Fontaines D.C. share what’s next in the ‘Dopamine Chamber’, with new single ‘Tongue’
Dublin native band Fontaines D.C. are the talk of the music world, and they’re truly here to follow up on such acclaim. After announcing the follow up to their critically acclaimed revelation, 2024’s ‘Romance’, an album which sparked unprecedented highs for the band, including a headlining show at the iconic Finsbury park.
After a minor break, Fontaines D.C. are back, announcing two UK tours (Winter 2026 and Summer 2027), including a two days at Slane Castle. Their upcoming album ‘Dopamine Chamber’ enlists a very similar profile to ‘Romance’ stylistically, with the previous single ‘Marianne’ invoking a similar stance of dark, seductive yearning, whilst clearly expanding and showing an untapped dimension for the band, with a soon to be signature style of distorted, seductive potency.
Using a vast array of techniques, from manipulating the tape speed of the bass – a technique commonly used by Prince – to placing Grian Chatten’s vocals through a sampler to pitch himself up, ‘Tongue’ feels like a pivotal step within the band’s current momentum. Grian questions throughout the track ‘Am I allowed to say it if nobody’s gonna listen?’, whilst describing this toxic, raucous love over a quite frankly beautiful orchestral selection that crescendos and explodes in the last chorus. It would be an understatement to say that the band hold their own weight instrumentally, with Tom Coll’s drums appearing isolated in the background, weaving throughout the verses, until the pre-chorus, where such snares and toms hit with passion and gusto. Grian’s every move is followed by this lively, crisp piano; you can’t escape it in the most entrancing manner, whilst O’Connell and Curley’s guitars are also notably exceptional, with a charismatic, distorted solo towards wrapping a bow on this phenomenal track.
In the near decade of activity we have had the honour of knowing Fontaines D.C. for, I can say that they have never felt so experimental, or so original. New single ‘Tongue’, showcases that there are no boundaries for the force of nature that is Fontaines D.C., and that this band is now merely adapting and evolving, defining their own sound as they set off on what is set to be a tour-de-force of a year.
Fontaines D.C.’s latest song ‘Tongue’ comes out today, with their fifth album ‘Dopamine Chamber’ out on the 16th of October.
Photo by Ewen Spencer
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