Five years ago, Scottish quintet The LaFontaines stormed onto the scene amid a flurry of gritty riffs and hip-hop. They initially made their break at T In the Park and, since then, they haven’t looked back. They’ve shared stages alongside Twin Atlantic, All Time Low, The Blackout, and Professor Green and Tinchy Stryder on the other end of the spectrum. This wide variation in support slots merely demonstrates just how accessible their music is, no matter what genre.
Now, after a busy few videos, The LaFontaines have gotten round to releasing their debut album ‘Class’, which is packed with blistering hot tracks, full of adrenaline. One such example is ‘Under the Storm’ which has plenty of bite and drive, showcasing Kerr Okan’s damn impressive vocals – they slick and slide over the hip-hop elements and steady drum work, with the synths adding that extra layer. ‘Castles’ demonstrates the vocal play between Kerr and bassist John Gerard, adding extra depth, really strengthening this track.
Title track ‘Class’ is robust and huge, layering neat, tight, and tidy riffs over melodic hooks, making it a true highlight on this album. Then there’s ‘King’, a catchy and snappy song that reels listeners in with the first chords, complementing their rock element with hip-hop.
Many bands have tried to mix such opposing genres such as rock and hip-hop, but never has it ever been done as well as The LaFontaines. They throw out energetic and strong tracks such as ‘Junior Dragon’ and ‘All Gone’, complete with bouncy choruses and heavy, resounding guitar licks. ‘Slow Elvis’ contains Kerr’s piercing vocals, making this track rapid fire, spitting out lyrics relevant to society and media.
‘Paperchase’ is robust, with soaring vocals, deafening riffs, and thundering drumming, while ‘All She Knows’ slows things down a bit, but without losing any of their bite or edge. It’s a solid breather in the midst of a frenetic whirlwind of burning energy.
It’s not always easy to get that debut album just right. But The LaFontaines have more than proved their talent with ‘Class’ – it’s an album full of tracks that simply swagger with confidence, with energy that packs a powerful punch. It’s an album that’s going to trigger a chain reaction of good things coming to this band.
JESS TAGLIANI