Arctic Monkeys are Back After Four Years With "Opening Night"
The track is part of a benefit compilation albim for UK-based children's charity War Child.
by JV Ordoñez
Published on Jan 23, 2026
It's been four years since frontman Alex Turner, drummer Matt Helders, guitarist Jamie Cook, and bassist Nick O'Malley released any music, following their seventh studio album, the 2022 lounge-pop/rock record The Car.
"Opening Night" is the rock band's new single from the forthcoming charity compilation record Help (2) to help UK-based organization War Child raise money to support their work in conflict zones. It is based on the previous 1995 charity compilation Help, which was recorded in just one day to raise funds for humanitarian aid in Bosnia.
The compilation LP has a generous helping of covers and original songs from some of the alternative music space's most compelling and potent artists such as Black Country, New Road, King Krule, beabadoobee, Big Thief, Geese's Cameron Winter, Depeche Mode, and even pop star Olivia Rodrigo.
The record was under the musical direction of legendary producer James Ford (who also did a lot of work with Gorillaz) at Abbey Road Studios, with overall creative direction by Jonathan Glazer. The record was wrapped up in just a week at the fateful London recording studio.
The laid-back rock ballad almost evokes the intro to Fleetwood Mac's "The Chain," with its eerie detuned acoustic guitar and what sounds like a shaker that has the tonal quality of a frog or cricket.
Basslines begin to build up as the song moseys along, carrying Turner's trademark stream-of-consciousness phrasing straight out of a classic David Bowie song. The cryptic imagery in lines like "massaging your forearms, holding your gaze" and "alternate realities sneak up on the sly" paints more of a mood than a concrete narrative.
After all the obscure musings and eerie instrumentation, the band arrives at a euphoric payoff with tasteful vocal harmonies (especially during that "tonight is heavy on one side" bit) and fuzzy guitar lines.
Listen to the new Arctic Monkeys tune here
Glazer will also be releasing a film on families living in war-torn nations like Ukraine Yemen, and Sudan.
The original 1995 charity LP had contributions from Oasis, Paul McCartney, Radiohead, Massive Attack, and Blur.
"Help(2) is more than an album. It’s a powerful example of what can happen when the music industry comes together around a shared purpose,” according to War Child U.K.’s head of music Rich Clarke.
Below is the official track list for Help(2) based on War Child's website:
Side A
1. Arctic Monkeys - Opening Night
2. Damon Albarn, Grian Chatten & Kae Tempest - Flags
3. Black Country, New Road - Strangers
4. The Last Dinner Party - Dead Flowers
5. Beth Gibbons - Sunday Morning
Side B
6. Arooj Aftab & Beck - Lilac Wine
7. King Krule - The 343 Loop
8. Depeche Mode - Universal Soldier
9. Ezra Collective & Greentea Peng - Helicopters
10. Arlo Parks - Nothing I Could Hide
11. English Teacher & Graham Coxon - Parasite
12. Beabadoobee - Say Yes
Side C
13. Big Thief - Relive, Redie
14. Fontaines D.C. - Black Boys On Mopeds
15. Cameron Winter - Warning
16. Young Fathers - Don’t Fight The Young
17. Pulp - Begging For Change
18. Sampha - Naboo
Side D
19. Wet Leg - Obvious
20. Foals - When The War Is Finally Done
21. Bat For Lashes - Carried My Girl
22. Anna Calvi, Dove Ellis, Ellie Rowsell & Nilüfer Yanya - Sunday Light
23. Olivia Rodrigo - The Book of Love