Fontaines D.C. (SOLD OUT)

A sellout is someone who becomes a hypocrite in the name of money.” Punk’s obsession with authenticity might be long storied, but few have addressed it quite like Fontaines D.C. frontman Grian Chatten – a matter-of-fact definition, delivered in a sneering lilt. The Dublin band might have made a song-and-dance of their lyrical inspirations – ‘Dogrel’ itself is named after a form of Irish working-class poetry – but, to date, their stream of singles have focussed on white-knuckle speed and rumbling bass. From that sellout-skewering ‘Chequeless Reckless’ to the radio-conquering avalanche of ‘Too Real’, anger was their energy.

‘Dogrel’ proves that early-days pinning as punk’s next great hope was perhaps premature – there’s far more to Fontaines D.C. than your typical thrashed-out, pissed-off young rebellion. Opener ‘Big’ might be a bell-heavy, clattering cut, but when Chatten barks that he’s “gonna be big” with the determination and intonation of a young (or, indeed, old) Gallagher, you’d be foolish to doubt him.