One Direction fans around the world were rejoicing on Friday as the band dropped its new album after the loss of key member Zayn Malik.

“Made In The A.M.” is the popular boy band’s fifth studio album, and the first album without Malik, who left in March.

This will also be the last album before One Direction’s extended 2016 hiatus. Despite the hiatus, the band insists that the group is not breaking up.

The band is a completely different group of men than what it was when the members formed in 2010.

They have released one album a year, gone on four massive world tours and dealt with the absence of a founding member.

This is obvious in One Direction’s lyrics, now that members are beginning to write their own songs.

Although they still seem innocent enough for a younger audience, older fans can understand the deeper meanings behind them.

The first track, “Hey Angel,” is rightfully first because it sets the mood and sound for the rest of the album; upbeat, but not obnoxious.

There is a pleasant balance between fast, dancing beats and slower, but still strong beats, which is something the band has struggled with.

“End of the Day” is one of the strongest songs on the record, folky in a fantastic boy band way.

“Never Enough” is as close to old One Direction that we have gotten in a while, but it adds a whole other dimension to the group’s music.

There is a lot of experimental tunes on this album, but it is all consistent and could take the band’s next album in any way it wants to. It is consistently stronger than the band’s 2014 album, “Four.”

While the band will be taking a much-needed hiatus, it will be an exciting return when One Direction records a sixth studio album.

There was no better album the band could have dropped before disappearing for a bit.

“Made In The A.M.” is available for download on iTunes and in stores. 

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