Australian Metalhead Reacts: Chvrches - Leave a Trace (Pop Song First Listen/Reaction & Song Review)

[@SimplyJustin]

I love when creators don’t pause during the reaction, very few do! 😭

[@TheMetalHunter]

I’m here for the experience as much as my viewers. Thank you for noticing.

[@FlowNeffets]

Ex-Metal head here - Chvrches was my ticket into electronic music :) and still my favorite band. What makes them really special: Besides having great hooks, when you dig deeper into their songs, you realize the structure of their music and the layers are increadibly complex and versatile. Oh, and they are absolutely briliant live.

[@markbennett2284]

My beautiful girlfriend introduced me to chvrches at the Reading festival 2016, was blown away, we went to them again at Rock city in Nottingham, absolutely amazing.

[@Zihark_]

Listening to Chvrches after a hard day is like a big warm hug from an old friend. It just makes everything feel better 😭

[@adamgardner2244]

It really is good "feel better" music

[@johnnyneedham9831]

As far as I’m concerned, if you can dismiss something solely based on the fact it’s not from your preferred genre, for me, you’re a terrible fan of music. I feel like as a musician and fan of so many genres but also dislike so many genres, it’s far more productive and fun for me to analyse a song and come at it from the perspective of “ok, I’m gonna try and find out why so many people love this the same way I love hardcore/metal/punk.” Good reaction dude.

[@peterblatz4675]

Thank you for reviewing my favourite pop band❤

[@shawnannul]

34 year old diehard metalhead (Thrash, Deathcore, Black Metal) and CHVRCHES is probably my favorite group!

[@Apvizionz]

Iron Maiden, Chvrches, and Judas Priest are three of my favorite bands. Lauren's solo stuff is fire too.

[@samellis4563]

I'm a 42 year old metalhead here. Have been since I first heard Slayer when I was 8 or 9 years old. And I would consider that the 3 most influential albums to me PERSONALLY (outside of every Rush album because..... Neil F'n Peart) is Reign in Blood, NIN's Pretty Hate Machine, and Chvrches The Bones of What you Believe. I have a great appreciation for all kinds of music, but this band right here makes Synthpop sexy to even the grimiest of us out there :)

[@andrewroberts3539]

Super Rush here, eat, drink, and sleep RUSH, but once I heard the CHRVCHES, I now have another band to listen too as much as I do Rush.

[@weeyum99]

LMAO that Rush comment, i feel that

[@jellissimon]

I love Chvrches, probably my favourite band of the last few years. What I love is although the music is mostly bright and melodic, the lyrics are often dark. I love that about them. The only other band that did music like that was The Smiths.

[@Mario_AndroID]

Man, I am also a metal head since my teenage years and I absolutely love this band. They make a great music just to chill out and relax. And I also absolutely love the band called M83. I believe they are French otherwise, but all the songs are in English. They made few very famous soundtrack songs such as Outro (for the movie Cloud Atlas) and Oblivion (for the movie Oblivion). Check out the live version with Susanne Sundfør. Absolutely insane, really. :) Cheers! 🍻

[@MultiElPistoleo]

And the songs of M83 also appear in the series Ragnarok on Netflix;)

[@ishii100]

i love how the song makes you smile. 💚

[@devineheresy2287]

I love my metal it is my main kind of music I wake to it and sleep to it BUT I do listen to a wide variety and chvches is very high on the list of groups outside of metal I listen to this song is a favourite too. Top job man keep up the good work

[@TheMetalHunter]

Thanks so much! I was kinda worried about releasing something like this but it’s great to know there are likeminded and open minded metal heads that’s are out there.

[@devineheresy2287]

@@TheMetalHunter i can understand that man but I'm glad you did because it shows me that other metalheads do listen to other stuff as well. Try their song mother we share its another favourite of mine I just love her voice and the chill vibe I get from the tunes

[@sickjoe9174]

Most metalheads I know love all kinds of music...it's fuckin music, what's not to like ya know? Shit I love me some ribs, but I'm not tryin to eat the fuckers everyday.

[@nooteloo]

that smile when the pre chorus began made my day

[@sergiovelasquez5138]

I'm also a metalhead and have been since I was 12 (that's half of my life) and I FELL IN ABSOLUTE LOVE with CHVRCHES. They're top class and deserve way more recognition.

