Fontaines D.C. have endured a year marked by considerable hardship.
The lineup—Grian Chatten, Conor Curley, Conor Deegan, Tom Coll and Carlos O’Connell—were left reeling by the death of their manager Trevor Dietz in June, and they paid homage to him during a recent performance at London’s Roundhouse.
Chatten addressed the audience, saying, “This year has been incredibly tough for us. I’d like to dedicate this next song to you,” before launching into Favourite, a track from the band’s 2023 album Romance.
In the meantime, the group has released their new “mood-altering” record, Dopamine Chamber.
Central to the collection is the lead single Marianne, which nods to the 2024 psychological thriller Ripley, featuring Irish actor Andrew Scott in the role of the con artist Tom Ripley.
Chatten commented on the record: “The album is, in essence, a dopamine chamber. You enter it and we test a series of mind- or mood-altering pieces of music on you.”
Bassist Conor Deegan added: “Our albums have always challenged the idea of where we belong. First Dublin, then distance from Dublin, and finally seeking romance somewhere else. On this record, the question became: where do you escape to?”
The recording took place across London, the English countryside, and Palermo in Sicily, where Chatten assembled a makeshift vocal booth from mattresses and cushions.
Speaking about the contrast with Romance, Chatten explained: “Romance felt roughly 60 percent human and 40 percent marred by automation and emotional erosion. This one tilts more toward corruption—about 60 percent—so the mask begins to reveal the face more clearly. I believed it would be stronger to omit hope and confront the ugliness squarely. It should feel like a stark warning.”
Additionally, the band recently announced a second Slane Castle date for their 2027 tour due to popular demand.
Fontaines D.C. will be joined by Hayley Williams, Damien Dempsey, Madra Salach and others for the original show on June 26 and the extra performance on June 27.
The famed 80,000-capacity arena in County Meath has welcomed legendary acts through the years, from The Rolling Stones, David Bowie and Bob Dylan to Oasis, Metallica and Harry Styles.
