BRUIT. Reviews: 5SOS "EVERYONE'S A STAR!"

"EVERYONE'S A STAR!" Standard Edition Album Art

Everyone’s favourite Australian boyband, 5 Seconds of Summer, released their sixth studio album – informally named 5SOS6 by fans – on 14 November 2025.

The band started their promotional run with one-off shows in the UK and US performing the most popular tracks from the album so far, including the performances of “Telephone Busy,” “No.1 Obsession,” and “Everyone’s a Star!” at Times Square in New York.

5SOS are set to begin their next world tour on 26 March 2026 at the SSE Arena in Belfast, Ireland.

The majority of BRUIT.’s writers follow, or have followed, 5SOS throughout the majority of their careers.

You can imagine this album release is very exciting for us, and we have collaborated on reviewing it, with each writer picking their top songs from the album.

We hope you love it as much as we do!

Listen to “EVERYONE’S A STAR! (Fully Evolved)” here!

– Magda Kanecka, Managing Editor

TRACK 1: Everyone's A Star!

Matias Rilasciati: The opening title track begins with three lines spoken by frontman Luke Hemmings and then immediately switches to an almost eerie electronic base, which is quickly followed by drums and the first verse.

A strong and assertive introduction to the album, this track boldly addresses the dichotomy presented by the desire to stand in the spotlight and the yearning for true, genuine connections.

According to the band, “it’s the best song” out of their sixth studio album, and I cannot help but agree. It has got pace, energy and depth, as well as that buzzy edge that clearly stands out throughout the record. I am over the moon with excitement to hear this song live in concert, and I sincerely hope that the band chooses to open their performance with it. I will definitely be star-struck and starry-eyed!

TRACK 2: NOT OK

BRUIT. reviewed the single upon its original release in September 2025.

Click here to read our writers’ individual thoughts on the single!

TRACK 3: Telephone Busy

Zoë Priscilla: When I heard “Telephone Busy” on the announcement livestream, I knew it was going to be my favourite. It felt like reading my most anticipated book when the song was suddenly released on Spotify and I listened to it at work all the time. 

It was solely the music that pulled me in because I couldn’t even hear the lyrics when I watched the livestream. The instrumentals in the chorus and the bassline are definitely my favourites. 

The highlight of the song for me is the part where Luke sings: “Oh, why? (Oh, why?) / Do you wanna kiss me? / Oh, why? (Oh, why?) Oh, why?” – I even have it written on my CD!

Another part I like a lot is the last part of the first verse: “I pulled that tarot card / That one with the mystic heart / A map of treasures / Good things come to those who wait, okay?” 

I’ve been raving about “Telephone Busy” since its release and will continue to do so until the day I die.

TRACK 4: Boyband

Matias Rilasciati: What happens when you put nostalgia, fun, irony and audacity in a blender and turn it on? Easy, you get a song like "Boyband." The second single was surprise-released on October 16, riding the wave of "NOT OK."

Once again, it focuses on a constant need to stay relevant as an artist. The band reclaims the term “boyband,” often thrown at them in their early days to label them as frivolous. A snarky remark, an audacious and fun take on young fame and the toxic relationship with the spotlight.

This track, alongside its extremely cool Y2K videoclip, is the perfect summary of this 5SOS era, with renewed sound and aesthetic.

I love this tune because I cannot get it out of my head; it is stuck in there in the same way early 2010s songs are: a catchy beat and the irresistible urge to burst into an impromptu choreography.

TRACK 5: No.1 Obsession

Zoë Priscilla: The intro of “No.1 Obsession” has had me in a chokehold from the very first moment I heard it. Like my other favourite songs, it was the immaculate vibes of it that made me stay. 

My personal highlight is the last part in the chorus: “Take me to heaven, kill the depression / Make me your number one obsession,” mainly because of Luke’s perfect delivery of these lines.

In some way, the lyrics feel relatable to me, making it stand out on a personal level.

TRACK 6: I'm Scared I'll Never Sleep Again

Magda Kanecka: This song is my favourite on the album purely for the nostalgic vibes it sets out in its melody and the emotional lyrics reminiscing of a past situation, presumably a relationship. My favourite part musically is definitely the chorus of the song: it is memorable, emotional, and it had me coming back to it from the first listen. 

My favourite line, in terms of its tone and execution, is the way Luke Hemmings sings “I know that New York makes you sick / Too many people in this shit / Streetlights are creeping through my shades / I wanna kiss your ‘90s face” and the way Calum’s toned-down vocals follow suit in the pre-chorus of the track. 

