Since their 2019 award-nominated album, Dogrel, Irish post-rock band Fontaines D.C. has had quite a career growth. After only their first album, Fontaines D.C. put the world on notice. The band quickly followed that up with their 2020 Grammy-nominated album, A Hero's Death, cementing the band as a real deal in the rock space. Skinty Fia, their third album, reached number one in the UK.
Romance is Fontaines D.C.'s latest album and one of their most musically profound since their debut. The band twists, shakes, and pours harmonic melodies into this 11-track project. Building on the impact their recent success has brought them, Fontaines D.C. brings a new sense of purpose not to stay well placed in a musical box like many others. The band hasn't only grown musically, Romance has become a launchpad for the band to confront their mental state.
The fourth studio album is cluttered with genres from just about every aspect of the musical rainbow. Pulling from trippy hip-hop production, alternative progressions, and extending the use of guitar notes on various tracks. With the band stretched across the globe, wrapped up in their adventures, Fontaines D.C. comes back to deliver their musical thought-provoking album to date.
Their lead single, "Starburster," is a hard-hitting, truth-telling track inspired by lead singer Grian Chattan's panic attack. Starting with an in-your-face drum beat, the track evokes sharp intakes of breath-like musical breaks. The song hammers home themes of self-doubt and imposters syndrome.
"Here's The Thing," picks up where "Starburster" left off. A little more in step with the band's previous trademark sound, the track leans more into the pop-punk sound. "Here's the Thing" is the perfect blend of mosh pit and trippy rock that makes for a killer song.
"Desire" is the deep space rock track of the album. The track speaks to the morbid, and often, mundane aspects of human emotion. The constant need for affection and desire plays throughout the song over an early 2000s punk sound. The world is changing and Fontaines D.C. makes sure to heed the warning.
With such a task as a widely new sound, Fontaines D.C. linked up with award-winning producer James Ford. Known for working with Arctic Monkeys, Ford brings a stellar track record to help Fontaines D.C. reach another level of musical enlightenment. No track on the album better displays that than "In The Modern World."
The fifth track serves as a bridge that echoes throughout the rest of the album. "In The Modern World" is a soft pop-rock that allows the listener to reflect on their place in the rapidly changing times. The lyrics speak about a drug-filled trip that band members Chatten and Conor Curley took while in Canada. The song is a peek into a world where humans are not held by life's strings. "In The Modern World" is a great production and poetic lyricism dance.
The album rolls into the next tracks, "Bug" and "Motorcycle Boy." While "Bug", in a sense, can be seen as a love song, "Motorcycle Boy" speaks more in vein with hardships. Both tracks work with Fontaines D.C.'s buttery poetic themes so as not to destroy the rock-centric flow.
"Sundowner" remains the slow harmonic track of this project. The soft rock song touches on shoegaze guitar riffs and hazy tones. "Sundowner" is haunting but still a wonderful track that could help Fontaines D.C. explore more of that realm.
"Horseness is the Whatness" could serve as a somewhat B side to "Sundowner." Falling right in line with the previous track, dark and smoky undertones fill the space between the lyrics. The drum dances in step with the crashing raw flows, providing the imperfect balance of soft rock.
The closing of the album comes in the form of "Death Kink" and "Favourite." Taking their foot off the gas for the last three tracks, Fontaines D.C. picks back up the pace from the beginning of the album. Loud, messy, and no pulls no punches in their heavy tracks. The end of the album just displays grunge and oozes vibrant punk elements. "Favourite" is the perfect track to wrap up the album as it helps reflect the band's journey from small-town punk to stellar stadium punk stars.
Romance lives up to the hype in every way you come to expect from Fontaines D.C.'s talent. From front to back, the album showcases the band in their elements while being gentle enough to allow them to branch off the beaten path. Not many bands can continue to show up and outdo their previous work in a way that leaves many wondering in disbelief of their prowess.