[@brianmanning9271]

I was shocked how good her voice was when I saw her live. I thought her voice would be auto tuned and she wouldn’t be any good. Man was I wrong.

[@matthewcarl4504]

Her vocals were a little sketchy live in the early days but she’s really smashed it lately 👍🏻

[@stushiraz69]

Great reaction dude - I love that you don’t interrupt. I listen to a massive range of music genres from death metal to opera and everything between. I cut my teeth on rock through my teenage years and it still holds a special place in my heart (that’s why I found myself on your channel), but music is an unbelievably rich tapestry with a myriad contrasting pleasures. Somewhere in that musical macrocosm is this brilliant band; one of my favourites of the last decade - I absolutely love Chvrches. Incredible hooks as loads of commenters have said, great production, wonderful live performers. I’d sing their praises to anyone - metalheads included 😆

[@duquet71]

I grew up a punk rocker. Was the only 10 year old with a mohawk in my school. Chvrches are extra special. I was able to see them at Blues Fest here in Ottawa. It was 32 degrees that day, and Lauren Mayberry never stopped bouncing around the stage the whole show. I own ever LP and EP they've put out and pre-ordered Screen Violence. Love them.

[@garyskye5594]

I'm an old fart and love this band. They do some great stuff .I think this was thier #1 song in my book and Lauren gives new meaning to little black dress. Pure class.

[@tonynelson5161]

You react the way i do every time i listen to or watch her sing. She makes my dark soul smile!! New album is great!! You should review "Good Girls"

[@bigslick]

I grew up in the late 70s and 80s, classic heavy metal bands ("hair bands" as they are called today... KISS, Motley Crue, Dokken, etc) but I love CHVRCHES. Lauren is truly special. If you like good music, and appreciate good guitar, check out Samantha Fish. A few top suggestions would be "Bulletproof"... and also "GONE FOR GOOD." Check out the Live versions if you can. Her live version from "Real Music" of Bulletproof is easily the best version of that song (a really thumpy drum beat sets it apart from other versions). Also the Telluride Blues fest video of "Gone for Good" is epic as well. Anyway, would love to see you also do more Chvrches reactions. Clearest Blue, Never Ending Circles, are my other 2 favorites from them.

[@JimboJammy]

I am mainly a hard rock / metal fan, but I have also ended up becoming a big Chvrches fan, they're a band that when I talk to friends about music and I mention Chvrches, I often expect to be met with surprise, or a little ridicule, but must people are like "oh Chvrches, yeah, they're awesome" they seem to be liked by everyone, but no one other than the massive fans really talks about them too much. At least not in my limited experience. I think one of the things that people like about them is how good they are live. So when they play festivals, lots of different music fans see them and get at least a little drawn in.

[@sharmony64]

See them live! Got a bunch of concert vids on my channel. This song particularly shows a great deal of angst during the build up to the chorus. You can just feel that emotion. The music video doesn’t do it justice.

[@andrewcoates1998]

I've been lucky enough to have seen them live a few times I would highly recommend seeing them if you are interested and get the chance to.

[@zenandstimpy]

They get to the chorus and you would be happy with that, then they have a second chorus with even more energy, hooks on top of hooks... Brilliant song structure...

[@user-jq7di9pz8m]

I love that you can really hear Lauren's Scottish accent come through in her voice in this particular song, beautiful

[@lancecranmer2041]

Great review. I feel the same way about Chvrches. I've seen them live twice. Great pop synth group. And I say that as a guy who never thought he'd like this music either.

[@gnarlymunkey]

Good song. Good band. If you haven’t heard of them, I recommend Purity Ring. When I need a break from Metal I listen to PR, I feel like I’m floating through the clouds in a Japanese Junk.

[@ashflash4737]

Never heard of them before, but I gave Sinew and Fineshrine a go.... And... wow 😍. They sound amazing!