“I’m Scared I’ll Never Sleep Again” is raw and full of emotion, and the inability to sleep because a situation you’re in is bothering you so much is something many listeners will be able to relate to, which makes up for another reason why I adore this song so much. It is a shame this song is one of the shortest ones on the album!

Kay Joseph: Where to begin with a song that deserves an entire essay written about it? Everything just comes together perfectly, but what I’m raving about the most is Calum’s deep vocals. It’s the highlight of the song for me, especially the part after the first chorus: “Pink tears falling tonight / Through the red blush on the other side / I was thinkin' this would never end / Now I'm screamin' through a nightmare.”

The melancholic guitar only adds to the dim atmosphere. The instrumentals are what attracted my attention immediately. The guitar riff gives off a nostalgic feeling mixed with a little sadness, encapsulating what it’s like to reminisce on the past. 

“I’m Scared I’ll Never Sleep Again” is one of the slower songs on the album, but it manages to deliver one of the quickest emotional punches. Raw and vulnerable lyrics, nostalgic instrumentals and heavenly vocals are what will always make me come back to this song.

TRACK 7: istillfeelthesame

Magda Kanecka: This mid-point in the album blends relationship angst with self-deprecation. While the opposing party’s feelings may have changed, Luke Hemmings sings about feeling stuck, wishing to be reassured that the other person still reciprocates his feelings. The song showcases the passage of time in a relationship, feelings changing and feeling stuck throughout it all. 

Michael’s voice on the second verse takes me back to freaking out when first listening to “Jet Black Heart” from “Sounds Good Feels Good” (5SOS2) – and I am ashamed to say that 10 years later, my reaction has barely changed.

TRACK 8: Ghost

Kay Joseph: On the first listen, this song immediately captured my heart. If there’s something in music I love more than my favourite artists, it is deeply personal and relatable lyrics and “Ghost” delivers that like no song on this album (though maybe “I’m Scared I’ll Never Sleep Again” can get close). 

“Ghost” is a very personal song that describes the ways personal struggles and trauma can mirror across relationships and how confronting them can be to recognise yourself in others. That is exactly why – after I’ve listened to the album a hundred times already – it is my favourite by a mile. 

My favourite part is the self-reflective and introspective bridge, and a lot of it is how Luke delivers his lines; it is clear that the bridge is fueled by fear, anxiety and insecurity, which makes it a deeply relatable part to me.

He sings: “I don't want to go to sleep / 'Cause I'm afraid of what I'll see / I can't look you in the eyes / 'Cause I'm afraid it looks like me.” The way the lyrics build up to the instrumental break – as if the emotions get even more intense – is just beautiful. You’re really invited to sit with the emotional weight of the song. So, if I ever hear this live, I will probably bawl my eyes out, and I’m perfectly okay with that. 

TRACK 9: Sick of Myself

Kay Joseph: “Sick of Myself” is a high-tempo song about self-loathing and emotional vulnerability. It carries a similar emotional weight to that of “Ghost,” but with a different delivery.

Although the song definitely deserves to be longer, it manages to deliver on the feeling of being trapped in who you are in under two and a half minutes. Nonetheless, it’s a song that – as someone struggling with their own identity – speaks to me.

Luke’s raw vocals and the indie-pop-like instrumentals complement each other well and are able to capture that trapped feeling and self-loathing, and the frustrations that are paired with it. Through songs like this, it becomes very evident how far 5SOS has come in terms of songwriting and production choices.

TRACK 10: Evolve

Zoë Priscilla: “Evolve” has become one of my favourites since its release. I’ve heard the song at the London listening party, and I was already very intrigued, but when I looked up what the song was about, it truly hooked me; the song describes how women mature faster than men and the tension between youthfulness and responsibility.

My favourite part of the song is the pre-chorus, which perfectly encapsulates for me how a boy is in love with a more mature woman. “But I wanna have fun / I wanna get high / I wanna get drunk

(When you gonna grow up?) / I wanna do drugs / I wanna make love / I wanna get fucked.”

The funky synth and playful feel give the song a catchy, feel-good moment on an album full of introspection and self-reflection that I will always come back to.

TRACK 11: The Rocks

Magda Kanecka: For fans of 5SOS’ previous tracks such as “Castaway,” “Over and Out,” or “Meet You There,” I can guarantee this song will top your lists.

This track is way deeper in its lyrics than it is in its execution, describing the intensity of not being able to shut off your thoughts and not being able to isolate yourself from the negative thoughts in your head, similarly to other tracks on this album. 

