Fontaines D.C., “Romance.” Romance, the fourth album by Irish rock quintet Fontaines D.C., is a captivating departure from its earlier work. More accessible and urbane than its predecessors, the band’s Dublin City roots remain intact, even as it explores new sonic spaces. Romance Fontaines D.C. XL Recordings, Aug. 23…

A Hero’s Death, the sophomore album from Fontaines D.C. simmers with quiet defiance. The follow-up to the critically acclaimed and Mercury-Prize-nominated debut, Dogrel, it was initially recorded in Los Angeles before being scrapped and rerecorded in London. Helmed by Dogrel producer Dan Carey, the album expands on the sonic palette of…

Fontaines D.C. performs at The Independent in San Francisco on Sept. 24, 2019. Photos: Martin Lacey. SAN FRANCISCO — Fontaines D.C. frontman Grian Chatten was a ball of nervous energy. Pacing the stage at the Independent like a caged animal, he surveyed the audience menacingly while simultaneously looking for an…