[@TheAgTeam]

The older we get the more all music just starts to sound the same, and certainly that's the way it felt for a decade of disinterest in music until I discover sythnwave, and randomly then Chvrches. More bizarrely my first and still favourite track of their is 'screaming' which they never play live and was actually a B side track they added to their latest album. 'Leave a trace' is much more refined where 'screaming' could have done with a bit of extra time in the production suite as it sounds a bit harsh/tinny, but the quality of the lyrics and singing shines though imo. It really stewed by noodle to also find that Chvrches also did a colab on a couple of tracks of their current album with none other than John Carpenter (yes - the film director) most notably the awesome track 'Bad Girls' (how insane is that!?). If you fancy a couple of other light hearted random tracks to throw in the eclectic reaction mix, how about Lebrock's latest release 'Running Wild' & another recent one 'Crucifix Of Light' that they did with FHE. FHE if you haven't heard of them are another mind blowing amazing duo who look like typical pop with pink hair - I would ordinarily run a mile from, but thankfully I heard them before I saw them and the lyrics, astounding voice of Nona and quality of instrumental production is jaw dropping (check out 'Mirror').

[@MagicalPlant8172]

I love it mate! I grew up on metal and I think it's a secret truth that metalheads guilty pleasure synth pop and synthwave haha

[@shelljones3381]

Your subtle smile reaction when Lauren sings the change up throughout the song! 😘 It makes me feel the same way. Her voice is amazing and the variations are beautifully arranged. Love this ❤️

[@hakanklingstedt365]

Hi ! This is my first time watching you react I just came across this video suggested to me by YT ! I'm a big CHVRCHES fan but I do listen to hard rock and metal too, and you know what ? I'm not at all surprised that you like CHVCHES ! Just like you pointed out, there is a darkness in their lyrics wich I like, just like Metal often is dark and agressive too ! I totally agree about what you say about this band ! They are geniuses ! Iain and Martin writes fantastic music and arrangements, and Lauren writes most of their lyrics and just like you say....what a voice she has !! Chrystal clear, bright as mountain water and sharp like a knife ! If you listen to the lyrics of their songs, they aren't poppy at all. You won't find a happy "I'm so happy, I love you so" CHVRCHES song ! No, they are dark, and I think they're wonderful, even if it breaks my heart a little to know that this is Lauren's way of expressing her inner feelings ! She has experienced domestic violence in a previous relationship, and a lot of her lyrics are about that. Lines like; "Run, run I have burned your bridges, I will be a gun and it's you I'll come for ! And I gonna see that you won't go far !" From their song GUN and "Catch them and kill them, your only hope is evil. I will not die, I will keep quiet, I will hold you high above, you're on your own, wait til' dawn and then go" from the song BROKEN BONES are just a couple of examples of the true darkness in her writing ! Together with catchy synth loops or beautiful melodies, this is a blend of beauty and horror that really appears to me ! And it's what makes them unique, and so totally fantastic !! I would recommend you to look up their lyrics and really listen to it ! It brings a whole new dimension to the music, that I think many misses ! Great reaction BTW !

[@cherryrose4798]

I have been at a festival in Glasgow when they played this absolutely amazing!

[@ishoottheyscore8970]

As a metalhead, you might want to take a look at Iain Cook's former band Aereogramme. Their final album was fairly soft, but they were pretty hardcore before that. The songs "Life Worth Living" and "Barriers" from that last album I think are underrated indie rock songs, but definitely not that screamy/intense (at least superficially) By the way, their new songs "He Said, She Said" and "How Not To Drown" (featuring Robert Smith) are maybe their best efforts yet, so maybe surprise your wife with them if she hasn't heard them yet!

[@alysdaxei]

I love metal and pop. CHVRCHES is amazing. Also a huge fan of Poppy.

[@Sunlineish]

Awesome band. It's that simple.

[@montecarlo2141]

I love Chvrches and Lauren and that voice is incredible!

[@ericswearingenmusic9967]

I’m a prog metal head.. and I love this shit. The smile on your face at the pre chorus says it all.. the purpose of this kind of music

[@TheWirewitch]

There are some songs/music that transcend genre and even time! No matter where you put yourself in the musical preference spectrum, you're always going to appreciate the greats from elsewhere and hidden gems, like this one! So glad I found this video, I'd love to see you react to one song I can't stop listening to right now. Hallucinations, by Pvris! I think you might like that, maybe... or you could hate it idk! Anyway, happy to be a new sub!

