Chvrches’ ‘The Bones of What You Believe’ was a smash that saw the band lay down a marker. And while subsequent releases have produced mixed results—highs on par with their debut alongside ideas that weren’t fully realised—they have generally lived up to their early promise.
‘Screen Violence’ may just be their most consistent record since their breakthrough, finding them navigating the shattered realms of gothic synth-pop. And when that’s your MO, who better to invite onto your record then than The Cure’s Robert Smith? A long-term idol of the trio and a dream collaborator, he lends his vocals to How Not To Drown.
Naturally, his voice adds to the feelings of dread that creep across the entirety of ‘Screen Violence’. The track is a particularly resonant moment as Smith and vocalist Lauren Mayberry resist being pulled under by our increasingly overwhelming world.
More broadly, the LP tackles everyday toxicity, particularly the misogyny that Mayberry has faced herself, the expectations placed upon women and the way our phones often serve as a portal to frightening and harmful experiences.
This is accentuated in a sound that often comes on like Technicolor lightning, bright and mesmerising, yet devastating. There are moments when Chvrches do sound too comfortable and familiar, with tracks such as Violent Delights failing to take flight, but ‘Screen Violence’ manages to give a suitably unflattering filter to the chaotic pitfalls of life online. It’s exciting to think of the places this band will go next.
Chvrches Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Thu March 10 2022 - DUNDEE Fat Sams
Sat March 12 2022 - GLASGOW SWG3
Mon March 14 2022 - EDINBURGH Corn Exchange
Tue March 15 2022 - NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE O2 City Hall
Wed March 16 2022 - LONDON O2 Academy Brixton
Fri March 18 2022 - BIRMINGHAM O2 Academy Birmingham
Sat March 19 2022 - MANCHESTER O2 Apollo
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