CHVRCHES Screen Violence

It's not every day that we see a band reinvent itself with such elegance and success as Glasgow trio CHVRCHES do on their fourth studio album. Screen Violence seduces us with a sincere  tribute to '80s horror cinema, weaving together personal stories and rage-infused critiques with a seductive aesthetic. The title does speak for itself, although its meaning can come from multiple points of view. On the one hand, the name that was going to be used for a side project that the band never ended up doing. On the other, they thought it was a perfect way to catalyze some deeper and tremulous feelings.

The trio formed by Lauren Mayberry, Iain Cook, and Martin Doherty explores the sordid ways in which online users communicate anonymously, making direct and indirect allusions to the multiple verbal aggressions that Mayberry herself has suffered regularly on social media since the band became popular. The trio formed by Lauren Mayberry, Iain Cook, and Martin Doherty explores the sordid ways in which online users communicate anonymously, making direct and indirect allusions to the multiple verbal aggressions that Mayberry herself has suffered regularly on social media since the band became popular. Practically in its entirety, the album reflects the pressure that Lauren has carried on herself during the time she has been in the music industry—recalling the anguish she's suffered by having to constantly prove her worth.

He Said She Said is the culmination of their intentions. The visceral track expresses literal sentiments such as “He said you need to be fed but keep an eye on your waistline,” ending with the heartbreaking “I feel like I'm losing my mind.” The other two singles in the lead-up to the album's release feature delightful collaborations, from The Cure's Robert Smith (How Not To Drown) to a remix by veteran composer John Carpenter (Good Girls.)

But beyond the three main hits, the band keeps exploring their intentions with taste and finesse—like on Final Girl, which is a tribute to the female character in horror films who survives all the misfortunes that the scriptwriters plan for her. On that particular track, Mayberry sees herself as a surviving heroine to the avalanche of personal and professional obstacles she faces: “I wonder if I should have changed my accent /tried to make myself more attractive/only time will tell” Meanwhile, Violent Delight combines atmospheric sounds with melodic post-rock rhythms—causing a feeling of dread that reverberates throughout the entire album. We want to jump with euphoria, but at the same time, shudder with anguish: “If I disappear they'll say I killed myself/I never fear for my own health.”

That fatalistic and gloomy fervor that Lauren's voice distills—equal parts mysterious and disturbing—accompany us throughout the ten tracks that CHVRCHES made for this considerable leap. Overall, her empowering message points at the daily toxic attitudes that female celebrities deal with. Screen Violence also projects confidence in a musical sense with its grand synth-pop and new wave, resisting and challenging the misogyny that unfortunately reaches far beyond our screens.