Rocktrospectiva: The Powerful And Effective "A Hero's Death" Turns 5

Released on 31 July 2020 "A Hero's Death" was the second studio album by Irish post-punk band Fontaines D.C., the album received critical acclaim upon its release, signifying a partial departure from their bubbling and anxiety-inducing post-punk sound found on their first record to the incorporation of more dream-like and psychedelic aspects having taken inspiration from The Beach Boys, to name but one of many influences, during the writing of the record. The album spawned four singles "A Hero's Death", "I Don't Belong", "Televised Mind" & "A Lucid Dream".

Following the release of Dogrel, Fontaines D.C. embarked on a spring 2019 tour with British punk rock band IDLES. During the tour, the band wrote and recorded material for their second studio album. The album is produced by Dan Carey, who produced their debut album, Dogrel. 

According to lead singer Grian Chatten, the album's name was inspired by a line in a play by Irish writer Brendan Behan. Chatten said the album title is "an effort to balance sincerity and insincerity, but more broadly it's about the battle between happiness and depression, and the trust issues that can form tied to both of those feelings". The album cover features a statue of the Irish mythological demigod Cú Chulainn entitled "The Dying Cuchulain" by Oliver Sheppard.

According to the band's press release of the new album, the sound ventures away from their post-punk sound. The band said that bands such as Suicide, The Beach Boys, Beach House, These Immortal Souls, The Brian Jonestown Massacre and Broadcast were influential in the sound of the album.

Critics were fairly good describing the album as a maudlin and manic triumph, a horror movie shot as comedy, equal parts future-shocked and handcuffed to history, cause the band managed to delivered a difficult but powerful second album full of songwriting that stares life in the face, althought other critices complained about the record due a lack of a cohesive element and powerful singles, nevertheless the record managed to reach the top of the UK album charts in its debut week, and debuted on No. 1 in Scotland and No. 2 in their native Ireland. 

A Hero's Death Track List:  

 

1. I Don't Belong

2. Love Is The Main Thing

3. Televised Mind

4. A Lucid Dream

5. You Said

6. Oh Such A Spring

7. A Hero's Death

8. Living In America

9. I Was Not Born

10. Sunny

11. No