Recording and Production
The three songs are "What If This Storm Ends?", "The Sunlight Through the Flags", and "Daybreak". "What If This Storm Ends?" was recorded at Olympic Studios in London and features brass choir. The second part, "The Sunlight Through the Flags", is set on the west coast of Ireland and was recorded at Grouse Lodge, Co. Westmeath, Ireland. According to the wishes of producer Jacknife Lee, the third and last part, "Daybreak", was recorded at Hansa Tonstudios in Berlin, where David Bowie recorded "Heroes" in the '70s and U2 recorded Achtung Baby in the '90s. Lightbody commented that "Daybreak" "was really affected by Hansa" and "has that Krautrock hypnotic sway to it, and "Heroes"-type guitars swooning over the top", and it made a fitting end to the album.
The band specifically chose to keep the song the last track on the album. In an interview, Lightbody said "We felt like it hopefully leaves you wondering "what's next?", making you want more".
In an interview to Glide Magazine, Nathan Connolly spoke of the band's desire to not sound like their earlier work, but still maintain their "melody and honesty". The song grew out of the band trying to progress musically. Connolly also felt that the song requires repeated listening to grow on a person, like acquired taste.
Read more about this topic: The Lightning Strike
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