Florence + the Machine’s ’Everybody Scream’ Declares Continued Reign, Addresses Past Criticism
Florence + the Machine’s latest album, Everybody Scream, released September 27, 2025, arrives as a confident statement from an artist who has navigated a decade and a half in the music industry, directly confronting past critiques while delivering the signature theatricality fans expect. the album showcases a dynamic range, balancing the band’s renowned expansive sound with moments of surprising intimacy.
The record notably addresses criticisms leveled at Florence Welch‘s performance style, notably accusations of excessive theatricality. Welch responds with a pointed lyricism, asserting her place amongst musical greats: “I’ll be up there with the men and the 10 other women in the hundred greatest records of all time / It must be nice to be a man and make boring music just because you can.” this retort,delivered with “smart,spiky humour,” acknowledges the debate surrounding her artistic choices.
Everybody Scream doesn’t shy away from the bombast that initially propelled Florence + the Machine to success. Tracks like “Drink Deep” and “You Can Have It All” feature Welch’s “ululating vocals” and “pounding drums,” complete with “discordant A Day in the Life strings.” However, the album distinguishes itself through a deliberate exploration of quieter moments. Songs like “Music by Men” strip back the instrumentation, highlighting Welch’s “undoubted melodic facility” with a simple arrangement of acoustic guitar and piano. this contrast enhances the impact of the album’s more dramatic crescendos.
The album continues to experiment with sonic textures, as evidenced in tracks like “Witch Dance” and ”Sympathy Magic,” which blend elements of the band’s debut album Lungs with contemporary rave influences. These are then juxtaposed with the relative simplicity of “Perfume and Milk” and “Buckle.”
Welch’s lyrics on “Kraken” – ”All of my peers they had such potential … I kissed them goodbye and let them drown” – suggest a reflection on her enduring success compared to contemporaries from her 2008 breakthrough. Everybody Scream ultimately presents a musically and emotionally mature work, solidifying Florence + the Machine’s position as a meaningful force in contemporary music.
