parties in the living room with my kids. It might sound silly to some, but getting to truly to grow up with a band and evolve as they do has been a really special experience.

Whether you’re crashing out as hard as I am right now, or you’re skeptical about liking anything from a self-proclaimed boyband, give this record a chance, you won’t regret it. EVERYONE’S A STAR! is out now – go give it some of love wherever you stream. You can also catch 5 Seconds Of Summer on their EVERYONE’S A STAR! world tour in 2026- for more info and tickets click HERE.


FIVE STARS (OUT OF FIVE)