Before the release of their anticipated fifth studio album, Dopamine Chamber, Irish rock band Fontaines D.C released their pre-release single, ‘Tongue’. This follows the issuing of their first pre-release track, ‘Marianne’, that was praised highly for its autumnal and euphoric sound. Although ‘Tongue’ inhabits a much darker approach, Fontaines D.C continue to appeal to the indie-experimental sound they create so well.

What makes this song so interesting is the layers of instruments the band put into the production. ‘Tongue’ begins with a gloomy guitar that is soon picked up by the loud echoes of the drums to create quite a contrasting sound. The piano during the instrumental break is particularly haunting

The piano during the instrumental break is particularly haunting

as it is isolated and breaks up how loud the chorus is compared to the rest of the song. This is done in such a way as the listener feels transfixed to the music, in a hypnotic state which can only be achieved by this band. 

Ideas of distortion and warped reality become prominent once listening to the track’s lyrics. The repetition of  “Oh, she has a tongue to take apart your life” by frontman Grian Chatten is particularly interesting upon first listen, as the vocals are purposefully pitched higher to create a euphoric feeling whilst listening to it.

the vocals are purposefully pitched higher to create a euphoric feeling

Though it may initially seem unfamiliar, it coincides with the much edgier sound that the band are known for. The lyric, “More abuse than an Adderall / Shit, I’m sorry, didn’t realise I called”, indicates indulging in a substance that has made his actions unknown to himself – perhaps a reference to the title of the album, Dopamine Chamber. 

‘Tongue’ takes on an experimental sound that differs from their previous album, Romance, however the band has continued to incorporate the post-punk energy which makes their music so addictive. If you are a fan of their music, this is certainly a great choice for a pre-release and it will be interesting to hear them perform this live. The band are set to release Dopamine Chamber on October 16th 2026.