Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends (2006–present)

The band began to work on their fourth studio album, Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends, in October 2006, with Brian Eno as producer.[45] Coldplay took a break from recording and toured Latin America in early 2007, including shows in Chile, Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico.[46] The band revealed that the album seemed to be shaping up with Hispanic influences, after having recorded in churches and other areas in Latin America and Spain during their tour.[47] The group spent the rest of the year recording, mainly with Brian Eno.[48]

Martin described Viva la Vida as a new direction for Coldplay: a change from their past three albums, which they have referred to as a "trilogy".[49] He said the album featured less falsetto as he allowed his voice's lower register to take precedence.[49] Some songs, such as "Violet Hill", contain distorted guitar riffs and bluesy undertones.[49] "Violet Hill" was confirmed as the first single, with a radio release date of 29 April 2008.[50] After the first play, it was freely obtainable from Coldplay's website from 12:15 pm (GMT +0) for one week (achieving two million downloads),[51] until it became commercially available to download on 6 May.[52][53] "Violet Hill" entered the UK Top 10, US Top 40 (entering the Top 10 in the Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart) and charted well in the rest of the world.[54] The title track, "Viva la Vida", was also released exclusively on iTunes. It became the band's first number one on the Billboard Hot 100,[55] and their first UK number one, based on download sales alone.[56] On 16 June, Coldplay began their Viva la Vida Tour with a free concert at Brixton Academy in London.[57] This was followed two days later by a 45-minute performance that was broadcast live from outside BBC Television Centre.[58]

On 15 June 2008, Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends topped the UK album chart, despite having been on sale for only three days. In that time, it sold 302,000 copies; the BBC called it "one of the fastest-selling records in UK history".[59] By the end of June, it had set a new record for most-downloaded album ever.[60][61] In October 2008, Coldplay won two Q Awards for Best Album for Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends and Best Act in the World Today.[62] During an interview with Zane Lowe for BBC Radio 1 on 16 October, Martin suggested that the band were trying to book Knebworth House in Hertfordshire for a concert in 2009.[63]

In a BBC 6 Music interview on 30 August, Martin stated the band will follow up Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends with an EP entitled Prospekt's March, to be released around 26 December (later changed to 25 November).[64][65]

In December 2008, guitarist Joe Satriani filed a copyright infringement suit in Los Angeles Federal Court against Coldplay for allegedly copying portions of his instrumental "If I Could Fly" from the album Is There Love in Space? for use in "Viva la Vida".[66][67]

On 20 January 2009, it was announced that Coldplay had been nominated for four BRIT Awards: British Group, British Live Act, British Single ("Viva la Vida") and British Album (Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends).[68]

At the 51st Grammy Awards on 8 February 2009, Coldplay won three Grammy Awards in the categories for Song of Year for "Viva la Vida", Best Rock Album for Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends, and Best Vocal Pop Performance by a Duo or Group for "Viva la Vida".[69][70]

Coldplay have agreed to perform a short acoustic set on 14 March 2009 for Sound Relief at the Sydney Cricket Ground, despite having a sold-out concert later that same night.[71] Sound Relief is a benefit concert for victims of the Victorian Bushfire Crisis and the Queensland Floods.[72] Appearing with Coldplay at the Sydney concert are, Eskimo Joe, Hoodoo Gurus, Icehouse, Josh Pyke, Little Birdy, The Presets, Wolfmother, You Am I and additional artists.[73]