Chvrches review, London House of Vans: British band take a darker route with material from their new album

Chvrches perform at BBC The Biggest Weekend (Rex)

​Synth-pop stalwarts Chvrches - arguably one of the best British bands of the last decade - took to the stage at London’s House of Vans over the weekend to deliver an intimate, live-streamed gig to coincide with the launch of their new album Love is Dead. T

Beginning with new single “Get Out”, Lauren Mayberry on lead vocals demonstrates her emo pop prowess with elongated choruses. She and the band ensured energy levels remained at a high throughout the show by weaving new tracks including “God’s Plan” – (no relation to Drake’s hit single) - between a foundation of archive material with tracks such as “Gun” and “Recover”.

By no means lesser in quality than the previous work, Love is Dead is still different: it delivers a darker, edgier tone to the perpetually upbeat melody we’ve become accustomed to yet still works.

An encore consisting of “The Mother We Share”, a UK Top 40 single, and “Clearest Blue” - which famously builds before dropping borrowing cues from the dance genre - ensured that what was a prelude to a busy year ahead closed with the same energy it started with.