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Arctic Monkeys have shared “Opening Night,” their first new song since 2022 and the lead single to the upcoming charity compilation HELP(2) from War Child Records.
Serving as a sequel to the original HELP charity compilation from 1995, HELP(2) supports the global children’s charity War Child UK with a compilation of originals and covers from a stacked lineup of contributors. Like its predecessor, HELP(2) was recorded at Abbey Road Studios; James Ford served as the album’s producer, bringing together collaborators for recording sessions during a single week in November 2025. The project will arrive on March 6th; pre-orders are now ongoing.
In addition to Arctic Monkeys’ “Opening Night,” the collection features Olivia Rodrigo covering The Magnetic Fields’ “The Book of Love,” Fontaines D.C.’s rendition Sinéad O’Connor’s “Black Boys on Mopeds,” and new recordings from Cameron Winter, Damon Albarn, Beabadoobee, Foals, Depeche Mode, Pulp, Big Thief, Wet Leg, Beth Gibbons, Arooj Aftab and Beck, Arlo Parks, The Last Dinner Party, Sampha, Young Fathers, English Teacher, Kae Tempest, Black Country, New Road, King Krule, and more. See the official tracklist below.
“I felt incredibly honored when War Child asked me to work on HELP(2),” Ford said in a statement. “The original HELP meant a lot to me and to have the opportunity, given the current news cycle, to help galvanize our music community into doing something as unarguably positive as helping children in war zones seemed like a no brainer. The experience of making the album itself has been very powerful, and dare I say life affirming for me personally, against the backdrop of a very difficult year. I’m extremely proud of the results and of the efforts made by all involved. I can’t wait for people to hear this very special record. ”
“When James Ford called and asked if we’d contribute to the HELP(2) album we set to work on a song idea and assembled in Abbey Road to record it,” said Arctic Monkeys in a statement. “We are proud to support the invaluable work War Child do and hope the record will make a positive difference to the lives of children affected by war.” It marks the band’s first new music since their 2022 album The Car.
HELP(2) will also include a companion film produced by creative director and filmmaker Jonathan Glazer. Using the concept “By Children, For Children,” Glazer lent dozens of cameras to children throughout the album’s recording sessions, allowing them to film each artist in the studio without any restrictions. Glazer and War Child have revealed a preview of the film and album; watch it below.
War Child UK is a humanitarian organization dedicated to protecting, educating, and providing psychological support to children affected by conflict across 14 countries. By combining rapid emergency response with long-term community recovery and advocacy, they aim to address both the immediate trauma of war and its underlying causes. Learn more here.
Revisit our roundup of every Arctic Monkeys album ranked from worst to best.
HELP(2) Artwork:
HELP(2) Tracklist:
01. Arctic Monkeys – “Opening Night”
02. Damon Albarn, Grian Chatten & Kae Tempest – “Flags”
03. Black Country, New Road – “Strangers”
04. The Last Dinner Party – “Let’s do it again!”
05. Beth Gibbons – “Sunday Morning”
06. Arooj Aftab & Beck – “Lilac Wine”
07. King Krule – “The 343 Loop”
08. Depeche Mode – “Universal Soldier”
09. Ezra Collective & Greentea Peng – “Helicopters”
10. Arlo Parks – “Nothing I Could Hide”
11. English Teacher & Graham Coxon – “Parasite”
12. Beabadoobee – “Say Yes”
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”
19. Wet Leg – “Obvious”
20. Foals – “When the War is Finally Done”
21. Bat For Lashes – “Carried my girl”
22. Anna Calvi, Ellie Rowsell, Nilüfer Yanya & Dove Ellis – “Sunday Light”
23. Olivia Rodrigo – “The Book of Love”
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