The touring cycle for the album concluded by December 2010; frontman Liam Fray said the band would take a brief break before starting to work on their next album. In December 2012, the band played another one-off show in Manchester, this time at the Manchester Arena, with support from the View, and at XFM's Winter Wonderland radio festival. The song was released as the album's second single on 6 May 2013; the seven-inch vinyl edition featured a live version of "Last of the Ladies" as its B-side, while the digital download version included "Let Down Your Guard" and a remix of "Van Der Graaff". They played a few shows in 2011, spending most of the year working on their next album, debuting some new songs in the process.

PopMatters contributor Ben Olson saw Anna as being "every bit as infectious as their impressive debut, but it is bigger, glossier, and clearly intended to be played in massive, sold out stadiums". Islington Gazette 's Stephen Moore commented that the "sluggish feel to much of the LP that drowns out, or at least distracts from, what was once a key strength". The album's closing song "Here Come the Young Men" features guitar riffs in the style of the Vaccines. The album was promoted with two tours of the UK, as well as various festival appearances, including Glastonbury, Isle of Wight and T in the Park.

Due to inventory and accounting purposes, we do not exchange items received for different items than originally purchased. In June and July 2011, the band performed at Delamere Forest, in addition to playing at the Haigh Live and Isle of Wight Festivals. After frontman Liam Fray broke his ankle, he re-listened to the material they had up to that point and felt they could be improved on. In December 2013, the band toured across the UK to close out the year, after which they went on hiatus.

The band toured the UK shortly afterwards; "Van Der Graaff" was released as the album's second single in May 2013.Following its completion, Courteeners appeared at various festivals leading up to a one-off show at the Manchester Arena, and the release of the lead single "Lose Control" in December 2012.