Let’s get the one and only disappointing tidbit out of the way first: Chvrches didn’t work with Drake. That’s it. Despite expressing interest in past interview’s to work with Drizzy, the closest they came on Love Is Dead is titling one of the album’s songs “God’s Plan.” Other than that, the band’s third full-length is a level up in every way and the most complete project they’ve released to date.
While the lyrics explore the feelings of “grappling with what’s going on in the world, but also what happens in your lives simultaneously,” frontwoman Lauren Mayberry has said, it’s more about the emotions that the music provokes. The record skews toward the poppiest the band has sounded, yet at the same time it’s undeniably aggressive and vulnerable. Between Mayberry’s harmonizing vocals and the infectious synths, the band has found a knack for bringing utopia to life in their music. Love Is Dead peaks in this department between “Miracle” and “Heaven/Hell,” a 13-minute run that showcases Chvrches at their very best.
“Miracle” dances between somber synths and a lively anthemic chorus while “Graves” picks up and carries the feeling of exuberance for an additional five minutes. It’s album’s most energetic track from start to finish, and Mayberry spreads the message of positivity amidst the vibrant electronic tunes. It’s a feel good track that stands out amongst 13 undeniably high-spirited songs and one that gives the record an unneeded additional life midway through. “Graves” segue ways into “Heaven/Hell,” another song that contend’s for the album’s best title.
The track is slower, and not as electronic heavy, but “Heaven/Hell” exhibit’s Mayberry’s wide vocal range. The soft lyrics, “Is this heaven” to the dynamic “Or is this hell?” flow seamlessly into the catchy “Through a silver screen, you’re sayin’ what you mean / But I can’t tell.”
The arrangement of these three tracks is a microcosm of the album. Not only is each song memorable on their own, but each flows into each other well. Even the first three songs to start the record - “Graffiti,” “Get Out” and “Deliverance” - all progress into the next. In album’s past, this has been a key component that Chvrches has continued to improve upon and they’ve finally nailed it in Love Is Dead. Press play and listen to the first song; 50 minutes later it’s likely you’ll find yourself jamming to the record’s finale “Wonderland” wondering where the time went. Making an album feel whole can be challenging, especially in a time where streaming services steer most people’s musical experiences. However, Chvrches accomplishes the old fashioned and that deserves recognition.
