Florence and the Machine makes “Everybody Scream"

On Oct 31, 2025, Florence and the Machine released their sixth studio album, “Everybody Scream.” This album follows the traumatic experience of lead vocalist Florence Welch, who, in 2023, experienced a miscarriage during one of her shows. She later learned it was an ectopic pregnancy and underwent emergency surgery to remove her fallopian tube. This album delves into her feelings about this experience and this time in her life. Florence Welch’s siren-like voice pairs with dynamic instrumentation to create a sound bursting with rage, with sorrow, and with life.

The album begins with the title track “Everybody Scream,” starting slow and whimsical, then suddenly dropping into a sinister, grounded rock sound. The song describes an almost ritualistic relationship between a performer and their fans, exploring the constant give and take, and the masks you are forced to wear to maintain this relationship. Similar to “Everybody Scream,” “One of the Greats” discusses what it means to be a successful female artist, tying in her mortality and relating her resilience to resurrection. She discusses the pressure placed on artists to be “perfect” or “right.” Florence’s nontraditional cadence throughout the song makes for an unpredictable yet introspective listening experience.

The next song, “Witch Dance,” describes an intimate relationship Florence forms with death, with an energetic baseline and an eerie background chorus. “Sympathy Magic” is a song with a bittersweet tone, discussing the trauma of her miscarriage, but also serving as an anthem of persistence with a steady, grounding drum. The titular line “sympathy magic” serves as her way to connect with others, those who may have also experienced the same kind of loss. “Perfume and Milk” describes the feeling of the world moving on as you feel rooted in feelings of grief. This song has a slower, more somber tone, conveying the idea that healing isn’t linear. This tone is somewhat contrasted in “Buckle”, where Florence explores feelings of love and security.

“Kraken” begins smaller, quieter, then builds into an explosive chorus with powerful vocals and instrumentation. This song describes how she has had to transform herself to succeed, as well as her personal growth throughout her career. Like “Kraken,” “The Old Religion” has a slow build as Florence talks about her search for whimsy, for escape, as she deals with her feelings of powerlessness. “Drink Deep” is a story about her draining relationship with touring told as a folktale, featuring beating drums and a haunting background chorus. “Music by Men” differs from most of the album as a stripped-down, acoustic piece that reflects on her difficulty in forming and maintaining healthy romantic relationships.

“You Can Have It All” is a fiery rock ballad with Florence’s vocals embodying her rage. She discusses the expectation of family placed on women, and her frustrated, complicated feelings about that after her miscarriage. “And Love” ties the whole album together in a beautiful, whimsical, slow song about coming to terms with her feelings and finding peace.

“Everybody Scream” is a beautiful, haunting album about the tragedy of loss with incredible sound, lyrics, and vocals. Producers Aaron Dessner and Mark Bowen, and Florence Welch came together to create a raw, emotional, and thoughtful listening experience with a unique, poignant sound.