Most musicians have a lot to say, but The Strokes tell their stories differently. Since their debut album in 2001, the New York band has centered political critique within a world of nostalgic yet distinctly 2000s instrumentation. Over nearly 25 years, with each shift in society’s constant evolution, The Strokes have been there to sing about it.

Following a standout SNL performance—where they played two tracks from their latest project—the band has released a music video for “Lonely in the Future.” The single is the third track on Reality Awaits, released this past July, and the video was created in collaboration with the puppeteer team behind the British satirical show Spitting Image.

The video is explicit in its messaging. Each band member is portrayed as a puppet, performing alongside spliced clips of very familiar faces—among them, Amazon Labor Union co-founder Chris Smalls, comedian and political commentator Lee Camp, notable journalists, and CEOs of major US corporations, all bobbing on strings throughout the four-minute film.

Reality Awaits, now available on all streaming platforms, is the band’s first project in six years. The album was recorded in Costa Rica with legendary producer Rick Rubin, who also helmed their last record, The New Abnormal, in 2020. The sudden reunion, after years of quiet, speaks to how much they felt this moment demanded to be addressed. The moment called, and The Strokes answered.