Love Is Dead (Chvrches album)

In September 2015, the band released their second studio album, Every Open Eye, two years after the release of their critically acclaimed debut album, The Bones of What You Believe. It received positive reviews and spawned the singles "Leave a Trace", "Clearest Blue", "Never Ending Circles" and "Empty Threat". Besides releasing the song "Warning Call", cowritten with Solar Fields, for the game Mirror's Edge Catalyst, and releasing a version of "Bury It" with Paramore's Hayley Williams, the band stayed relatively quiet for the rest of the year and the next.

On 1 January 2018, Martin Doherty announced that the band would release an album within the year.{{cite web|last=Vierra|first=Erin|url=https://music.mxdwn.com/2018/01/02/news/martin-doherty-of-chvrches-says-new-album-and-tour-coming-in-2018/|title=Martin Doherty of Chvrches Says New Album and Tour Coming in 2018|website=mxdwn|date=2 January 2018|accessdate=4 June 2018}} That same month, Lauren Mayberry "accidentally" confirmed this and revealed the album's title in an interview, which has been since deleted.{{cite web|url=https://genius.com/albums/Chvrches/Love-is-dead|title=Love Is Dead – CHVRCHES|website=Genius|date=23 January 2018}} On 26 February, the band revealed the tracklist to the album on Twitter.{{Cite news|url=http://www.thefader.com/2018/02/26/chvrches-detail-third-album|title=CHVRCHES detail third album|last=Maicki|first=Salvatore|date=26 February 2018|work=The Fader|accessdate=1 March 2018}}

The band started working on Love Is Dead on 7 February 2017 in Los Angeles.{{Cite news|url=https://diymag.com/2017/02/09/chvrches-started-working-on-album-three|title=CHVRCHES have started working on album three|date=9 February 2017|work=DIY|accessdate=1 March 2018}} In 24 February, David Stewart, formerly one-half of the musical duo Eurythmics, revealed that he was in the studio with the band.{{Cite news|url=http://variancemagazine.com/news/7510-chvrches-in-studio-working-on-new-album|title=CHVRCHES in Studio Working on Third Album|last=Howard|first=Lindsay|date=24 February 2017|work=Variance|accessdate=1 March 2018}} Greg Kurstin was revealed as a producer for the album on 12 December, with work nearing completion.{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/doksan/status/940648288281272321|title=We are currently putting the finishing touches on "the most aggressive and vulnerable" album we've ever made.|last=martin|date=12 December 2017|website=@doksan|accessdate=1 March 2018}} According to an article from The Independent, the band opted for more universal topics instead of introspection during production, jotting down ideas in a notebook whenever an opportunity passed.{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/chvrches-new-album-first-look-new-songs-lauren-mayberry-pop-greg-kurstin-a8105941.html|title=Chvrches reveal first look at new album|last=Kaplan|first=Ilana|date=12 December 2017|work=The Independent|accessdate=1 March 2018}}

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, the band described their work with Kurstin as "the most pop stuff we've done and also the most aggressive and vulnerable at the same time".{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/music/2017/12/12/chvrches-lauren-mayberry-new-album/|title=Chvrches' Lauren Mayberry breaks down their new LP: 'It's the most pop stuff we've done'|last=Vain|first=Madison|date=12 December 2017|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|accessdate=1 February 2018}}{{cite news|url=https://www.altpress.com/news/entry/chvrches_get_out|title=Hear CHVRCHES' addictive new pop anthem, "Get Out"|last=Dickman|first=Maggie|date=31 January 2018|work=Alternative Press|accessdate=1 February 2018}}{{cite news|url=https://www.idolator.com/7674348/chvrches-get-out-review|title=Chvrches Is Back With Greg Kurstin-Produced Single "Get Out"|last=Wass|first=Mike|date=31 January 2018|work=Idolator|accessdate=1 February 2018}} On Annie Mac's BBC Radio 1 show, on the premiere of "Get Out", Mayberry said that: {{cquote|After Every Open Eye, we went back into a little writing studio{{emdash}}this time in New York{{emdash}}but we still wanted to take a little time to work out where we wanted to go and what we wanted to do. We decided this time we wanted to work with a producer. I think it was really good for us to be pushed to do things differently and take risks.}}

She also explained the album would take an "honest" approach. {{cquote|If it's going to be more pop it should be more aggressively pop{{emdash}}there's no doing things in half measures. It was nice to not be second guessing ourselves. It's still consistent with what we've done before but it feels like it'll be more of a live experience.{{cite news|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/listen-chvrches-new-single-get-2232913|title=Listen to Chvrches' massive new single 'Get Out'|last=Daly|first=Rhian|date=31 January 2018|work=NME|accessdate=1 February 2018}}}}

