On October 31, 2025, Florence + The Machine released their 6th studio album, Everybody Scream. In doing so they changed their public image for good. It is no secret that Florence + The Machine is known for breaking barriers, original lyrics and melodies, as well as music that definitely marches to its own beat. However, Everybody Scream is a departure even for the London-based indie rock group. I have ranked my personal top 5 songs from the album, and hope that you’ll give this incredible ode to individuality a listen.
5. “Sympathy Magic”
Even though I think “Sympathy Magic” is a fantastically written song, it doesn’t belong higher on my top 5. The theme of finding freedom and being your true self is present throughout the whole song, but unfortunately it doesn’t stack up against other songs on the album. At times, the song loses grasp of your attention in ways that the rest of the album doesn’t, and the lyrics often repeat themselves adding nothing to the nuanced themes the band worked to establish throughout their work.
4. “Buckle”
“Buckle” delves into themes of losing your identity to someone you love, and feeling like it’s too late to find yourself again. The line “keep me a secret, choose someone else” shows how heart-wrenching it can be to not be someone’s first choice, over and over again. The only thing holding “Buckle” back is the relaxed vibes that don’t really match the theme of the song or the album as a whole.
3. “Kraken”
This song is the seventh song on the album and acts as a revival of the themes of rejection and finding yourself present in the album. Coming after other low-key songs, “Kraken” is a revival of the dark-dance-pop theme that the album opens with in “Everybody Scream.” There are multiple music breaks throughout the song that bring back the feeling of freedom that Florence Welch and the rest of the band work so hard to implement throughout their work.
2. “You Can Have It All”
“You Can Have It All” is a power ballad in the realest sense. This song keeps the vibes of Everybody Scream and transforms the feelings of freedom into a reflection on loneliness. Lead singer Florence Welch showcases her strong vocals and innate ability in this song, showcasing the passion and power a person can draw from finding themselves.
1. “Everybody Scream”
There is a reason this song shares the title of the album. The song, “Everybody Scream” is an amalgamation of every song and theme throughout the album. The end of the first verse “Because it’s never enough and she makes me feel loved/I can come here and scream as loud as I want” perfectly exemplifies the feelings of rejection, freedom, and acceptance that Florence Welch wants the audience to feel while listening to this album. I can’t find any faults with this song and find myself hitting “repeat” every time I’m listening to this album.
This album is a violent catharsis realized in its truest form. With multiple versions of the album released since its initial debut on October 31, Everybody Scream has become a global phenomenon with nominations for awards including BRIT’s Record of the Year 2025 and a 2026 BRIT award consideration. Everybody Scream is an original masterpiece and a scream of triumph for Florence + The Machine that deserves a thorough listening.
