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10.0
138518
10.0 |
The Guardian
On their most approachable album the Irish rockers add pop melodies, nu-metal touches and lush orchestration – while their troubled view of the world remains
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10.0
138563
10.0 |
NME
The ever-evolving five-piece enter a new phase of transformation on their arresting fourth album – their most considered and intricately crafted work yet
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10.0
138578
10.0 |
Dork
In a world where most guitar music struggles to break out of the indie bubble, could Fontaines D.C. be the biggest band of their generation? Nothing in this world is certain, but if they keep this up, it feels as nailed on as it ever could be
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10.0
138584
10.0 |
DIY
Taking the art seriously but themselves not at all
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10.0
138593
10.0 |
The Skinny
Nostalgia is more than well-earned on Romance, guided by gridiron songwriting that offers no reprieve of excitement across 11 breathless songs
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10.0
138615
10.0 |
musicOMH
The Dublin outfit’s fourth album is experimental, softens their sound without diluting it, and is absolutely brilliant
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10.0
138619
10.0 |
The FT
Inspired by Japanese manga, the Irish band’s fourth record is full of dreamy lyrics, apocalyptic imagery and woozy melodies
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10.0
138643
10.0 |
The Arts Desk
They've erected a coruscating wall of sound featuring strings and synths - and who would’ve thought that likely?
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9.2
138583
9.2 |
Paste Magazine
The Dublin quintet’s fourth LP is an essay of mosh-pit guitars careening into baggy desires and stringed visions of mercy, arriving like a stroke of violence that stretches itself around the cinema of living
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9.1
138595
9.1 |
Spin
“You been my favourite for a long time,” Chatten croons. The feeling is mutual, mate
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9.0
138594
9.0 |
Under The Radar
It seems everything they touch turns to gold and Romance is a fully realized album that is colorful, flashy, and ominous and loaded with subtly catchy hooks that beg to be heard over and over again
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9.0
138635
9.0 |
The Line Of Best Fit
Switching to James Ford for production (Arctic Monkeys, Foals, Jessie Ware), Ford's renowned ability to bring together ambitiously decadent ideas reigns supreme here
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9.0
138616
9.0 |
Clash
It’s a stunning record, one of depth but also immediacy; it exists to be adored
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9.0
138650
9.0 |
PopMatters
Fontaines D.C.’s ‘Romance’ should be considered a high-water mark for them, a work that is equally challenging and considerably more gratifying
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9.0
138592
9.0 |
God Is In The TV
Where they may once have sounded a little more tired of life, Romance sees them throwing the curtains wide open, it’s a record which sees them sound ready to take on the world again
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9.0
138582
9.0 |
XS Noize
Like all good albums, some tracks will grab you by the throat on the first listen, and some will creep up on you
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9.0
138517
9.0 |
The Irish Times
Incredibly compelling indie rock that takes the Dublin band to the next level
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9.0
138577
9.0 |
Far Out
If a blistering show at Glastonbury and the three records that preceded it hadn’t already cemented Fontaines as the most exciting guitar band in the world, Romance certainly does
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8.8
138581
8.8 |
Northern Transmissions
From the brooding title track that opens the album, you can feel an impending tailspin coming
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8.4
138664
8.4 |
Sputnik Music (staff)
Fontaines D.C. finally sound like they're in that better land, shedding their skins with an infectious grin and an even more infectious pack of choruses. Dare you to try and not smile along
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8.0
138693
8.0 |
Beats Per Minute
Somehow, they continue to outrun all expectations, without losing their integrity or focus. That’s truly remarkable in indie rock, a genre often marked by a lack of divergences and brevity
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8.0
138617
8.0 |
The Observer
The all-conquering Dublin five-piece hit expansive new heights on an album full of highlights
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8.0
138598
8.0 |
Rolling Stone
Romance delivers: the record is wildly expansive, and Fontaines’ bullheaded integrity still stands, perhaps with a stronger spine than ever
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8.0
138579
8.0 |
Spill Magazine
Romance is a phenomenal release from Fontaines D.C. Led by “Starburster,” the best song from 2024, the album features truly excellent craftsmanship and innovation
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8.0
138586
8.0 |
Exclaim
This is no elementary Valentine's card; it's a treacherous and wonderfully unreliable encyclopedia of romance
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8.0
138574
8.0 |
The Independent
New producer James Ford brings depth and richness to a knockout record that is pleasingly disjointed
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8.0
138576
8.0 |
All Music
In many ways all their albums have their own identity, replete with shifts in their sound. Romance just happens to be the biggest leap so far, moving much further from their rough and ready beginnings
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8.0
138521
8.0 |
Uncut
It feels as though the band have carved out a new sonic space for them to operate in while still retaining their own identity. Print edition only
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8.0
138522
8.0 |
Mojo
Chatten’s role feels ever more pivotal. His voice now has multiple personae, notably a Jeff Buckley doppelgänger on Romance’s upper register peals. His lyrical flow, meanwhile, makes pretty much every song an event. Print edition only
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8.0
138523
8.0 |
Record Collector
Some of their best, most expansive music yet. Print edition only
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8.0
138561
8.0 |
Loud And Quiet
A ‘Best Of’ from an imagined band who tried everything once
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7.7
138614
7.7 |
Pitchfork
On its fourth album, the Irish group trades steely post-punk for stadium-sized alt rock with a hefty dose of Y2K nostalgia. It’s an unexpected shift, but they handle it with panache
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7.0
138772
7.0 |
Spectrum Culture
For every moment that sounds indebted to a different band from the golden ages of shoegaze and alternative rock, there’s many more that sound uniquely like Fontaines D.C.
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