Screen Violence

{{Infobox album

| name = Screen Violence

| type = studio

| artist = Chvrches

| cover = Chvrches - Screen Violence.png

| alt = A dark room with red light glowing, a TV is plugged in with a hand touching over window blinds.

| released = {{Start date|2021|08|27|df=yes}}

| recorded =

| studio =

Glasgow, Scotland
Los Angeles, United States

| genre =

Pop{{cite web|url=https://www.popmatters.com/chvrches-screen-violence-album-review|title=Chvrches' 'Screen Violence' Reaches for the Heart, Mind, and Feet|website=PopMatters|last=Piatkowski|first=Peter|date=23 August 2021|access-date=26 August 2021}}
synth-pop

| length = 42:53

| label = {{flatlist|

}}

| producer = Chvrches

| prev_title = Hansa Session EP

| prev_year = 2018

| next_title =

| next_year =

| misc = {{Singles

| name = Screen Violence

| type = studio

| single1 = He Said She Said

| single1date = 19 April 2021

| single2 = How Not to Drown

| single2date = 2 June 2021

| single3 = Good Girls

| single3date = 12 July 2021

}}

{{Album ratings

| MC = 81/100{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/screen-violence/chvrches|title=Screen Violence by Chvrches Reviews and Tracks|publisher=Metacritic|access-date=26 August 2021}}

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/screen-violence-mw0003537654/|title=Screen Violence – Chvrches|website=AllMusic|last=Phares|first=Heather|date=26 August 2021|access-date=26 August 2021}}

| rev2 = The A.V. Club

| rev2score = B+{{Cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/chvrches-album-screen-violence-finds-a-newly-mature-ba-1847566530|title=Chvrches' album Screen Violence finds a newly mature band rediscovering its strengths|website=The A.V. Club|last=McLevy|first=Alex|date=27 August 2021|access-date=27 August 2021}}

| rev3 = Exclaim!

| rev3score = 8/10{{cite web|url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/chvrches_screen_violence_album_review|title=CHVRCHES Find New Vitality in Analyzing Modern Society's 'Screen Violence'|website=Exclaim!|last=Blinov|first=Paul|date=24 August 2021|access-date=26 August 2021}}

| rev4 = The Line of Best Fit

| rev4score = 7/10{{cite web|url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/reviews/albums/chvrches-screen-violence-album-review|title=Chvrches settle confidently into their pop soundscapes on Screen Violence|website=The Line of Best Fit|last=Oleinik|first=Marie|date=24 August 2021|access-date=26 August 2021}}

| rev5 = Paste

| rev5score = 6.1/10{{cite web|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/chvrches/chvrches-screen-violence-does-little-to-refine-or/|title=CHVRCHES' Screen Violence Does Little to Refine or Evolve Their Sound|website=Paste|last=Sharples|first=Grant|date=23 August 2021|access-date=26 August 2021}}

| rev6 = Pitchfork

| rev6score = 7.2/10{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/chvrches-screen-violence/|title=Chvrches: Screen Violence Album Review|website=Pitchfork|last=St. Asaph|first=Katherine|date=2 September 2021|access-date=3 September 2021}}

| rev7 = PopMatters

| rev7score = 8/10

| rev8 = Slant Magazine

| rev8score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/chvrches-screen-violence-album-review/|title=Review: Chvrches's Screen Violence Transforms Hopelessness Into Inspiration|website=Slant Magazine|last=Mason|first=Eric|date=23 August 2021|access-date=26 August 2021}}

