Fontaines D.C - 'A Hero's Death'

Fontaines D.C. are back and striking while the iron is hot with their new single ‘A Hero’s Death’. 

It only feels like yesterday that this Irish five-piece stormed onto the scene like a bull in a China shop. Their debut album ‘Dogrel’ proved to be a phenomenon, taking the Dublin outfit the world over, earning a Mercury Prize nomination and the top spot of many of the best albums of 2019 lists. 

These boys aren’t known for doing things half-heartedly, that’s why the announcement of their second album of the same title came as no surprise to many. Barely a year after the release of their seminal debut LP, the band are ready to dive right back in and ‘A Hero’s Death’ gives a great indication of a more subdued, patient build-up into the chaos. 

‘A Hero’s Death’ doesn’t try to copy the same energy that ‘Dogrel’ had, instead it chooses to patiently build up, with a thunderous finale and Grian Chatten’s increasingly intense vocal leaving you catching your breath. 

The quintet’s lyrics are ones of harsh beauty and that’s no different here, Chatten admitting he needed to write something to “alleviate the fear” that he couldn’t follow up the first album, but more broadly looks at the battle between “happiness and depression” and the issues which arise from that. 

Many bands wouldn’t have the confidence to get back on the horse so quickly after their debut LP, especially one as successful as ‘Dogrel’. But Fontaines D.C. have not only done that, they’ve purposefully challenged themselves to subvert what the listener expects and ‘A Hero’s Death’ earns them the spot of being one of the most talented guitar bands on the planet right now. 

‘A Hero’s Death’ is available now on all major streaming platforms and the second album from Fontaines D.C. is set for release on July 31st. 

Words by Danial Kennedy

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