On September 12, 2022, Natalie Mering announced her fifth studio album, And in the Darkness, Hearts Aglow, set for release on November 18, 2022, alongside the lead single "It's Not Just Me, It's Everybody." To promote the album, she embarked on the In Holy Flux Tour across North America and Europe in 2023. The second single, "Grapevine," was released on October 11, 2022, inspired by Mering's breakup with a "narcissistic" musician during the COVID-19 pandemic. The third single, "God Turn Me into a Flower," was released on November 16, 2022. This album is the second entry in a trilogy of studio albums following 2019's Titanic Rising. Mering describes Titanic Rising as a warning of impending issues, while And in the Darkness, Hearts Aglow reflects her personal response to those challenges. Her original concept for the album artwork aimed to give the light inside her chest a "more alien" appearance.