| noprose = yes

}}

Screen Violence is the fourth studio album by Scottish synth-pop band Chvrches. It was released on 27 August 2021 through EMI Records in the UK and Glassnote Records in the US.{{cite web|url=https://www.stereogum.com/2149843/chvrches-how-not-to-drown-feat-robert-smith/music/|title=Chvrches Announce New Album 'Screen Violence,' Release Robert Smith Collaboration|website=Stereogum|last=Chelosky|first=Danielle|date=2 June 2021|access-date=4 June 2021}} Lead single "He Said She Said" was released on 19 April.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/chvrches-he-said-she-said-single-1157127/|title=Chvrches Return With 'He Said She Said'|magazine=Rolling Stone|last=Martoccio|first=Angie|date=19 April 2021|access-date=4 June 2021}} The album was announced alongside the second single, "How Not to Drown", a collaboration with Robert Smith, lead singer of the Cure.{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/en_au/news/music/chvrches-announce-new-album-screen-violence-share-how-not-to-drown-with-the-cures-robert-smith-2954593|title=Chvrches announce new album 'Screen Violence', share 'How Not To Drown' with The Cure's Robert Smith|work=NME|last=Krol|first=Charlotte|date=2 June 2021|access-date=4 June 2021}}

The album was promoted with a North American tour from November to December 2021.{{cite web|url=https://americansongwriter.com/chvrches-reveal-fourth-album-screen-violence-share-how-not-to-drown-with-the-cures-robert-smith/|title=Chvrches Reveal Fourth Album 'Screen Violence,' Share "How Not to Drown" Video with The Cure's Robert Smith|work=American Songwriter|last=Benitez-Eves|first=Tina|date=3 June 2021|access-date=4 June 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/chvrches/chvrches-announce-screen-violence-share-new-single/|title=CHVRCHES Announce Screen Violence, Share New Single and Tour Dates|work=Paste|last=Gomez|first=Jade|date=2 June 2021|access-date=4 June 2021}}

Background and recording

The album began in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic as ideas shared over video calls and audio-sharing programs. It was produced by the band and recorded between Glasgow and Los Angeles.{{cite web|url=https://readdork.com/news/chvrches-screen-violence/|title=CHVRCHES have announced the details of their fourth studio album, 'Screen Violence'|work=Dork|last=Ackroyd|first=Stephen|date=3 June 2021|access-date=4 June 2021}} Frontwoman Lauren Mayberry said it felt "freeing initially" for the album to start out as something "escapist" but that the lyrics ended up being "definitely still personal". The album title came from an idea for the name of the band, but was then adapted for the title of the album due to the theme of violence "on screen, by screens and through screens – with songs addressing feelings of loneliness, disillusionment and fear, among other emotions". Martin Doherty called the album title "a bit more literal [than just a concept]. When we were making the record, it was like half of our lives were lived through screens."

The single "How Not to Drown" evolved from a piano and drum demo recorded by Doherty and was written during a time when he was dealing with "crippling depression and anxiety".{{cite web|url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/chvrches-announce-new-album-screen-violence-and-release-new-single-with-the-cures-robert-smith|title=Chvrches announce new album Screen Violence and release new single with The Cure's Robert Smith|website=Louder|last=Scarlett|first=Elizabeth|date=3 June 2021|access-date=4 June 2021}}

Screen Violence is also the first Chvrches studio album to not have a track where Martin Doherty provides the main vocals, though Doherty does sing the bridge on "Violent Delights".

Track listing

{{Track listing

| headline = Screen Violence track listing

| all_writing = Iain Cook, Martin Doherty, and Lauren Mayberry; "How Not to Drown" co-written with Robert Smith

| total_length = 42:53

| title1 = Asking for a Friend

| length1 = 5:05

| title2 = He Said She Said

| length2 = 3:09

| title3 = California

| length3 = 4:08

| title4 = Violent Delights

| length4 = 5:20

| title5 = How Not to Drown

| note5 = with Robert Smith

| length5 = 5:31

| title6 = Final Girl

| length6 = 4:30

| title7 = Good Girls

| length7 = 3:19

| title8 = Lullabies

| length8 = 3:45

| title9 = Nightmares

| length9 = 4:34

| title10 = Better If You Don't

| length10 = 3:32

}}

{{tracklist

| total_length =

| headline = Japanese edition (bonus track){{cite web|url=https://www.beatink.com/products/detail.php?product_id=11870|title=BEATINK.COM Cavalcade|publisher=Beatink.com|accessdate=5 September 2021}}

