Fangclub - Fangclub (2017)

Dublin-based trio Fangclub swiftly caught the attention of a major label with a grunge revival all of their own. Kevin Keane (bass) and Steven King (guitar and vocals) were school friends and spent their teens playing in bands together in their home town of Rush, North County Dublin. Having tried out a few drummers, the pair met Dara Coleman at a house party, and by 2013 the trio was complete. In keeping with the punk/grunge style of their music, Fangclub took a D.I.Y. approach to their burgeoning career by packing themselves off to the coastal village of Ballyheigue in Kerry to record over 25 tracks. They then released their debut EP, Bullet Head, and appeared on the Radio Nova Locals Only show, where they came to the attention of Universal Music's Irish team.

Suitably impressed that Fangclub had already recorded an EP, not to mention their debut album, Universal signed the band in March 2015. Largely comprising songs from their original D.I.Y. efforts, their second EP, Coma Happy, appeared in 2016. They then took to the road, headlining a show at Whelans in Dublin and concluding the festival season with two sets at Electric Picnic. Fangclub made their U.K. live debut in 2016 with Welsh group Pretty Vicious, and also toured with Twin Atlantic. Their debut long-player was released in 2017. The self-titled album was chock-full of raw yet melodic tracks that took their cue from the loud/quiet aesthetic of grunge anticipators Pixies. ~ Bekki Bemrose

Their name, inspired by a tribal tattoo, may suggest something from the realms of horror punk, but this Irish trio’s heart belongs to grunge. Rarely dropping below the pounding pace set by opener “Bullet Head”, Fangclub is a bracing collection of distorted riffs, insistent hooks and vocals that with crackle with yearning, frustration and defiance. It’s a simple but potent mix, particularly on “Dreamcatcher” and “Better to Forget”, while brooding closer “Animal Skin” shows they can cut the tempo and remain just as stirring.

Steven King
Kevin Keane
Dara Coleman


Track List:
1. Bullet Head (02:00)
2. Role Models (03:24)
3. Lightning (03:41)
4. Dreamcatcher (03:27)
5. Bad Words (04:27)
6. Best Fake Friends (02:15)
7. Common Ground (03:11)
8. Loner (04:01)
9. Better To Forget (03:52)
10. Animal Skin (03:28)