Dopamine Chamber Review

lara ⭑ on Pinterest, from Telerama photoshoot

I. 2026 Was Not Perfect, At Least I Have Music

There are still two months left in 2026, and even though this year is not an easy one for me, I must admit that music is one of the elements that help me gone through these months. I attended my first ever concert in January — Wolf Alice in Jakarta. 17 years old me would not believe it, it was an amazing experience even though I’m not really into their latest album. That was my first unforgettable musical experience of the year, but then I also experienced other pleasant musical experience in 2026 even though they were not as major as attending my first concert. From unexpected new releases that ended up becoming my monthly soundtracks (Mitski’s Nothing’s About to Happen to Me, Olivia Rodrigo’s You Seem Pretty Sad for A Girl So In Love) to new artists dicovery (Gurriers, Basht., Radio Free Alice). But I wasn’t expecting any new release from my favorite artists this year, until Fontaines DC announcing Dopamine Chamber.

I must confess that it took me a while to get into Fontaines DC, when they were popular during Skinty Fia era I thought their music was not for me. And then Romance was released and I was still skeptical that I would like them. But last year — 2025, was when lots of things happened to me so I guess my taste in music kind of changes as time goes by. Although I would not say it’s really a drastic change since Fontaines DC is still under the same umbrella as other rock/alternative/post-punk acts I liked before. And I’m already a fan of Inhaler since like, 2023 so my radar for rising Irish bands was up. But I didn’t expect to get into their discography that deep in the mid to late 2025. Guess you just need to give a second chance.

The release of Dopamine Chamber itself was kind of unexpected, let alone to be this soon. I was kind of planning to watch them in any festival sometimes in 2027, because I wanted to witness them live-performing their songs from Dogrel to Romance before the new album drops and the focus would be on the latest tracks. And I was lowkey worried that I would not like the new album that much just like my case with Wolf Alice.

But then the new album was announced so the tour would be possible too. I was hanging out with my friends when my YouTube notification showed a teaser for their new single Marianne and that just made my day. Even though I was having unexpected period while wearing white dress that day. Before the teaser for Marianne was dropped, I already saw them performing the song live on the festivals in Europe throughout the summer. At first Marianne was not really attracting me, but Six Shot Morning sounded so solid that I can’t wait to hear the studio version.

II. Marianne and First Impression

e0s_film on Pinterest, from “Marianne” music video

So Marianne was dropped last August alongside a mind-blowing music video. I always loved how their music videos had some cinematic feeling in them (pun intended), from In the Modern World to Roman Holiday to It’s Amazing to Be Young to my personal favorite Skinty Fia. And so far Marianne’s music video is the most ambitious one, it feels very David Lynch meets Gaspar Noe’s Climax. And yeah there was also a controversy over the use of AI in the MV’s special effect, which was then cited by lead singer Grian Chatten that the band was unaware of, given how big the production was with many artists involved in the making. But the MV itself was a visual feast, a surrealistic trip which introduced us to the concept of Dopamine Chamber as an album. Based on how the dark-psychedelia elements really elevated the concept in Marianne, I think it would be a waste not to explore it more in other songs’ music videos. But currently there were only Tongue and Japan music videos which weren’t really applied the same concept.

But as a single, Marianne did deliver a new, exciting direction the band leads. Swap the guitar riffs and dramatic verse build-ups with dark-wave synths and hooky chorus. I didn’t mind the lack of rock elements in this song, the chorus was catchy and addicting that got me repeating it for weeks after its release. My problem was the repetitiveness of this single and how the composition could be more complex. But it does feels very The Cure too, especially on their The Head on the Door era.

After Marianne, the second single Tongue was released to close the month of September. This single’s reception was pretty polarizing, some called it lacking of energy and lyrically too straightforward, some called it bold and gradually shows its quality. I also witnessed some listeners drawing the influence from Depeche Mode, which I could not really see since I’m not a big Depeche Mode listener. But if I gave Marianne a 7/10, I would give Tongue 6/10. This song is so repetitive, a little use of auto-tune was overshadowing bassist Connor Deegan’s beautiful backing vocal, and the lyrics were kind of corny. But then I found myself blasting this song again and again until it ended up on my On Repeat playlist.

lara ⭑ on Pinterest, from “Marianne” music video

III. Where is Gone? and The Album Release

lara ⭑ on Pinterest

The last single that was released before the album was Where is Gone? featuring Spanish singer Rosalia. I never listened to any song from her, my friend used to introduced me to some of her songs so I was kind of familiar with her vocal. But this song, which is Fontaines DC’s first featured collaboration was unexpectedly mind-blowing. An atmospheric ballad-pop with a nod to 1960s baroque pop that many people agreed would be an amazing Bond anthem. The strings were beautiful and sensual, the vocals combination between Grian and Rosalia was heavenly. Listening to this song feels like rolling down the daisy hills on some Northern Italian countryside.

But after these three singles were released, it felt harder to guess the whole concept of Dopamine Chamber. Luckily Where is Gone? was released not long before the album dropped on October 16th, 2026. 11 tracks, opened with the long-awaited Six Shot Morning, a Depeche Mode-esque darkwave that allured us with the catchy refrain “melancholy hearts in a motion film” which looped over and over again until the end. I’d say it sounds more appropriate as the album’s closure than an opener. But to put the listener’s head right into the space, I’d say this kind of atmospheric track works as an opener. Just like opening Skinty Fia with In ar gCroithe go deo.

