5 Seconds of Summer have officially dropped their new album, CALM, and it’s safe to say the one thing their fans are not right now is that emotion.
After much anticipation following the release of Youngblood, the group had teased their “5SOS Fam” with countless singles; many of which topped the charts. This, of course, included the release of “Easier” and “Teeth.” Those singles, amongst others, were shared amongst an extended period of time and gave fans a preview of what the album’s sound was leaning towards.
The band, consisting of Luke Hemmings, Ashton Irwin, Calum Hood and Michael Clifford, have continued to show off a more mature sound on this new project. The evolution of their music has undeniably portrayed the changes they have experienced growing up which are similar, but also much different, compared to the average teenager transitioning into an adult. The struggles of being in complicated relationships, experiencing growing pains and nostalgia appear to be common themes surrounding many of the tracks. This continues to show that when you strip away the fame, the members of 5 Seconds Of Summer are still the same boys next door and as humble as ever.
CALM allows listeners to experience a new and more vulnerable side of the group that we have only heard bits of before. Their emotions shine through on several tracks, such as ‘High,’ and provide fans with a more in-depth understanding of the interpersonal conflicts that surround and consume some of their thoughts at night or when things seem to get quiet. Their shift away from teenage angst and towards more unguarded territory is something that definitely does not go unnoticed even after only one full listen.
In addition to the group’s growth lyrically, their sound has also intensely matured sonically. As the album opens up with the track ‘Red Desert,’ intricate and unique guitar work immediately takes the center of attention for those listening. This is, of course, in addition to the powerful and beautifully mastered and vocals. The opening of the album prepares fans for a new 5SOS experience with sounds and messages they have yet to experience from the group beforehand. Each track portrays a new sound that still effortlessly connects with the album and all of the tracks as a whole. It seems as though all of the fan’s favorite parts of the group have been focused on and emphasized heavily throughout CALM.
Between the addictive basslines, headbanging beats and catchy vocals, this project appears to seemingly have become a fan-favorite overnight. The more refined and complicated musical arrangements are also a testament to just how much the group has matured and grown over the past six years or so. For those who have been around for the whole ride, this album will continue to do what the other 5SOS albums have done in the past: grow, evolve and mature at the same time as those listening. For that reason, CALM iconically fits in with the rest of 5 Seconds of Summers’ discography.