Chvrches: Every Open Eye

Where their debut album The Bones Of What You Believe was a solid first release, establishing their synth-based melodies and electric vocals, Every Open Eye proves they’ve still got great songs left in them – yet it doesn’t step too far away from the Chvrches sound we know and love.

The opening two tracks, ‘Never Ending Circles’ and ‘Leave A Trace’, sound like they’re leading a charge, with Lauren Mayberry’s defiant vocals at the fore. It’s a strong introduction to the album, and from there it doesn’t falter. ‘Make Them Gold’ stands out instantly – a touching anthem with a racing beat and synths that evoke nostalgia and emotion. Martin Doherty takes the reigns in ‘High Enough To Carry You Over’, which provides a nice segue to the slightly darker second half of the album. ‘Down Side Of Me’ and ‘Afterglow’ take things down a notch, slowing the energetic beats to ballads, with soaring yet controlled vocals from Mayberry.

Every Open Eye is filled with uplifting, impressive and catchy tracks, but it doesn’t break the Chvrches formula, so it can sound repetitive and simple at surface level. Nonetheless, it’s an enjoyable listen – but perhaps not meant to be consumed in one sitting.