Just before kicking off their world tour, 5 Seconds of Summer have dropped the new single, ‘Complete Mess’. Despite being around for just over a decade, the group has managed to keep on shocking fans by continuously changing up their sound and delving into different genres.
Whilst the members have always had influence over the kind of music they created, ‘Complete Mess’ acts as a landmark in signposting the group’s future in having total control over the production of their fifth studio album. The group has mentioned that the new music coming ‘is so authentically us’ with the new era being kicked off by a track that has allowed the band to reconnect with their fans after a long hiatus.
The song begins with a single guitar riff that allows for the introduction of other instruments slowly until the climax of the track occurs on the cusp of the chorus. Even though the track does not use an overly complex instrumental, the repetition of simplistic lyrics “oh, you make me complete / you make me complete / you make me a complete mess” allows the listener to lull with the song.
It is clear that this is a group that has been nurturing its sound for many years, as the dividing up of lyrics has been done to suit the strengths of each members’ vocal performance. The stripped-back approach the single takes permits the layered vocals to carry the rhythm.
‘Complete Mess’ offers a more mature take to pop music than what long-term fans of the group will be used to. Nonetheless, the track allows us to see 5 Seconds of Summer’s full potential both musically and production-wise. This teaser is leaving fans to speculate as to what route the band will take for their next album.
Words by Amy Britton
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