Florence + The Machine’s sixth studio album, “Everybody Scream,” released Oct. 31. The record combines lead singer Florence Welch’s raw, commanding vocals with hauntingly intentional lyrics, creating a body of work that feels both deeply personal and universally relevant.
Welch, the voice and visionary behind alternative pop group Florence + The Machine, has long proven her voice as distinctive in modern music. Her discography includes hits like “Dog Days Are Over” and “Cosmic Love.” She has collaborated with artists such as Taylor Swift, The Weekend and Everything Is Recorded, providing her singular gothic touch to some of the most acclaimed projects today.
In an interview with CBS Mornings, Welch opened up about writing the album in 2023 after a near-death experience caused by a ruptured ectopic pregnancy. Following life-saving surgery, she returned to the studio, pouring her recovery into an album inspired by the brutality of womanhood, themes of life and death and the complexities of being a female performer.
The single of the album as well as the first track, "Everybody Scream,” sets the tone of the project with intense instrumentals and slightly eerie shrieks before the lyrics begin. Welch sings “scream my name,” shifting the word “scream” into a reflection of the complex relationship between performer and audience.
In “One of the Greats,” Welch expresses her frustration with sexism in the music industry, delivering one of the record’s most biting lines, "It must be nice to be a man and make boring music just because you can.”
The album highlight for me was “Buckle,” a frustrated ballad that reveals that despite the love she feels from fame, she longs for the love of someone deep in her heart. With tender vulnerability, she sings, “A crowd of thousands came to see me / And you couldn’t reply for three days,” turning a deeply specific moment into something universal. Later, she pleads, “I’m much too old for this / But I’m not over it,” capturing the lingering ache of heartbreak.
Historically, Welch's style is witchy, mythical and gothic, coming through specifically on tracks including “Kraken,” highlighting a persona of herself that is intimidating for anyone to truly understand. She strings this metaphor between the person she is in her personal life and the powerful performer she presents to listeners.
Also, in the track “Drink Deep,” she creates a witchy, dreamlike sound that alludes to themes of self-inflicted pain. Welch references her past with alcoholism, singing, “Yes, it came from me / It was made from me, ah / Still, I drank deep.” It is a powerful insight into the lack of control she felt while struggling with addiction.
As the album nears its end, the second-to-last track, “You Can Have It All,” stands out as one of its most powerful and emotional moments. Welch delivers a painful and deeply personal reflection on pregnancy loss. As her voice trembles, she persists with honest lyrics, such as “A piece of flesh / A million pounds / Am I a woman now?”
The closing track, “And Love,” concludes with the beginning of resolution, a quiet reckoning within Welch. She redefines her chaos and grief as peace, echoing “Peace is coming / And love was not what I thought it was,” as the song slowly fades away.
While “Everybody Scream” may not deliver chart-topping hits, it stands as a dazzling statement of Welch’s artistic mastery and a quiet testament to her grief, as well as a showcase of the band's powerful instrumentals. It is an honest reflection of womanhood that highlights the strength and resilience of Welch’s own personal journey.
