Like their 2018 sophomore set, Sick Boy, the Chainsmokers' third effort, World War Joy, was slowly unveiled over the course of a year, with album singles issued almost monthly until the LP's eventual arrival in December 2019. Continuing to forge a path into indie/emo-electronic territory, the tracks on World War Joy offer bittersweet, introspective, and thoughtful lyrics backed by mid-tempo electronic dance textures that relax and soothe more than they inspire raving. A far cry from their chart-topping EDM smashes, these offerings still managed to perform well on the charts, with collaborations with 5 Seconds of Summer ("Who Do You Love"), Bebe Rexha ("Call You Mine"), and Illenium and Lennon Stella ("Takeaway") hitting the Hot 100. Additional guests included Kygo, Ty Dolla $ign, and even blink-182. Upon release, World War Joy debuted at number 65 on the Billboard 200.