“Gone is the day, gone is the night, gone is the day”

That’s the very first line you hear singer Grian Chatten sombrely sing on In ár gCroíthe go deo, the introductory track to Fontaines D.C.’s 3rd album Skinty Fia. And if that line is anything to go by, it definitely foreshadows the tone and style of the record – mysterious, ominous and dark. The artwork also pairs this perfectly as well, showcasing a startled deer caught in a blood-red illuminated hallway, an image that could’ve been taken straight out of a horror film.

Skinty Fia (“Damnation of the Deer”) shows a more darker and gloomier side to the Irish post-punk outfit, especially evident on songs such as lead single Jackie Down the Line and I Love You. Chatten delivers his poetic lyricism as per usual, coupled with his smooth yet, at times, haunting Irish flair that fans know and love.

It’s clear to see that Fontaines are more open to experimentation within their signature sound – on the intro track, for example, the drum beat sounds half like James Brown’s ‘Funky Drummer’, and half like a slightly slowed down drum and bass breakbeat. And the main groove of Jackie Down the Line sounds as if it would’ve been a great instrumental fit if it was featured on The Cure’s 1989 album Disintegration.

Upon its first week of release, the group achieved their first UK #1 album in the few years that they have been together, which is a very momentous feat to say the least. It is clear to see that Fontaines D.C. are one of the UK’s most hottest acts at the moment, and it’s hard not to pay attention and watch them closely, as whatever they do next is sure to top everyone’s expectations.

Listen to: I Love You, Jackie Down the Line, In ár gCroíthe go deo

For fans of: Dry Cleaning, Yard Act, The Murder Capital

Joe Richardson, Fopp Cambridge