And then the third track Mimesis kicked in right after the already-familiar Marianne, and my view on this album was completely changed. The album that I thought would only cure my longing for seeing them performing ended up containing one of my new favorite songs from them. Mimesis is a new wave synth-pop song that reminded me so much of New Order especially in their Power, Corruption, Lies album. The synth sounded so danceable, addicting, even though the lyrics are not as cheerful as the tune — on the contrary it’s pretty melancholic. The intro gave me butterflies the way The Cranberries’ Dreams did to me. Lyrically it feels like a call back to their hit song Favourite; “but if there was a lightning in me, then you know who it was for” with the lyrics on Mimesis’ outro being “if you’re a star, shine on me. If you’re not, let me be.” Mimesis is able to give me that main character moment and I will be very annoying about this song for the next few weeks, not sorry.

It feels like falling face first to the ground after flying so high to the clouds when Happy For You played next, the brooding tune about accepting to let someone go. I personally loved the grungy guitar and slow build-up in this song, but musically this track is kind of out of the concept. It sounds like something from their sophomore album A Hero’s Death, but compared to other string-heavy or synth-driven tunes Happy for You is less challenging. The song reminds me of Cigarette Smoke from Olivia Rodrigo’s You Seems Pretty Sad for A Girl So In Love; their slower, quieter tune which delivers vulnerable, heartbreaking moment but feels less-standout due to its simple structure. But I guess this song would still be pretty enjoyable for sing-along sessions at concerts.

Demolition is pretty much growing on me. The new-wave influence is also pretty apparent in this track, just like something from The Cure’s Japanese Whispers even though the chorus kind of reminded me of Fascination Street. I loved Grian’s vocal delivery in this track, between this and Where is Gone? I get more sure how versatile his vocal is. You Miss Me shows another cinematic use of strings, the chorus feels so emotional and was built for another concert sing-along session, I imagine the same vibe as the live performance of In the Modern World.

Japan was another track beside Happy for You that kind of feels inconsistent with the album’s theme. The song still feels like a brother to It’s Amazing to Be Young, they had such catchy and exciting hook but the whole structure could have been more packed. The lyrics about longing for real connection and commitment in a seemingly unhealthy and emotionally-detached relationship is giving situationship vibe, especially on the lyrics “He says thanks for the no promises, I appreciate your style. Why’d you go and make it real?”

IV. Least Favorites and Critics

lara ⭑ on Pinterest, from Pooneh Ghana’s instagram

And now for my least favorite songs on the album; One Man and Intimate. Just like Japan, One Man could have used more layers lyrically and musically. The strings were pretty but most of the time the track feels hollow. Intimate had some sick drumming but the hook is pretty dull. I loved The Cure-esque long outro, though. I just think as the album’s closure Intimate required some kicks.

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My overall critic for Dopamine Chamber is about the lyrics. It doesn’t take a second glance to notice that the lyrics are not as intricate and layered as the four previous album. Simplistic, straightforward lyrics are fine, I just think the songs could use longer verses and more intense build-up towards the chorus instead of repeating the same hook again and again. They ever wrote a line like “what artless living all this soft pain thrills, what calamities usher all our brilliance to the hills” and rhymed “skinty fia” with “can you feel it” before, so I understand how the fans were giving higher expectations on how the lyrical aspect of the album would be. Especially when their former songs were not relying on catchiness but dramatic lyrical build-up.

V. Final Thoughts and Ranking

lara ⭑ on Pinterest, from @fontainesband’s instagram

I can see why the reception of this album is so far still polarizing among the fans, at one side this album is still playing on the safe zone that’s pretty close to Romance but on the other hand this album combining diverse elements which made it harder to put Dopamine Chamber into one box. I personally give this album a 7 out of 10, this record proved their ability to still explore new sounds while still feels comforting to listened to. By the end, it’s just my personal opinion, I think other listener’s rank could varied based on their favorite Fontaines DC’s previous eras.

If you’re also a fan, feel free to share your thoughts on this album, which tracks are your favorites? If you’re not but feels like Dopamine Chamber is your thing, share with me are you interested in giving this album a try? I’m just so excited to see that in 2026 we still have many bands actively creating and performing amazing music, I wish next year would be my chance to finally watch these Irish boys live. Thank you for reading my amateur music review, see you on my next entry! xo, Carrie ❤

My Dopamine Chamber track ranking:

1. Mimesis
2. Where is Gone?
3. Six Shot Morning
4. You Miss Me
5. Japan
6. Demolition
7. Happy for You
8. Marianne
9. Intimate
10. Tongue
11. One Man

My Current Top 10 Fontaines DC Songs:

1. Roman Holiday
2. Jackie Down the Line
3. Mimesis
4. In the Modern World
5. Hurricane Laughter
6. Where is Gone?
7. Dublin City Sky
8. In ar gCroithe go deo
9. Skinty Fia
10. Roy’s Tune