| title11 = How Not to Drown

| note11 = Robert Smith Remix

| length11 = 7:07

}}

{{tracklist

| total_length =

| headline = Screen Violence (Director's Cut) bonus tracks

| title11 = Killer

| note11 =

| length11 = 3:20

| title12 = Screaming

| note12 =

| length12 = 3:34

| title13 = Bitter End

| note13 =

| length13 = 4:38

}}

Personnel

Chvrches

Lauren Mayberry – vocals, keyboards, percussion, production
Iain Cook – keyboards, programming, guitar, bass, production, mixing
Martin Doherty – keyboards, programming, guitar, bass, additional vocals on "Violent Delights", production, mixing

Additional personnel

Robert Smith – vocals, bass (playing a Fender Bass VI) and backwards guitar on "How Not To Drown"
Gavin Lurssen – mastering
Samuel Stewart – vocal engineering
Scott Kiernan – creative direction
Lary 7 – original cover photography

Charts

scope="row"\| Australian Albums (ARIA){{cite web\|url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/albums-chart/2021-09-06\|title=ARIA Top 50 Albums Chart\|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association\|date=6 September 2021\|access-date=3 September 2021}} \| 6
class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" \|+ Chart performance for Screen Violence ! scope="col"\| Chart (2021) ! scope="col"\| Peak position
{{album chart\|Austria\|19\|artist=Chvrches\|album=Screen Violence\|rowheader=true\|access-date=7 September 2021}}
{{album chart\|Flanders\|19\|artist=Chvrches\|album=Screen Violence\|rowheader=true\|access-date=5 September 2021}}
{{album chart\|Wallonia\|49\|artist=Chvrches\|album=Screen Violence\|rowheader=true\|access-date=5 September 2021}}
{{album chart\|BillboardCanada\|74\|artist=Chvrches\|rowheader=true\|access-date=8 September 2021}}
{{album chart\|Czech\|71\|date=202135\|rowheader=true\|access-date=6 September 2021}}
{{album chart\|Netherlands\|91\|artist=Chvrches\|album=Screen Violence\|rowheader=true\|access-date=3 September 2021}}
{{album chart\|Germany4\|15\|id=482121\|artist=Chvrches\|album=Screen Violence\|rowheader=true\|access-date=3 September 2021}}
{{album chart\|Ireland3\|4\|date=20210903\|rowheader=true\|access-date=3 September 2021}}
scope="row"\| Japan Hot Albums (Billboard Japan){{cite web\|url=http://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=hot_albums&year=2021&month=09&day=06\|title=Billboard Japan Hot Albums 2021/09/01\|website=Billboard Japan\|language=ja\|access-date=1 September 2021}} \| 46
scope="row"\| Japanese Albums (Oricon){{cite web\|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/591772/\|title=チャーチズ\|date=2 June 2018 \|publisher=Oricon\|language=ja\|access-date=1 September 2021}} \| 65
{{album chart\|Scotland\|1\|date=20210903\|rowheader=true\|access-date=4 September 2021}}
{{album chart\|Spain\|52\|url=https://www.elportaldemusica.es/album/chvrches-screen-violence?list=top-100-albums\|title=Álbum: Screen Violence\|publisher=Promusicae\|artist=Chvrches\|album=Screen Violence\|rowheader=true\|access-date=12 September 2021}}
{{album chart\|Switzerland\|19\|artist=Chvrches\|album=Screen Violence\|rowheader=true\|access-date=5 September 2021}}
{{album chart\|UK2\|4\|date=20210903\|rowheader=true\|access-date=3 September 2021}}
{{album chart\|Billboard200\|31\|artist=Chvrches\|rowheader=true\|access-date=8 September 2021}}

References

Category:2021 albums

Category:Chvrches albums

Category:Glassnote Records albums

Category:EMI Records albums