Among the silver linings of the Covid-19 pandemic are all the thoughtful cover songs artists are producing from their lockdown locations. Case in point, Fontaines D.C. just delivered a heavenly rendition of the Jesus and Mary Chain’s “Darklands” for Radio X’s Phone Covers series. You can watch them perform their reinterpretation below. It arrives as the Dublin band are prepping the release of their sophomore LP, A Hero’s Death, which is due out July 31 via Partisan Records (pre-order it now).

Fontaines D.C. announced their Dogrel follow up last week with a video for the album’s title track, “A Hero’s Death” (see below). The bewitching, Hugh Mulhern-directed visual stars Aidan Gillen (Game of Thrones, The Wire, Peaky Blinders) as a narcissistic late-night talk show host in an endless loop. His actions are repetitive, but the world around him is slowly mutating.

Citing The Beach Boys, Suicide, and Leonard Cohen as influences for the new record, the group describe A Hero’s Death as a progression. It’s different from their debut effort, with most of the songs featuring a restrained, spectral balladry.

In a recent interview with Dan Hegarty for RTE 2FM, Fontaines D.C. guitarist Carlos O’Connell explained that the band wrote most of the album last summer in Ireland between gigs. They attempted to record the LP in Los Angeles in October 2019 after completing their US tour. However, they weren’t satisfied with the LA recordings. Despite sounding amazing, the songs didn’t feel right. The band returned to the UK and re-recorded the tracks in January 2020 with Dogrel producer Dan Carey.

As for Fontaines D.C.’s cover of the Jesus and Mary Chain’s “Darklands,” it could be a telling selection. The song is the title track from JAMC’s follow up to their debut, Psychocandy. Darklands is considered a turning point in the Scottish rockers’ career, as they moved beyond savage noise-pop to something more restrained and melodic. Perhaps this song choice suggests the post-punk rockers are also attempting a melodic shift.

“Darklands” could also have been top of mind for Grian Chatten and gang from the Rockaway Beach Festival in January. Both bands headlined the weekend-long affair. Or maybe the boys just needed a song that worked with a drum machine. Whatever the case, Fontaines D.C. turn out an excellent cover of “Darklands.” You can compare and contrast their version with the original below.