Fangclub self titled album
Three old school friends are sitting around in Dublin banging their heads together over what to do with their lives. They spend their days going to college when all of a sudden a lightbulb goes off and they decide to make a career out of a joint passion for music and the result is Fangclub. The band is formed of singer and guitarist Steven King, drummer Dara Coleman and bassist Kevin Keane and together they create material that is fairly positive, high spirited though a tad repetitive at times.
Having already released two EPs (Bullethead and Coma Happy) and toured with the likes of Twin Atlantic, this alternative rock trio has gained quite a fan base and now with a pumped up energy, Fangclub have released their debut self-titled album on Vertigo.
The album opens with the two minute long Bullet Head, a melodic guitar racing song that pulsates with passion and energy. This steadily soars into Role Models, which digs its hooks into you from the get go. It's not as intense as the opener but is a little catchier with a Wheezer twang going on. This style follows on throughout the album, really shining on tracks such as Loner, Dreamcatcher and the new single Bad Words with its strong and powerful injection of rhythm, flowing melodies and catchy lyrics. Lightning also has some catchy moments buried beneath the guitar melodies.
As the album gets to the mid-way point you begin to realise that although the tracks are energetic, powerful and melodic, there is actually very few differing elements between them. The choruses are sharp while the verses demonstrate more subtle elements but nothing seem to stand out for its exceptional moments.
As the album continues to flow, Best Fake Friends is a short burst of passion while Common Ground keeps things on a high note throughout rather than dipping a little into the mellower elements for verses. Likewise, Better To Forget remains quite intense throughout. As the album draws to a close with Animal Skin, this is the only track that shows any real differentiation in sound. Melodies are knocked down a notch, although they remain passionate they are softer; this also applies for the vocal contribution.
Overall, although the album is an intriguing listen, melodies are attractive and lyrics catch a listener's attention, the lack of any stand out elements does let the album down a little. An electric and static section or a mellower and slower tune would have shook things up a tad and made things more interested.