8/10
Florence + the Machine’s sixth studio album, Everybody Scream, is emotionally intense. Florence Welch and company return after their hiatus following 2022’s Dance Fever. Featuring powerful belts, guttural screams, and vulnerable lyricism, Everybody Scream introduces new witch-inspired sounds that explore grief while connecting to a sense of internal power. The album incorporates work from co-writers Aaron Dessner, Mark Bowen, and Mitski to create a unique and compelling sound.
As the record weaves through frustration with the music industry, struggles with self-image, romantic tension, and the process of healing from trauma, Everybody Scream presents an unique kind of emotional vulnerability.
The opening track, “Everybody Scream,” written about Welch’s ectopic pregnancy and miscarriage while on tour in 2023, is both devastating and cathartic. Beginning with an eerie hum that builds into a screaming, rock-inspired intensity, the song channels the paradox of performing while in pain. “But look at me run myself ragged / Blood on the stage,” Welch sings. The background screams layered throughout capture her anger and exhaustion, creating an emotional purge that feels familiar for listeners who have ever hidden grief behind performance. The track’s pulsing beat and impressive chorus make it feel both chaotic and cleansing.
“You Can Have It All” communicates similar emotions surrounding her miscarriage. Sonically, the song contrasts its intense chorus with slower, reflective verses, mirroring the process of attempting to heal from grief. “I used to think I knew what sadness was / I was wrong,” Welch sings, conveying sorrow while hinting at the beginning of healing—showcasing the same emotional transparency that defines the rest of the album.
In “One of the Greats,” Welch explores the challenges faced by women in the music industry, comparing her own experiences to those of male artists. “It must be nice to be a man and make boring music just because you can,” Welch sings. The gritty guitar and drums lend the track a defiant edge as she points out the double standards women face in creative industries. “It’s funny how men don’t find power very sexy,” Welch sings.
“Witch Dance” and “Kraken” are both powerful and mystical, utilizing a heavy connection to nature and the supernatural. Both songs are narratives, following the process of dealing with grief through pulling on ritualistic elements and incorporating significant descriptive imagery. “And it tastes like life, I twist, I bite / The foxes chatter in the night,” Welch sings. “Witch Dance” continues on Welch’s journey of healing and self perception. “After all, there’s nobody more monstrous than me,” she sings.
“Drink Deep” shares a similar sound to “Witch Dance,” opening with angelic, ethereal vocals that set a haunting tone. Backed by a strong base and slower tempo, the song delves into themes of self deprecation and overwork. Welch symbolizes alcoholism to illustrate the toxic cycles of exhaustion perpetuated by the music industry, portraying how devotion to art can transform into self-destruction. “And the cup that they brought up to my lips / I realised I drank of myself,” she sings.
The following track, “Perfume and Milk” continues on the album’s journey toward self acceptance, representing the feeling of learning to accept change and grief. Through delicate, nature-inspired imagery, Welch compares her feelings to natural cycles—loss giving way to renewal. She acknowledges her pain and frustration while beginning to accept change.
The songs “Buckle” and “Music by Men” take a different approach, focusing on romantic tension and a struggle to maintain healthy connections and relationships. “Buckle” journeys through the acceptance of conditional love and affection, while “Music by Men” focuses more on the difficulties that come with maintaining a real relationship. She struggles through learning to compromise and adjust throughout the song, acknowledging the effort required to make a real relationship work.
The album ends on a more hopeful note with “And Love.” Welch describes the feeling of finding real love and peace, finally ending the tension and grief featured throughout so much of the album. Accompanied by piano and harp, Welch finds peace and fulfillment, bringing resolution to the grief and chaos threaded throughout the album.
Everybody Scream pulls listeners through the emotional journey of mourning and renewal. The intense emotional vulnerability and lyricism throughout the tracks make it an immersive experience—one that resonates deeply with anyone familiar with loss and the long, uneven process of healing.
