2024’s ‘Romance’ launched Fontaines D.C. to new heights, becoming their first certified Platinum release. It’s not an easy album to follow up, but with ‘Dopamine Chamber’ the band takes the melodic sound and lush production of ‘Romance’ into gloomier territories. Grungy guitar hooks and moody synths combine to create a soundscape that perfectly captures the dystopian nature of frontman Grian Chatten’s lyrics, in which he explores the various dopamine hits in modern society that we cling to in order to escape reality. It’s a far cry from the anthemic, festival-scale hits of their previous release, but for me it’s a much more compelling and cohesive project. LT

Out now on XL