Chvrches are back with their first new music since 2021, and they’re doing it with a politically-charged single called “Roses” and a music video to match. The Glasgow trio — Lauren Mayberry, Martin Doherty, and Iain Cook — have just dropped the track, which arrives as a mission statement for their next album and a clear signal that the hiatus is over.
The song reflects on the political state of Britain, with Mayberry singing about “delusions of the good days of blood and wine; of pearls for swine.” The chorus interpolates the English folk song “Ring a Ring o’ Roses.”
Mayberry on the New Direction
“This is the longest break we had ever taken between albums and when we got together to write new music, we wanted to really push ourselves and not be retreading ground we’d walked before,” Mayberry said in a statement. “I really think we achieved that. It feels like the most coherent vision we’ve had as a band. We’re excited to be back.”
The quote captures the spirit of the comeback. Chvrches are not simply returning to old habits; they are picking up where they left off and pushing forward. The phrase “most coherent vision” is telling — the band has arrived at a new sound, and they are not hiding it.
The Long Road Back
Chvrches released their last album, Screen Violence, in 2021. In 2023, Mayberry announced she was stepping away from the band to embark on her own solo career. She released a solo LP, Vicious Creature, in December 2024 and toured in support of the album in 2025.
The hiatus was real, and it was long. But the new single suggests the band is ready to move past that. The statement from Mayberry makes that clear: they are back, and they are bringing something new with them.
“Conman” and the Royal Albert Hall
Last summer the group confirmed they had been working on new music. The musicians premiered a new song, dubbed “Conman,” during a show at Royal Albert Hall in London earlier this year.
“I promise I’m not just inside watching telly all the time, we have been making a record,” Mayberry told the audience. “And we thought, since this is a special night, we would play something off that record for you guys. So be kind to us, we’ve never played this in front of human beings before.”
The live debut of “Conman” was a signal to fans that the new material was real and that the band was committed to sharing it. The fact that the song had never been played in front of an audience before suggests it was still in early stages, but the band was confident enough to share it at a high-profile venue like the Royal Albert Hall.
The Charitable Concerts
Chvrches will perform two shows in October, with the proceeds going to charity. They will play Glasgow on Oct. 26 and London on Oct. 29.
More info is available on the band’s website.
The Song’s Political Edge
The lyrics are where the political edge comes in. Mayberry sings about “delusions of the good days of blood and wine; of pearls for swine.” The imagery is dark, and the song’s title, “Roses,” ties directly into the folk song that gives the chorus its shape.
The press release describes the song as “a mission statement for the band’s sonic shift.” That is a bold claim, and the music backs it up. The track is raucous.
“Raise a glass to delusions of the good days of blood and wine; of pearls for swine.”
What We Know So Far
- Album: Screen Violence (2021)
- Solo LP: Vicious Creature (December 2024)
- Live debut: “Conman” at Royal Albert Hall (earlier this year)
- New single: “Roses” (released now)
- Charity concerts: Glasgow (Oct. 26) and London (Oct. 29)
Chvrches have always been a band of contrasts. Their music is poppy, but their lyrics are often dark. Their sound is polished, but there is always a grit beneath the surface. “Roses” fits that pattern — a catchy chorus that carries a heavy message.
This comeback feels different. Mayberry’s quote about coherence suggests the band has spent the time between albums figuring out what they wanted to say, and now they are saying it with confidence. The fact that they are playing the two charity concerts with the proceeds going to charity adds weight to the announcement.
The band has a clear vision for where they want to go next. The song is a mission statement, and the concerts are a statement of intent. Chvrches are back, and they are bringing their new work with them.
See the video the story is built around at Rolling Stone.
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