The band opted to continue their collaboration with Swedish music producer Martin Terefe—who worked with them on their previous album Wake Up Call—returning to London in April 2019.

Their prior album marked the group's departure from their usual hard rock sound to a more pop- and pop rock-infused style and was met with mixed reviews from critics.

The band responded to this pressure with the release of their fifth studio album, Savages, in 2014, which Connolly described as the "opposite" of their record label's wishes.

[2] Los Angeles-based music producer Howard Benson worked with the band on Savages as well as three of their previous albums,[3] but the group felt they wanted something different for their future records.

[5][6] The band credited this shift to Connolly, the group's primary songwriter, acquiring and learning how to play the piano prior to the album's recording.

Connolly expressed feeling creatively exhausted, stating, "For some reason, [on] this album, I felt tapped on the guitar side.

"[16] The band found further inspiration after participating in a private tour of Abbey Road Studios in London, specifically referencing The Beatles' album Sgt.

[16] Say Nothing's lead single, "History of Violence", talks about domestic abuse, and was released concurrently with its music video on September 25, 2019.

[11] The record's title track—"Say Nothing"—vocalizes the lack of communication seen in relationships, which is one issue that Connolly admits led to his divorce from ex-wife Christine.

[1][14] Additional recording was completed by Connolly at The Panic Room in Burbank, California and by Nikolaj Torp Larsen at Eastcote Studio 4 in London.

[19] "World Keeps Spinning" was released on January 31, 2020, in concurrence with the album; the music video premiered on the band's official YouTube channel.