Fontaines D.C. Share New Single “Tongue” and Detail Upcoming Album Dopamine Chamber

Irish rock heavyweights Fontaines D.C. have returned with “Tongue,” marking the second single to be lifted from their highly anticipated upcoming studio album, Dopamine Chamber. Along with the audio release, the band has treated fans to a companion music video, capturing self-filmed footage during a recent visit to New York City. The visual accompaniment was directed by John Angus Stewart, a frequent creative collaborator who has helped shape the band’s distinctive aesthetic.

The unveiling of “Tongue” offers listeners a deeper look into the sonic evolution and experimental direction driving Dopamine Chamber. According to guitarist Conor Curley, the new track serves as a direct narrative and sonic continuation of their previous artistic chapter. In a press statement regarding the song’s creation, Curley noted that “Tongue” deliberately “continued where Romance left off, leaving the live-band elements until they were really needed.”

In practice, that deliberate restraint translates into a daring sonic palette that leans heavily into unconventional production techniques. Rather than relying immediately on standard rock instrumentation, the track features a tape-manipulated bassline crafted by bassist Conor Deegan. Furthermore, frontman Grian Chatten’s distinctive vocal delivery undergoes a stark transformation, distorted dynamically through a sampler thanks to the intricate handiwork of guitarist Carlos O’Connell. This meticulous layering demonstrates a band increasingly willing to stretch the boundaries of their foundational post-punk and alternative rock roots, pushing further into textural experimentation and modern studio wizardry.

Dopamine Chamber is scheduled for official release on October 16 via XL Recordings. The album is produced by James Ford, a heavyweight producer renowned for his work with a vast array of critically acclaimed alternative and electronic acts, further raising expectations for how the record will sound as a cohesive body of work. As the autumn release date approaches, Fontaines D.C. are actively gearing up for an extensive touring schedule to support the album. While the group has announced a massive run of live dates, their current itinerary notably includes no U.S. dates, leaving North American fans waiting for future scheduling announcements.

The forthcoming album has also generated significant industry buzz regarding its tracklist and guest features. It has been revealed that Spanish pop and avant-garde superstar Rosalía will make a guest appearance on the record, providing a feature on the track “Where Is Gone?” This collaboration holds a unique milestone for the group, as Rosalía stands as the album’s sole guest artist and marks the very first feature appearance on any Fontaines D.C. album to date.

The high-profile collaboration has already drawn industry chatter and amusing comparisons. By contrast, U2 frontman Bono recently admitted to getting cold feet about approaching the Catalan singer to guest on the new U2 album. Instead of securing her for a collaboration, Bono reportedly decided to channel his admiration for the artist by doing an impression of her instead, a humorous anecdote that highlights Rosalía’s immense cultural footprint and desirability as a modern musical collaborator across generations of Irish rock royalty.

As Fontaines D.C. prepare for the rollout of Dopamine Chamber through XL Recordings, “Tongue” stands as a testament to the group’s refusal to rest on their laurels. By blending traditional instrumentation with tape loops, heavily processed vocals, and unconventional studio manipulation, the band continues to redefine their identity within the contemporary rock landscape. With James Ford at the helm of the production desk and high-profile creative alliances secured, the autumn release promises to be one of the most closely watched alternative music events of the year.