[@DylRicho]

Hey Luke, it's great to see CHVRCHES getting more recognition. I'm predominantly an alternative rock kind of guy, but CHVRCHES has managed to become my #1 band in the 2-ish years that I've known the band (behind Three Days Grace). Unfortunately, the band doesn't get much recognition in the UK which I think sucks. The only song that gets radio time is the Marshmello song they featured in. I think you should react to more of CHVRCHES, and I would be interested to know what you think of their newest song, 'He Said She Said,' which was released just under a week ago. They have a new album coming up next month I believe.

[@orioletes]

I'm a guy that listens Mercyful Fate and I'm a really happy man and next I can listen to Chvrches's music and I'll be as happy as with King Diamond. I really like your sincerity and to look how you are enjoying this amazing music.

[@venicewhiteboy]

Lauren calls it dance cry music. I concur. After many dance cry session live.

[@henrikibsen6258]

I love bands who can make you think the pre chorus is the chorus, then kick it up another notch.

[@martingilchrist6577]

The thing i love about this band is altho you are correct in saying the predominant sound is very poppy, the lyrics in alot of their tracks are quite deep, and a bit dark at times. There has also been a bit of an evolution in their sound over the last few years to introduce more guitars and live drums, and add a bit of a rock vibe to their music. Some of their live acoustic versions are pretty amazing too.

[@CoryKoss1972]

You say it like it is bud! When I fist watched this video when it was released I reacted exactly how you did at the same spots. Being a music lover exposes us to so many unique experiences, emotionally and physically. I could never limit myself to one genre.

[@puffin_time]

Your face when the pre-chorus hits says it all. This song slaps hard.

[@chasegran1]

There is something about CHVRCHES that appeals to metal heads. I’ve been to ~10 of their live shows and I always meet new people there. A running theme I have noticed is people telling me that they only listen to heavy metal...and CHVRCHES. I have met entire groups of friends who say this same thing. I am also a member of a CHVRCHES fan group on Facebook and I’ve seen that sentiment posted by metal fans multiple times. I don’t know what’s it is about this band, but I was not surprised at all when I started this video and heard that you mainly listen/react to metal music.

[@dog4mike]

I've always been a metal/hard rock guy, but something about Chvrches really grabbed me when I first heard them nearly a decade ago. There are others down the synth/new wave rabbit hole that are worth a listen, too, but I give these guys all kinds of credit for expanding my horizons in such a great way. Not all pop music sucks, and these guys are so much more than pop anyway. And Lauren, that voice!

[@markcherry2379]

Can’t wait for your reaction vid for the Screen Violence track, Nightmares or, if you got the Director’s Cut version, Bitter End. 🤘🎸

[@Mindphaser1]

I'm glad you liked Chvrches. They're really good and their latest album released in 2021 is worth listening to. Also I recommend you Ladytron, Paramore (especially their latest 2 albums), Computer Magic, Metric and Phantogram.

[@rabbithaze9707]

Don't worry about pissing off metalheads lol I grew up mostly listening to punk and metal and CHVRCHES was the first pop group I got into big time. I was in college when their first record came out and it's one of my all time favorites. I think I've heard in interviews that the members came from a sort of indie/punk background in bands so it makes sense they attract those types of fans

[@rcsskier]

They are excellent live and Lauren has hilarious stage banter. Check out Vök - In the Dark. They're an Icelandic band I randomly heard and really dig.

[@MisterTee]

I’m also a metal guy who is a huge ChVrches fan. They have more edge and attitude than most modern metal acts.

[@Joeymurda87]

I'm a fan of music. I grew up loving Korn and numeral. But since 2016 CHVRCHES has been my favorite group and this is one of my favorite songs by them

[@adeofbass]

I'm an old school punk fan but Chvrches absolutely push all my buttons. Fucking love them

[@ishoottheyscore8970]

Well, one of their members was previously in Aereogramme, so they may have some sensibilities in common with you!

