A Hero's Death
by Fontaines D.C.
  • Record Label: Partisan
  • Release Date: Jul 31, 2020
User Score
8.1

Universal acclaim- based on 55 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 46 out of 55
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 55
  3. Negative: 3 out of 55
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  1. shabazz
    Aug 3, 2020
    8
    In "A Night at Montrose, Dublin" live, you can see Grian Chatten wearing a Pogues t-shirt. Just saying.
  2. Craigdimas
    Aug 4, 2020
    0
    ‘Big’ announced a band with fire and attitude and Dogrel was mostly a blast, though the flat vocals on slower tracks grated after a while. Thus, however, is a total disaster. A succession of mid-pace dirges which horribly expose the timeless, nasal vocals. There’s no energy, no passion - the punk energy is gone and there’s nothing much in its place. Grian Chatten sounds like a bad karaoke‘Big’ announced a band with fire and attitude and Dogrel was mostly a blast, though the flat vocals on slower tracks grated after a while. Thus, however, is a total disaster. A succession of mid-pace dirges which horribly expose the timeless, nasal vocals. There’s no energy, no passion - the punk energy is gone and there’s nothing much in its place. Grian Chatten sounds like a bad karaoke singer in a bar, and the band seem to have lost sight of what made them interesting in the first place. Some of the lyrical content of Dogrel was great - ‘Dublin in the rain is mine...’. Here Grian doesn’t even bother to write lyrics for ‘Televised Mind’ (drones ‘televised mind’ about 40 times) and ‘Hero’s Death’.
    Maybe they were bored during lockdown and put this out as a joke. It’s not funny.    … Expand
  3. Critixist
    Jul 31, 2020
    3
    A 3 rating is high for this, out of tune, badly produced, songs chucked together with children's poetry, insult to bands of history... If you want to hear something out of tune at least with some form of melody and composition go back to Hope of the States. Nothing new, nothing good
  4. Ricko
    Nov 29, 2020
    8
    Fontaines DC take the pressure of the difficult 2nd album in their stride and follow up their blistering 2019 debut "Dogrel" with an assured and confident step forward on "A Hero's Death", coming barely over a year later. The title track and lead single is one of the songs of 2020, a 4 minute manifesto that states the "life ain't always empty". A suitable anthem to one of the darker yearsFontaines DC take the pressure of the difficult 2nd album in their stride and follow up their blistering 2019 debut "Dogrel" with an assured and confident step forward on "A Hero's Death", coming barely over a year later. The title track and lead single is one of the songs of 2020, a 4 minute manifesto that states the "life ain't always empty". A suitable anthem to one of the darker years in modern history. "I Was Not Born" is equally defiant while the more subdued opener "I Don't Belong" delivers a similar message. It's not all swagger though and this album see's the band in an understandably more reflective mood than on their debut ("Love is the Main Thing", "You Said"). Closer "No" invokes the spirit of their fellow Dubliners U2, lifting the tune of their "Rattle and Hum" track "All I Want is You". "A Hero's Death" sees Grian Chatten's lyrics delivered in his Dublin drawl sounds as cool as ever but the band are a power house in backing him up. With a shock Grammy nomination in the bag less than 2 years after their debut, the sky is the limit for these lads. They have the style and substance and as important as anything else, they seem to have timed their arrival perfectly. In a world that is saturated with 3 minute disposable pop streams, Fontaines DC have brought some culture, identity and personality to the table.… Expand
  5. manonwire40
    Nov 12, 2021
    9
    Fantastic second album where the band mature before our eyes with a collection of songs that feel bigger, older, wiser. Outstanding.
  6. bartewing
    Nov 19, 2020
    6
    Not as bad as a lot of people are saying but not as good as the critics are saying. I think their first album was so generational that it became hard to hear them honestly. The 2nd album was always going to be a tough follow. I like that they took it down and were more reflective, last year had to be physically and emotionally exhausting. In the end, the music had too much meaninglessNot as bad as a lot of people are saying but not as good as the critics are saying. I think their first album was so generational that it became hard to hear them honestly. The 2nd album was always going to be a tough follow. I like that they took it down and were more reflective, last year had to be physically and emotionally exhausting. In the end, the music had too much meaningless repetition and the lyrics slipped considerably. Some good songs but also some self-indulgent ones.… Expand
  7. RageNate
    Sep 6, 2020
    5
    Worthies (5/11):
    - I Don't Belong
    - Televised Mind
    - A Lucid Dream
    - You Said
    - Living In America
  8. Larissajkx
    Dec 26, 2020
    10
    the album is good and addictive beautiful vocals and poetic lyrics and sound is very nice
  9. hayesrjack
    Jul 31, 2020
    10
    The first time listening round the album i wasn't really feeling it but second time round something clicked and have loved it since. Fontaines D.C. seem to be one of the only bans around at the moment where they are pure with no filter. People complain about the vocals and the accent but whats the point of Grian changing his vocals as that takes away the purity of Fontaines D.C. and whichThe first time listening round the album i wasn't really feeling it but second time round something clicked and have loved it since. Fontaines D.C. seem to be one of the only bans around at the moment where they are pure with no filter. People complain about the vocals and the accent but whats the point of Grian changing his vocals as that takes away the purity of Fontaines D.C. and which ultimately what makes them them.There isn't really a band around like them at the moment, people like to draw connection to idles but this album which consists of a more melancholy feel definitely burns that bridge.… Expand
  10. fathertingle
    Aug 3, 2020
    9
    An incredible amount of heart is within this record. All of the lyrics are hard hitting, even more so in the climate of the world today.
  11. IngmarGod
    Aug 10, 2020
    8
    it seems like I'm listening to Joy Division, and Radiohead at the same time..
  12. mariakour
    Aug 29, 2020
    8
    I really enjoyed the album. The band's influences are very clear. Unlike the first album, i didn't find the sound very original, but still I think they did a great job. Can't wait to hear more stuff from these guys.
  13. HG_Kitara
    Nov 20, 2020
    5
    A Hero's Death can be summarised as a small collection of great songs in a sea of dreary filler. Although Fontaines do well in broadening their sound, and taking their listener from slow, soft poetry to loud and intense riffs, there is a clear lack of direction like we see on Dogrel. For me, this is a shift in the wrong direction for Fontaines. However, the title track is fantastic
  14. TheGoobles
    Apr 21, 2022
    1
    A disappointing follow up to a great debut album. It all feels pretentious and drab.

Awards & Rankings

51
#51 Best Album of 2020
91
#91 Most Discussed Album of 2020

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
84

Universal acclaim - based on 23 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 23 out of 23
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 23
  3. Negative: 0 out of 23
  1. The Quietus
    Aug 4, 2020
    80
    Though falling short of revelatory, a few rotations of A Hero’s Death brings some good news. Outgrowing Joy Division and overblown inverted paddywhackery, it’s a largely nuanced and, most blessedly of all, believable affair.
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  2. The Observer (UK)
    Aug 3, 2020
    80
    Many of Fontaines’ key traits remain: the ability of this young Dublin outfit to retread familiar post-punk ground but with a tensile urgency all their own; and the sardonic Irish tones of Grian Chatten, whose affected blankness speaks volumes.
    Read full review
  3. No Ripcord
    Aug 3, 2020
    70
    A Hero's Death is not about growth: it's a band assessing where they stand as rising up-and-comers and having the impulse to express themselves differently. Maybe their sulking comes with a bit of affectation, but at least it's a convincing portrait of keeping true to themselves—soaking in everything that surrounds them.
    Read full review
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