We’ve seen it before: the quiet one in the band finally drops a solo album, and it turns out they were sitting on gold all along. That’s exactly what happens with ORDER chaos ORDER, Calum Hood’s introspective and surprisingly expansive debut solo record.
Having been the underrated backbone of 5 Seconds of Summer, often behind the basslines and the harmonies rather than front and centre, Calum’s first solo outing feels like a long-overdue spotlight moment. And as someone who’s followed the band since they opened for One Direction (yes, really), this release feels personal. It’s not just a side project, it’s a statement.
ORDER chaos ORDER 2025: A Sonic Journey Through Love and Loss
Released on 13 June 2025 via EMI Music Australia, ORDER chaos ORDER marks a bold new chapter for Calum Hood. It kicks off with three carefully curated singles: “Don’t Forget You Love Me,” “Call Me When You Know Better,” and “Sunsetter.” Each teased the emotional complexity and sonic mood of the album, a blend of nostalgic indie-pop, ambient synth layers, and glimmers of shoegaze-y haze.
But the album is more than just a collection of sad bangers. It’s a narrative, one that swerves between heartbreak, self-reflection, and the fragile hope of moving on. Structurally, it feels like a diary in musical form, where each song is a page scribbled in at 2am.
Track Highlights (For First-Time Listeners)
If you’re diving in for the first time, here are a few standout tracks from ORDER chaos ORDER, each showing off a different side of Calum’s artistry:
- “Endless Ways” – A fizzy, upbeat synth-pop moment that radiates emotional growth and lightness. A personal favourite.
- “Don’t Forget You Love Me” – Dark lyrics dressed in sunny, post-punk pop tones; a stunning album opener.
- “Sweetdreams” – Dreamlike and disorienting, like nostalgia caught in a car crash.
- “All My Affection” – Intimate and stripped-back, with lyrics that bleed vulnerability.
- “Three of Swords” – A soft closer with a shoegaze-tinged ache; lingers long after it ends.
“Endless Ways” – My Standout Track
If there’s one track that had me rewinding immediately, it’s track 7: “Endless Ways.” It opens with optimistic, poppy synths and swells into a shimmering indie-pop moment. Lyrically, it dives into how relationships reflect who we are — the good, the messy, the raw.
It’s the kind of song that feels like the emotional high point of the album — the perfect balance between introspection and energy. And it subtly nods to the kind of sonic direction that Hood might explore further: upbeat but never shallow, dreamy without floating away.
Calum’s Voice, Front and Centre
One of the biggest surprises? Just how strong Calum sounds as a lead vocalist. We didn’t get enough of that in 5SOS, where his moments were often brief but memorable. On ORDER chaos ORDER, his voice carries the emotional weight of the entire project — from flat-toned sorrow to soft crooning and urgent pleas.
Tracks like “Sunsetter” and “Streetwise” shimmer with indie-pop confidence, while the late-album ballads show how much range he’s been keeping tucked away all these years.
ORDER chaos ORDER is a deeply personal debut, a record that doesn’t try to please everyone, and that’s exactly why it works. Calum Hood’s solo era doesn’t erase his 5SOS roots; it builds on them with sincerity, subtlety, and self-awareness.
Whether you’re a longtime 5SOS fan or just discovering Calum as a solo artist, this album proves he’s more than capable of crafting a sound that’s entirely his own, thoughtful, honest, and sonically rich.
★★★★☆
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