On this rhythmic track full of upbeat guitar rhythms and intense drumming from Ashton Irwin, frontman Luke Hemmings sings “I can tell you’re lost / I can see you’re reeling / Drowning in a flood of a thousand feelings / I’ll tell you I’m lost, in the world I know / Throw myself onto the rocks to make you feel less alone, less alone, less alone.” While these lyrics describe patterns of clearly self-sabotaging feelings, the execution of the song is not reflective of this negativity: it’s powerful, rhythmic and will definitely sound excellent live.

TRACK 12: Jawbreaker

Magda Kanecka: The drums from Ashton Irwin at the start of the song open this track on an upbeat note, though the majority of the song (vocals and guitars alike) linger more mellow than other releases on the tracklist. 

Touching on themes such as infatuation, risk-taking, it is a shame that this song is just about two minutes long – I think it makes a great closing track and has the potential for a heavier bridge. Jawbreakers remind me of the thick candy that was so annoying and took so long to eat in my childhood years – I was happy this song contrasted the view I had of them. 

EVOLVED EDITION: Start Over

Kay Joseph: Kicking the Evolved Edition off with an absolutely heart-wrecking, angsty song like “Start Over” is a perfect summary of what this album is about.

It is a song about embracing love, despite its imperfections and fears. No matter what type of love, romantic, platonic or familial. 

Luke manages to deliver another emotional performance, and as I’ve experienced with every song on this album, the members have amazing background vocals. Calum’s spoken bridge is so well done and is as captivating as the spoken parts he did in “I’m Scared I’ll Never Sleep Again.”

It’s a song that is a lot softer than some of the other tracks on the deluxe version, but it fits the versatility of the entire album perfectly, and I’m glad it’s included in the bonus tracks. 

EVOLVED EDITION: Wishful Dreaming

Kay Joseph: Like many songs on this album, it was love at first listen with “Wishful Dreaming.”

I knew from the first second that this would become one of my favourites. There’s really a sense of nostalgia for me listening to this, and I’m still unable to explain why. Next to being a sucker for deeply emotional lyrics that make me cry, I also love roaring guitars and powerful songs. 

“Wishful Dreaming” describes being lost in a romantic relationship and is a commentary on romantic disillusionment, which is the feeling of disappointment when one realises that their partner and the relationship aren’t as perfect as they once imagined: “Romantic disillusion /

We run for paradise / Slip back and do the motions.” 

My favourite part is the chorus because of the repeated background vocals. The “I wanna let go” after every line just drives the point home very neatly. 

I wish this song were part of the main tracklist because it fits the sonic landscape of the main album just so perfectly. Please, 5SOS, play this live.  

Magda Kanecka: I remember exactly where I was and what I was doing when I first listened to “Wishful Dreaming.” 

While the track opens with acoustic guitars and toned-down vocals (that maintain the same level of emotion that Luke Hemmings excels at), it rapidly picks up with bass riffs from Calum Hood. The chorus draws you in, and finally, Michael Clifford’s vocals around the 1:30 minute mark – the highlight of the song for me. The song overall sounds (no pun intended) very dreamy and tranquil, though the chorus picks up its pace. The production is careful in maintaining a sentimental feel all the way throughout the song, and the repeated background vocals containing the line “I wanna let go” at the end of each chorus perfectly encapsulate what it’s like to listen to “Wishful Dreaming.” 

Not to repeat Kay, but this is a very steady track that I wish were a part of the main tracklist – I am hoping to see a live performance of it someday, though I imagine it would require some guitar changes during the set!

EVOLVED EDITION: Chest

Matias Rilasciati: Ashton’s track on the album’s evolved edition, "Chest," is (to no one’s surprise) heavy on drums and percussion.

With Calum on main vocals, this fervent declaration of love faultlessly captures devotion, following a spark that reignited unexpected feelings. Lyrically speaking, the song is powerful and direct: “Yeah, I found my heart inside your chest / I thought the love inside was dead, dead, dead,” and the production style will definitely ring a bell or two if you are familiar with the drummer’s solo work.

"Chest" is straightforward and honest, so to embrace that same honesty, I have to admit I have a soft spot for Calum’s voice, which really gets to shine through in this one: the main reason why, out of the Evolved songs, "Chest" has to win the title of personal favourite.

EVOLVED EDITION: I'll Find You

Magda Kanecka: The beginning of the last Evolved Edition track reminds me of the interludes 5SOS did during some of the earlier tracks in their discography. 

"I'll Find You" is a generally slower song, tuning it down and contrasting the rest of the tracklist. Both the vocals and the background production are consistent throughout, giving the song a nostalgic feel.

As the vocals fade out towards the end and close the album for good this time, I cannot help but wonder whether we’ll ever get an acoustic version of “I’ll Find You.”