The album's lead single, "Get Out", premiered on BBC Radio 1 on 31 January 2018, where Annie Mac dubbed it the Hottest Record in the World; it was released the same day.{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/BBCR1/status/958785601200906240|title=Hey @CHVRCHES fans!|date=2018-01-31|website=@BBCR1|accessdate=1 March 2018|quote=Hey @CHVRCHES fans! @AnnieMac's playing brand new music for the first time anywhere in the world! Make sure you're locked in! http://bbc.in/2EtBykr pic.twitter.com/igI6QjPMdL}} The second single, "My Enemy", featuring vocals from Matt Berninger of The National, was named Zane Lowe's World Record when it premiered on Beats 1 in 28 February, after the tracklist and artwork reveal.{{Cite web|url=https://noisey.vice.com/en_uk/article/gy83yw/chvrches-new-track-my-enemy-features-the-nationals-matt-berninger|title=CHVRCHES' New Track "My Enemy" Features The National's Matt Berninger|last=O'Neill|first=Lauren|date=1 March 2018|accessdate=1 March 2018}} "Never Say Die" was released on 29 March, the third single from the album.{{Cite news|url=https://www.readdork.com/news/chvrches-bring-the-heat-with-their-latest-banger-never-say-die/|title=CHVRCHES bring the heat with their latest banger 'Never Say Die'|last=Shutler|first=Ali|date=28 March 2018|work=Dork|access-date=28 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180329121030/https://www.readdork.com/news/chvrches-bring-the-heat-with-their-latest-banger-never-say-die/|archive-date=29 March 2018|url-status=dead}} Premiered on BBC Radio 1, "Miracle" was released on 10 April as the fourth and final single. It is the album's only song recorded in the United Kingdom.{{cite news|last=Hunt|first=El|title=Chvrches share new track 'Miracle'|url=https://www.nme.com/news/chvrches-share-new-track-miracle-2288454|accessdate=11 April 2018|work=NME|date=10 April 2018}}

Prior to the release of "Get Out", and after wiping all of their social media accounts, the band released a short video with a weblink captioned "GET IN", which contained a link that would lead to a Facebook Messenger page made by the band.{{Cite news|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2018/01/chvrches-tease.html|title=CHVRCHES Are Teasing New Music via Facebook Messenger|work=pastemagazine.com|accessdate=1 March 2018}}{{Cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/chvrches-share-cryptic-new-video-watch/|title=Chvrches Share Cryptic New Video: Watch|website=Pitchfork|date=30 January 2018 |accessdate=1 March 2018}} Furthermore, in the music video for the respective single, alongside Matt Berninger taping an advertisement, a poster advertised a phone number. When called, Mayberry reads part of the lyrics to "My Enemy".{{Cite news|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/listen-chvrches-new-single-get-2232913|title=Listen to Chvrches' massive new single 'Get Out'|last=Daly|first=Rhian|date=31 January 2018|work=NME|accessdate=1 March 2018}}

Prior to the official release, the band celebrated the upcoming album with a release party by performing live at iHeartRadio Album Release Party in New York City on 22 May. During the show, they debuted some of the new music for the first time, including songs like "God's Plan", "Graffiti" and "Forever".{{Cite web|url=https://news.iheart.com/featured/iheartradio-live/content/2018-05-23-chvrches-debuts-new-love-is-dead-music-during-album-release-party/|title=CHVRCHES Debuts New 'Love Is Dead' Music During Album Release Party {{!}} iHeartRadio LIVE {{!}} iHeartRadio|website=iHeartRadio LIVE|access-date=2020-01-11}}

Love Is Dead debuted at number seven on the UK Albums Chart, selling 11,763 copies in its first week.{{cite web|last=Jones|first=Alan|url=http://www.musicweek.com/analysis/read/charts-analysis-greatest-showman-holds-on-at-albums-summit/072679|title=Charts analysis: Greatest Showman holds on at albums summit|work=Music Week|date=1 June 2018|accessdate=6 June 2018|url-access=subscription }} The album debuted at number 11 on the US Billboard 200 as well as number 1 on the Top Alternative Albums and Top Rock Albums chart with 28,000 album equivalent units.{{cite magazine | last=Rutherford | first=Kevin | title=Chvrches' 'Love Is Dead' Leads Top Rock Albums, Alternative Albums Charts | magazine=Billboard | date=2018-06-06 | url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/chvrches-love-is-dead-leads-top-rock-albums-alternative-albums/ | access-date=2022-08-04}}

