British band IDLES have returned with a powerful new single called ‘Cheerleader’. The track came out on August 29, 2025, and was written for Darren Aronofsky’s new film Caught Stealing. Rather than a light or upbeat anthem, ‘Cheerleader’ is dark and noise – perfect for a film filled with grit and intensity.
‘Cheerleader’ is quick, rough, and almost overwhelming. The guitars grind, the drums crash, and singer Joe Talbot shouts with his usual mix of anger and passion. The title itself feels ironic. A “cheerleader” usually suggests something positive and uplifting, but the track has almost no trace of that mood.
The band helped shape the Caught Stealing soundtrack, working alongside composer Rob Simonsen. Aronofsky wanted to inject punk energy into the film, and IDLES delivered exactly that.
Talbot has said meeting Aronofsky felt like “a lucid dream” and a career highlight. It makes sense: IDLES’ music, with its urgency and raw emotion, pairs well with the director’s tense and obsessive stories.
‘Cheerleader’ follows IDLES’ 2024 album Tangk, which earned the band Grammy nominations and wide praise. That record showed the group stretching their sound, mixing punk aggression with moments of vulnerability. Now, with ‘Cheerleader’ they’re proving they can also make music that works beyond the stage or record player, it can drive a film’s atmosphere too. By stepping into movie scoring, they’re showing a new side of themselves, while still keeping their raw core intact.
The band aren’t slowing down. Talbot has already teased that their sixth album is on the way, describing it as “more driven” than before. If ‘Cheerleader’ is any hint, fans can expect IDLES to keep pushing their sound into new and unexpected territory.
IDLES are keeping busy in 2025 with a packed schedule of shows across the world. Fresh off their two massive hometown gigs in Bristol’s Queen Square at the start of August, the band dove straight into the European festival circuit, playing Pukkelpop in Belgium and Festival Cabaret Vert in France on August 14.
From there, they turn their attention to North America, where they’ll be touring heavily throughout September. Highlights include a sold-out show at Fenway Park in Boston on September 7, followed by stops at Montreal’s Bell Centre, and Denver’s Ball Arena, among others.
The band’s tour doesn’t stop there. Later in the year, IDLES will head back to Europe, where they are already confirmed for the Inside Seaside Festival in Gdańsk, Poland, on November 9. These dates follow what has already been a landmark year for the group, showcasing both their live energy and their expanding reach into cinematic projects like Caught Stealing.
Fans can keep track of new dates or get ticket access can follow announcements on the band’s official website.
