Frontman and Foo Fighters had a tumultuous two years.
In 2024, Grohl announced he . In 2025, the band after just one tour 鈥� and two months later, to replace him. There has been plenty of change, uncertainty and introspection to sort through.
But on 鈥淵our Favorite Toy,鈥� Foo Fighters鈥� 12th full-length studio album out Friday, the 15-time Grammy winners are clearly having fun.
While was largely therapeutic in the wake of the deaths of and Grohl鈥檚 mother, 鈥淵our Favorite Toy鈥� is the band鈥檚 return to their 1990s, garage rock beginnings.
When you have a catalog as dissected as Foo Fighters, the next album always has a massive challenge to find its place. 鈥淵our Favorite Toy鈥� takes a few potentially polarizing risks 鈥� some might consider them flaws 鈥� with an aggressive, fast-paced punk style, distorted vocals and occasional overly compressed production. But for Foo Fighters, it鈥檚 an energy-lifting listen.
鈥淐aught In The Echo鈥� is a thunderous tone-setter for the mostly loud and brisk 10-track album, recorded at Grohl鈥檚 home studio. After a blistering opening riff, Grohl shouts: 鈥淒o I? Do I? Do I? Do I?鈥� 鈥� Foo Fighters鈥� most lively leadoff track since 鈥淏ridge Burning鈥� on 2011鈥檚 鈥淲asting Light.鈥�
In the thrashing 鈥淥f All People,鈥� Grohl grapples with the mixed emotions of thinking 鈥淚鈥檇 seen a ghost鈥� while encountering an unsavory person from his past.
鈥淥f all people you survived,鈥� Grohl growls. 鈥淲hen no one else could stay alive / You know you should be dead / But you鈥檙e alive instead.鈥�
The title track raises an eyebrow at first because it’s strikingly different with Grohl鈥檚 fuzzy-sounding vocals, during which it seems he鈥檚 shouting at himself. But it鈥檚 punchy, catchy and stadium tour ready.
鈥淚f You Only Knew鈥� might become a fan favorite with its 鈥渃lassic鈥� Foo Fighters feel, defined by tempo changes and shifts from a gravelly Grohl to melodic, softer tones. There鈥檚 also some inspiring drumming by Rubin, most recently of Nine Inch Nails, who makes a solid first impression throughout this, his debut album with Foo Fighters.
On the blistering-paced 鈥淪pit Shine,鈥� Grohl screeches about refocusing: 鈥淭he grass is never greener / Time ain鈥檛 no redeemer / Pull yourself together Mr. Man.鈥� Validation is the theme on the foot-tapping 鈥淐hild Actor.鈥�
鈥淯nconditional鈥� has a 1980s new wave, post-punk style with hints of as an optimistic Grohl insists: 鈥淭here are better days awaiting.鈥�
鈥淎sking For A Friend,鈥� the album鈥檚 closer, starts with a soft melody that builds into a mix of passion and aggression capped by Grohl screaming: 鈥淲hat is real? / I鈥檓 asking for a friend … / Or is this the end?鈥�
Certainly not for Foo Fighters. Not with such an in-your-face welcome back.
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鈥淵our Favorite Toy鈥� by Foo Fighters
Three and a half stars out of five.
On repeat: 鈥淚f You Only Knew,鈥� 鈥淎sking For A Friend,鈥� 鈥淐aught In The Echo,鈥� 鈥淯nconditional鈥�
Skip it: 鈥淲indow鈥�
For fans of: Garage punk, Grohl’s growls, trying new things
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