{{Track listing

| all_writing = Iain Cook, Martin Doherty, Lauren Mayberry and Greg Kurstin, and produced by Kurstin; except where noted

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| total_length = 49:03

| title1 = Graffiti

| extra1 = {{hlist|Mac|Ice Mike}}

| length1 = 3:38

| title2 = Get Out

| length2 = 3:51

| title3 = Deliverance

| length3 = 4:12

| title4 = My Enemy

| note4 = featuring Matt Berninger

| writer4 = {{hlist|Cook|Doherty|Mayberry}}

| extra4 = Chvrches

| length4 = 3:53

| title5 = Forever

| extra5 = {{hlist|Ice Mike|31st Day}}

| length5 = 3:44

| title6 = Never Say Die

| length6 = 4:23

| title7 = Miracle

| writer7 = {{hlist|Cook|Doherty|Mayberry|Steve Mac}}

| extra7 = {{hlist|Mac|Chvrches}}

| length7 = 3:08

| title8 = Graves

| length8 = 4:43

| title9 = Heaven/Hell

| length9 = 5:05

| title10 = God's Plan

| writer10 = {{hlist|Cook|Doherty|Mayberry}}

| extra10 = Chvrches

| length10 = 3:31

| title11 = Really Gone

| writer11 = {{hlist|Cook|Doherty|Mayberry}}

| extra11 = Chvrches

| length11 = 3:11

| title12 = ii

| length12 = 1:09

| title13 = Wonderland

| length13 = 4:35

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Japanese edition bonus tracks{{cite web|url=http://hostess.co.jp/releases/2018/05/HSE-6778.html|title=Love Is Dead|work=Hostess Entertainment Unlimited|accessdate=20 September 2020|language=ja|archive-date=2 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200202091141/http://hostess.co.jp/releases/2018/05/HSE-6778.html|url-status=dead}}

| total_length = 61:03

| title14 = Get Out

| note14 = One Bit Remix

| length14 = 5:25

| title15 = Get Out

| note15 = Roosevelt Remix

| length15 = 3:09

| title16 = Miracle

| note16 = Manila Killa Remix

| length16 = 3:07

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Japanese deluxe edition bonus tracks{{cite web|url=http://hostess.co.jp/releases/2018/09/HSE-6864.html|title=Love Is Dead -Japan Deluxe Edition-|work=Hostess Entertainment Unlimited|accessdate=20 September 2020|language=ja|archive-date=9 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109030637/http://hostess.co.jp/releases/2018/09/HSE-6864.html|url-status=dead}}

| total_length = 69:11

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| title14 = Out of My Head

| note14 = featuring Wednesday Campanella

| writer14 = {{hlist|Cook|Doherty|Mayberry|KOM_I|Kenmochi Hidefumi}}

| extra14 = Chvrches

| length14 = 3:28

| title15 = Get Out

| note15 = Roosevelt Remix

| length15 = 3:08

| title16 = Miracle

| note16 = IHF Remix

| writer16 = {{hlist|Cook|Doherty|Mayberry|Mac}}

| extra16 = {{hlist|Mac|Chvrches}}

| length16 = 3:29

| title17 = Miracle

| note17 = Mija Remix

| writer17 = {{hlist|Cook|Doherty|Mayberry|Mac}}

| extra17 = {{hlist|Mac|Chvrches}}

| length17 = 4:31

| title18 = Miracle

| note18 = The Juan Maclean Remix

| writer18 = {{hlist|Cook|Doherty|Mayberry|Mac}}

| extra18 = {{hlist|Mac|Chvrches}}

| length18 = 5:24

}}

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Love Is Dead.{{cite AV media notes|title=Love Is Dead|type=liner notes|others=Chvrches|publisher=Virgin EMI Records|year=2018|id=CDV 3200}}

• Iain Cook
• Martin Doherty
• Lauren Mayberry

• Ian Chang – drums {{small|(10)}}

{{Div col}}

• Greg Kurstin – record engineering {{small|(1–3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 12, 13)}}
• Julian Burg – record engineering {{small|(1–3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 12, 13)}}
• Alex Pasco – record engineering {{small|(1–3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 12, 13)}}
• David Simpson – record engineering {{small|(4, 10, 14)}}
• Sean O'Brien – record engineering {{small|(4)}}
• Dann Pursey – record engineering {{small|(7)}}
• Chris Laws – record engineering {{small|(7)}}
• Mark Bengston – record engineering {{small|(10)}}
• Chvrches – record engineering {{small|(11)}}
• Hideyuki Matsuhashi – record engineering {{small|(14)}}
• Spike Stent – mixing
• Michael Freeman – mixing assistance
• Chris Gehringer – mastering

