Fontaines D.C. have always been a band that people want to pigeonhole. From the 'new post-punk' of their debut to being the frontrunners of the 'Celtic revival' on 2022's '
Skinty Fia', it's been a constant effort to stay one step ahead of people's preconceptions.
New album '
Romance' is no different – in fact, it's probably the most radical departure yet. Cyberpunk outfits, Y2K visuals, and songs, which range from the nu-metal influenced '
Starburster' to the almost Weezer-esque sonics of 'Here's The Thing' (No, it isn't a Sports Team cover – Ed), all combine to make this a very different beast to anything that's come before.
Across the album, there is a dizzying range of influences and sounds. Even singer Grian Chatten's voice sounds different from track to track, as he eases into a vocal range which has been notably absent on previous offerings from the band. 'Romance' is an album constantly straining at the boundaries of the possible, expanding and expanding until it feels like there's no corner of the band's experience that it hasn't explored. '
Death Kink' is far and away the heaviest Fontaines have ever sounded, but it exists on a spectrum where '
Desire' layers and layers to a string-laden crescendo, while the hauntingly melodic vocals of '
Motorcycle Boy' are at times only accompanied by introspective lyrics and an acoustic guitar.
