Released less than 18 months after their debut, Dogrel.
After Dublin’s acclaimed post-punks Fontaines D.C.’s debut album Dogrel packed such a high intensity punch from the get go; the sombre change up found on the first track (‘I Don’t Belong’) off their latest release took me by surprise before quickly reeling me in with Grian Chatten’s melancholic Irish-Brouge fuelled vocals intertwining perfectly with the songs subdued rhythm sections.
Introducing their second studio album, A Hero’s Death, with the sound more akin to the bands works such as ‘Television Screens’, it’s impressive to see how they still include their edgier and heavier sounds. For instance, the percussive and guitar driven elements of ‘Love Is The Main Thing’ does deliver a punk vibe but still with more of a discrete approach than their previous work.
‘Televised Mind’ marks itself as unique with its lending to the 90’s Britpop sound; with it’s repetitive lyrics and distorted guitars being the perfect blend of the old and the new.
‘Oh Such A Spring’ is an ambient affair that is slightly reminiscent of acts such as Nick Cave and The Pogues.
When ‘A Hero’s Death’, the first single and title track, was first released there was a general consensus that while it wasn’t a bad change at all, it definitely marked a change in the band’s sound. Ironically now the entire album is out, it is the one song that actually possesses the most similarities to the intensity of Dogrel; who would have thought?
With a drumbeat that reminded me of TV On The Radio, ‘Living In America’ easily marks itself as the standout on the album with Grian’s droned and drawn out vocals creating such a sonic effect of the song’s overall sound.
With two standout albums and new material now in tow, let’s hope the rescheduled Aus tour for the end of the year goes ahead… we can dream.
4.5/5
Partisan Records