{{Div col end}}

• Warren Fu – creative direction
• Liz Hirsch – design, layout
• Lindsey Byrnes – sleeve photograph
• Danny Clinch – inside photograph

{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for Love Is Dead}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Chvrches|title=Love Is Dead|award=Silver|type=album|relyear=2018|certyear=2022|id=18273-3879-2|access-date=6 August 2022}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}

In support of their new album, Chvrches played live worldwide in the festival circuit and venues between 2018 and 2019. The tour officially started on 25 May 2018, with a free show at House Of Vans in London to celebrate the release of their album, but an early album release party held at iHeartRadio Theatre in New York{{Cite web|url=https://www.iheart.com/content/2018-05-16-chvrches-to-celebrate-love-is-dead-early-during-album-release-party/|title=CHVRCHES to Celebrate 'Love Is Dead' Early During Album Release Party|date=2018-05-16|website=iHeartRadio|access-date=2020-02-19}} and other two previous shows (19 May 2018 - The Josie Dye One Year Anniversary Show at Danforth Music Hall in Toronto and 21 May 2018 - Elsewhere, Brooklyn, NY) are generally considered as part of the tour based on their common setlist and stage design. On 10 December 2019, the band announced the official end of the tour with a message posted on their blog.{{Cite web|url=https://chvrches.tumblr.com/post/189581488653/and-thats-a-wrap-on-the-touring-for-love-is-dead|title=CHVRCHES|website=CHVRCHES|language=en|access-date=2020-01-08}} The band performed in over 20 countries, attending more than 150 events. For the very first time since their formation, the band added a live drummer, Jonny Scott, to their touring lineup.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/chvrches-drummer-now-2260983|title=CHVRCHES have a drummer now - NME|date=2018-03-12|website=NME Music News, Reviews, Videos, Galleries, Tickets and Blogs {{!}} NME.COM|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-02-20}}

File:Chvrches 09 23 2018 -19 (32847210028).jpg

While the played setlist varied slightly with each show, the typical setlist contained:

1. "Get Out"
2. "Bury It"
3. "Gun"
4. "We Sink"
5. "Graffiti"
6. "Graves"
7. "Miracle"
8. "Under the Tide"
9. "Science/Visions"
10. "Forever"
11. "Recover"
12. "Leave a Trace"
13. "Clearest Blue"
14. "Never Say Die"
15. "The Mother We Share"

For the Love is Dead tour, the stage design was created by the lighting designer and programmer Louis Oliver, who has been working with the band since 2013. The idea behind the blueprints was to use a flexible design which could fit any type of show size. "The main request from the band was to have a more performance focused design, with looks that amplified their performance."{{Cite web|url=https://plsn.com/articles/designer-insights/chvrches-love-is-dead-tour-2019/|title=CHVRCHES 'Love Is Dead' Tour 2019|date=2019-06-16|website=PLSN|access-date=2020-01-08}} while avoiding the use of any large video screens. The solution was to create 15 touring lighting pods containing 16 Elation Fuze Par Z120 which allowed them to adapt to each venue's limitations. The lighting setup also included 12 Robe BMFL Wash Beams, 13 GLP JDC1, 2 Base Hazer Pros and 2 grandMA2 Light consoles. The most visible elements of the floor package were three custom-built pieces comprising two crosses and a balancing symbol that mimic the artwork created by Warren Fu for the Love is Dead album cover.{{Cite web|title=Chvrches|url=http://specialz.co.uk/chvrches.html|website=specialz.co.uk|access-date=2020-05-16}}

The tour crew also included:

• Tour Manager: Cara McDaniel
• Production Manager: Patrick Scott
• Lighting Director: Greg Hill
• Lighting Crew Chief: Christopher Hassfurther
• Lighting Tech: Troy Grubb
• Sound Engineer: David Simpson
• Lighting Crew Chief: Amanda "Cupcake" Ritchie
• Lighting Tech: Josh Welch

The performances with short setlists (five songs or fewer) are not included in the list below.

{{Notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Chvrches}}

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Category:2018 albums

Category:Chvrches albums

Category:Glassnote Records albums

Category:Virgin EMI Records albums

Category:Albums produced by Greg Kurstin

Category:Albums produced by Steve Mac