Album Review: Fontaines DC - Dogrel

One of the most exciting bands to come out of the Republic Of Ireland have finally released a very promising debut album. Hailing from Dublin, Fontaines DC have carved out a loyal following since coming onto critic’s radars with a number of choice singles through 2017 and 2018. Parallels can be drawn with their better-known Bristol cousins Idles, however this punk outfit have an arguably less showy, more work-focused ethic.

Opening track Big stutters at a frantic pace and highlights the band’s love for their hometown without necessarily endorsing or dis-endorsing its Catholicism, not so sunny weather or fraught political history. Too Real then duplicates some of the themes of the opening track ("I’m about to make a lot of money!") that in true punk fashion, dismisses fame, popularity or any sort of mild acknowledgement. Hurricane Laughter is unexpectedly low-end fuzz and walks the not so obvious fine line between doom metal and post-rock.

Few bands have captured the same excitement for rock as well as Fontaines DC do on Dogrel, with the exception of perhaps Parquet Courts and more locally Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever, and this album is easily right up there with those bands' debuts.