The War on Drugs Return with New Single ‘Who’s That’
The War on Drugs are back with a new single called ‘Who’s That’, marking their first studio recording in four years. The track was written and produced by frontman Adam Granduciel at his studio in Southern California. He composed the song in just ten minutes somewhere between first coffee and school drop off.
The piece builds from a steady rock rhythm into a dreamy, expansive soundscape that uses its full five-minute length to its fullest, according to Consequence. Musical contributions include drums by Anthony LaMarca, bass by Dave Hartley, and layered electric guitars and keyboards from Granduciel himself. The song explores themes of inner struggle and reflection, showing a sense of momentum that contrasts with deeper emotional challenges.
A music video for the track was directed by Max Flick and shows Granduciel walking through the streets of Burbank, according to a report from ourculturemag.com. This release comes after the band’s last full-length album, I Don’t Live Here Anymore, which came out in 2021. The group also released a live album called Live Drugs Again in 2024.
Granduciel has been involved in other musical projects recently, including co-producing and performing on Sam Fender’s 2025 album People Watching. He also helped produce Craig Finn’s solo record Always Been. The band is now preparing to tour again, with upcoming dates beginning September 18th in Wilmington, Delaware. They will play at Asheville Yards and Avondale Brewing Company, as well as the Bourbon & Beyond festival.
Later in October, they are scheduled to appear at the Austin City Limits Music Festival in Austin, Texas. Over the summer, The War on Drugs also performed at European festivals such as Mad Cool, NOS Alive, and Rock Werchter. They opened for Mumford & Sons at BST Hyde Park in London.
NME described their performance at Mad Cool as fitting for festival moments. Granduciel has spoken about how he first learned of Sam Fender, recalling that a saxophonist in his band mentioned him.
He also reflected on how people have always felt his band’s songs were suited for large venues. The new single continues the band’s exploration of sound and emotion, following up their previous work.
IMAGES: Jeff Marquis from San Carlos, CA, USA CC2