[@FreakinSweet86]

I'm a metalhead and I began listening to these guys just before the pandemic hit last year. I had heard of them here and there for a good while but never got around to actually listening to them (I'm like that and I honestly could kick myself). Blown away. Outside of Metal, retrowave synth is a big love of mine. Anything synthy is good. Tangerine Dream is a favourite of mine. Chvrches have easily become one of my favourites, just awesome. I get the same energy from these as I would any metal band.

[@Mindphaser1]

Check out the band Ladytron. They are excellent.

[@mikez1701e]

This is why we all get along being musical fans

[@crazylegssw]

Chvrches cover of Artic Monkeu's "Do I Want to Know" hit at a point in my life that will always be apart of me.

[@kristofferrosvall8709]

Metalhead here as well. I really like Chvrches as well. I like the music but what really hooked me is Laurens voice she has so much emotion. I think the writes most if not all of the lyrics and they are usualy great. This song says so much more than the average song out there. The best line in the song for me is "Everything you ever did was strictly by design, but you got it wrong" That is a fucking brutal burn.

[@audibleadventures9004]

Chvrches never did really get the credit they deserved, but I love that they are my little secret :)

[@MisterTee]

They are pretty popular.

[@redhoodjasontodd3129]

Not anymore I found them in 2015 and became my favorite band back then nobody knew them but in the. Got super popular since the marshmallow song came out right after that they got popular

[@leolandleo]

What I would not consider myself a metalhead, part of what I like about metal is the intensity and raw emotion of a lot of songs I find in the genre. Chvrches does a great job at letting that shine through both lyrically with lines that really stick with you as well as musically, layering the perfect sound & voice to the point of sometimes giving you shivers.

[@MultiElPistoleo]

For me, one of my favorite bands has always been "The Cure" so imagine, the meeting between Robert Smith and CHVRCHES is just for me a moment of intense pleasure. And otherwise, being French I do not necessarily understand everything you say, but you give off a crazy charisma. Glad to have discovered you :)

[@MultiElPistoleo]

And here is the link I was talking about : kzbin.info/www/bejne/bYbCfZuwnNx9arc

[@richardalther3619]

Music is music. Some speaks to us and moves us, and some doesn't. I came upon them while tracking down a song that stood out on the TV series NOS4A2. If you want to hear a dark, creepy song of theirs, listen to "Broken Bones" off their first album.

[@GrahamSpeed]

Mate I loved this reaction and the fact you don't pause, I'm not massively into metal anymore, do more of these!

[@mikez1701e]

This is one of my favorite songs and to hear a metalhead react like this means you like music in general like you say so cheers mate 🍸🥃

[@onisnazir1317]

follow your own blue

[@criswadsworth]

Love Chvches! Their new song with Robert Smith from The Cure is amazing!

[@UnseenMenace]

This is one of my favourites of theirs and it's a bonus that Lauren looks amazing in that chainmail :) Respect to you for listening to whatever the fuck you like too :)

[@kaidms]

Hey metal hunter new here, I assume you've heard some of their first album. if you haven't already clearest blue and lies are great by chvrches. Big anthemic tracks I think you'll enjoy.

[@jebus7679]

It's funny, metal is without a doubt the kind of music I prefer to listen to, and the more I listen to, the more I open up to heavier and more extreme styles of metal. But my favorite artist isn't a metal band at all. My favorite artist is the electro-pop artist Lights. People that pigeonhole themselves into only liking one type of music may be missing out on music that they would absolutely love. Chvrches though is something else. I don't know what it is but listening to their music hits me with waves of nostalgia even though I have no connection to anything like their music in my past. It really is the damnedest thing.

[@adamgardner2244]

Metallica is my favorite band. I love White Zombie and Volbeat and some other stuff. Some Megadeth and Pantera. But i absolutely love this band. I like lots of different styles of music. This song is fantastic!

[@leestockton9367]

Maybe you should listen to their song "Clearest Blue"

[@axelusul]

well said, the real deal here and "reaction".

[@micahlelugas5139]

Chvrches are the 80s reborn.

[@venicewhiteboy]

We feel

[@markomakela2360]

Hi man! Everyone should sometimes try something out of the box... It can be rewarding experience. And yes sir, Lauren has a remarkable beautiful voice and she very pretty too:)

[@accolad]

Reminds of ersure mixed with omd what a voice she has mr metal head thank you for a least giving this a go bravo my friend

[@Dasypodidae45]

Great song!

