If you’re going to open a debut album with a track that repeats “I’m going to be big”, you better stick to that promise. Fontaines D.C. came in with all guns blazing for Dogrel in 2019, and only went to further their promise with A Hero’s Death the following year. As such, the last two years have had us all waiting in anticipation.
The question is, can these lads from Dublin deliver? In a way, we all know the answer is yes, but the thrill is in finding out how. Thankfully, Skinty Fia is everything we could have asked for and more. The band have shown a great step up in production as we see them explore greater soundscapes. The result is absolutely a shift in maturity, drawing on lifechanging experiences, all the while holding on to hard hitting lyricism.
Opening track ‘In ár gCroÃthe go deo’ comes in all choral, a somewhat ominous, alluring tease in to the album that sends a shiver down the spine. You can physically feel the momentum building as the track goes on, from isolated vocals to the flood of music as it all comes together. So exhilarating is this start, that you almost feel the need to take a breath before continuing.
Getting further in to Skinty Fia, the broad themes are identity and belonging, particularly in regards to relocating to London. In interviews, frontman Grian Chatten mentions how it isn’t so much about fears of losing oneself in the city. Rather he talks of embracing the new and old, a mutation if you will. ‘Roman Holiday’ captures the excitement of it all, with summery vibes aplenty. While vocals have been some sort of a signature for the band, the guitars in this track ooze with the thrill of moving for love. It is sonically romantic and overtly inviting, much like the idea of setting off to the capital itself.
Funnily enough it is this song that uses the words “skinty fia”, rather than the namesake single itself. When you look at its meaning, “the damnation of the deer”, you can’t help but feel a sense of despair. Perhaps this points to a contradictory pairing of the two tracks. Where ‘Roman Holiday’ is light and blindly dreaming, ‘Skinty Fia’ comes in a little harsher, taking a deeper look. The air of industrial rock, the greater drone of vocals — this track really goes hard.
‘Jackie Down The Line’ was the first taste we got of Skinty Fia, an energetic number that really set the tone for what was to come. Amongst the the other songs it addresses that mutation again, this time from a familial background. It is the inevitable subconscious morphing from one identity to another, something altogether new but familiar. In a way this very much reflected in this track’s modern take on a 90s rock sound. Fresh yet reminiscent of our past.
Fontaines D.C. maintain their straight forward yet poetic charm throughout. There may be too many lines to pick out, but what is worth noting is the tender tones that come through a lot more in this album. While Skinty Fia is not short of energy, it knows exactly when to stop and take a minute. ‘The Couple Across The Way’ is a good example of this, as Chatten’s vocals hit so differently that it is almost a shock, contrary to the sweet lull of it all. A moment of true reflection as they strip it all back to a gentle poem, an absolute masterclass of power in delicacy.
Still, the might of this album, and what we love about Fontaines D.C. is their grit. In comes ‘I Love You’, a love song yes, but oh, not the conventional kind at all. In a way this track refers back to ‘Skinty Fia’ pushing for more. ‘I Love You’ is the uprising of it all. Starting out with intense feelings of love, the track quickly turns to lamenting and rage. It is the grappling, desperate mind of today’s generation living in the ruin of what came before it. This track sees Fontaines D.C. at their strongest, and at their most political, both in their youth and in their Irish roots.
The album closes out to a blissed out, fuzzy guitar rock finale with ‘Nabokov’. Honing in once more on their effortless flair for poetry, this track sounds a little more like their earlier stuff. Less rough cut, more raw intensity — a sweet reminder of where they started and how far they have come. Skinty Fia is a self-assured album that perfectly encapsulates just how big indeed Fontaines D.C. are. They are undoubtedly one of the most exciting bands around, and this is their best work yet.