Vicious Creature is the debut solo studio album by Scottish singer and musician Lauren Mayberry, released on 6 December 2024 by EMI Records. After four albums as the lead singer of synth-pop band CHVRCHES since 2011, Mayberry announced in 2023 that she would be pursuing a solo project. Work on the album started in early 2022, with Mayberry citing Fiona Apple, Tori Amos, PJ Harvey, Annie Lennox, Jenny Lewis, Sinéad O'Connor as influences. Lyrically, the album discusses mortality, societal pressure, personal growth, and sexism in the music industry. Mayberry co-wrote every song on the album, along with its producers Dan McDougall, Matthew Koma, Ethan Gruska, and Greg Kurstin; additional songwriters include Tobias Jesso Jr., Caroline Pennell, and Griffin Goldsmith. Vicious Creature has received favourable reviews from critics and was supported by five singles: "Are You Awake?", "Shame", "Change Shapes", "Something in the Air", and "Crocodile Tears". The album received "generally favourable reviews" according to Metacritic, based on a weighted average score of 71/100, from 12 critics. Sam Walker-Smart of Clash praised Mayberry's ability to sound contemporary while being influenced by 1990s pop music. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.