STACK #253 November 2025

MUSIC FEATURE

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Florence +The Machine’s sixth album is a screaming success. SCREAM QUEEN

Florence +The Machine

T hey were dark days. During the 2023 Dance Fever tour, Florence + The Machine singer Florence Welch found herself in hospital, having emergency surgery. “It saved my life,” she explained, adding that it was “for reasons I don’t really feel strong enough to go into yet”.

After a time of healing, Florence has delivered a life affirming album. It’s called Everybody Scream , which she says is a “celebratory scream”. Appropriately, the record’s release coincided with Halloween. The artist was eager to put the album out into the world. “This time I challenged myself to not delay a record,” she smiles. “I was like, ‘Just move through the fear and put it out.’” Florence teased the release with a series of social media posts, including ones that said: “you can have it all”, “clarity = power”, and “Swans vs Adele”. And then there was a video of the 39-year-old

singer digging a hole and screaming into it. The album covers themes such as witchcraft, folk horror, mysticism, magic, poetry, and insanity. “I think this is my most personal record to date,” Florence says, “which has also made it in some ways my most mythological.” Yep, this record goes deep. Jeff Jenkins

THE NAME GAME

When they started out, they were Florence Robot Is a

Everybody Scream by Florence + The Machine is out now via Universal

Machine, but Florence knew that name wouldn’t fly, so she shortened it to Florence + The Machine, which was inspired by her friend and bandmate’s nickname – Isabella “Machine” Summers.

CHART FACT

Florence + The Machine have had five Top 5 albums in Australia, including two chart-toppers – 2011’s Ceremonials and 2015’s How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful.

HOT COLLABS

As well as her own music, Florence Welch has turned up on Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department , singing on Florida!!! , as well as on The Weeknd’s Reflection’s Laughing on this year’s Hurry Up Tomorrow album.

STAR TRACKS

I t’s been a big year for 5 Seconds of Summer. Calum Hood released his debut solo album, ORDER Chaos ORDER in June, which hit number one. And then Michael Clifford delivered his first solo album, Sidequest . Every member of the group has now issued a solo album. But fear not, 5SOS fans, solo success does not spell the end of the band. A new Instagram page mysteriously appeared earlier this year, curiously called @thediaryofsix. It simply said, “your favourite boy band is back”. 5SOS – Luke Hemmings, Michael Clifford, Calum Hood and Ashton Irwin – have reunited for their sixth album, Everyone’s a Star! And as they sing in one After some solo adventures, 5SOS have put the band back together.

After 2022’s 5SOS5 , the Aussie group switched labels, signing with Republic Records. The US label says

5 Seconds of Summer

the new album is “5SOS 2.0”, calling this the band’s “most ambitious era yet”.

Photo credit: Brian Ziff

CHART FACT

The album was preceded by the single NOT OK , which saw the band go deeper and darker than ever before. “It’s about letting out the darker side of yourself and embracing it,” Luke Hemmings explained. Yep, 5SOS are back. And Everyone’s a Star! Jeff Jenkins 5SOS teased the album with a video featuring an array of quotes: Wait… they’re still a band?” – Luke Hemmings Remember when they were pop punk?” I swear this album was made by a different band” – Michael Clifford Music that will change nothing… & everything.” The only record worth listening to in 2025.”

5SOS are a global

phenomenon. As well as five chart-topping albums in Australia, they have had three number one albums in the US and UK.

of the new songs, No. 1 Obsession : “Kill the

depression, make me your number one obsession.” The album also includes a song called Boyband , where they highlight the absurdity of four blokes all around the age of 30 being called a boy band.

Everyone’s

a Star! by 5SoS is out Nov 14 via Universal

Now with 100% more ego.” 5SOS Forever!!!!” – Calum Hood

48 NOVEMBER 2025

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