[@aruraru6644]

I'm a metal head and I was surprised when I heard Chvrches and Kimbra. Can you react to Kimbra - Eeverybody knows? I hope you will like it.

[@CartwrightFour]

Great reaction!

[@davidrhysroberts3641]

Great reaction to a great band 👍

[@hdguy5]

Hahahaha great reaction mate. And yeah, this is a fantastic track.

[@charllesxavier2897]

This song is very expetacular.

[@riverraider76]

try this on for size.. CHVRCHES, Robert Smith - How Not To Drown Robert Smith from the Cure

[@eutrophic04]

Should check out the moog sessions version of Mother We Share

[@charliewalker9443]

Love this song. Good reaction. Subbed.

[@bennikolajevs5865]

This is top shelf music full stop. All genres will have quality artists that can draw you in. Chvrhes are no different and I listen to them in the same day I listen to Jinjer, Gojira, Metallica and Fleet Foxes. And i'm too old to care anymore about what anyone thinks.

[@sickjoe9174]

Chvrches is solid subpop and a good addition to anyone's library that digs darker music. Genre is irrelevant, dark subject matter and tone is what I crave and connect to. If you dig Siouxsie and the Banshees you'd dig stuff like Dum Dum Girls kzbin.info/www/bejne/poCpkKKlaKqapLM On the metal side of things, even if you don't do a review you should check out this new band kzbin.info/www/bejne/lZq6pJSKgauIhbs

[@venicewhiteboy]

She has a law degree and marketing degree. CHV is the most brilliant marketing ploy ever.

[@onisnazir1317]

Also you have nice eyes

[@jawnjawn3187]

Metallica and Chvrches fan here. Random!

[@malcolmsmith6449]

Lauren has listed this as one of her favourites. It’s “her mic drop” song. It’s definitely empowering, and I love her confidence. You HAVE to check out the Chvrches cover of “Somebody Else” if you like The 1975. Also, check out Maggie Rogers’s new album. “That’s Where I Am” is my favourite.

[@JoselitoRapisora]

Dream Theater then Chvrches... not weird combo afterall!

[@enterlinemediavisual]

If you want a band to react to- listen to Beyond The Black

[@todd8372]

Please review CHVRCHES How Not To Drown

[@Brax1982]

This type of video is a bit of a cliche and many of them feel like it's for an agenda, but this sounds believable to me. Far from a metal head here, not really hating on any one genre, but - aside from how it's probably fairly common for people to like more than one genre, no matter how different - I guess I can see how this band appeals to metal heads. Much of the band's lyrics and her delivery is quite aggressive, vicious and sometimes petty. They also have a darker edge than most of their ilk, much like The Cure. I'm sure you could easily turn this into a metal song and it would work. I'd be surprised if that hasn't been done. Especially with this song, one of their most popular. Another band who does (did?) this quite well, but in a different style and generally (even?) more saccharine on the surface is AlunaGeorge. Used to love them at around the same time that Chvrches showed up, back in 2012 or something. Some songs are just line after line of witty disses and burns in sugary-sweet delivery. Highly entertaining stuff. They seem to have moved into dancier remix-heavy territory I didn't care for, much unlike Chvrches, who apparently turn heavier these days and let their dark edge take over more and more.

[@Different_Not_Broken]

Lauren got online abuse on her socials for this. Ie for wearing a mini skirt and the wet look. She got called slut etc. She even had male fans criticise her..she wrote and sung about in on there new album screen violence. From the song he said she said. She put her creativity and abuse she got into a song. Its one of the reason we love lauren & her boys ( CHVRCHES )

[@jawnjawn3187]

And dont get me started on the Chris Brown fans hahaah

[@MrEstefan74]

Please, respond to Clearest Blue!!! 🙏🙏🙏😉

[@tabb5818]

The thumbs down isn’t for you it’s so KZbin can promote the most well-liked content. Edit: I liked the video btw just saying

[@bernaemckissack6298]

Check oute more chvrches and paolo nutini fratellis Travis Amy macdonald primal scream, ultravox, simple minds 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿👌💨💨💨👀🙃😂😂Great songs