KNEECAP return to bend genre, language, and rules. The most talked about artists in the world are turning the page. A new chapter, new sounds, new manifestos. A blistering album that revels in darkness while bursting through the void with illuminated revery. This is 'FENIAN'.

Produced by Dan Carey (Fontaines D.C., Kae Tempest, Wet Leg), 'FENIAN' upends expectations with an expansive sonic palate, traversing acid house, trip-hop, dubstep, and more - Masters of rave and rap theatre, 'FENIAN' represents Kneecap’s most sophisticated exploration of language and sounds.

More darkness. More confrontation. More craic. More energy. More solidarity. More absolute bangers. And more fuel for the unrelenting engine that powers this unstoppable force. For their remarkable second album, Kneecap have come out fighting.

Throughout, the sirens and alarms ring, and the chorus’s blast. Revolutionary and rebellious, confrontational and impossibly catchy, inescapably intelligent and brilliantly rendered, 'FENIAN' doesn’t just represent the next phase in Kneecap’s trajectory but stands as a remarkable record that thrills as much as it surprises. The mayhem of their breakout year is a memory now. But Kneecap are neither dwelling on that nor merely persevering through it. In 'FENIAN' they excel, reaching a new peak that is undeniable in its mastery.

Pressure makes diamonds, and 'FENIAN' glistens with Kneecap’s uncut gems.

STAFF COMMENTS

Barry says: No doubt one of the biggest bands in the world right now, and the blistering FENIAN shows why, a cataclysmic clash of roaring electronics and shuddering bass, charged lyrics and a huge swathe of influences ranging all over the musical spectrum. A roaring call to arms, and a brilliant new chapter for the band.

TRACK LISTING

1. Éire Go Deo
2. Smugglers & Scholars
3. Carnival
4. Palestine (feat. Fawzi)
5. Liars Tale
6. FENIAN
7. Big Bad Mo
8. Headcase
9. An Ra
10. Cold At The Top
11. Occupied 6
12. Gael Phonics
13. Cocaine Hill (feat. Radie Peat)
14. Irish Goodbye (feat. Kae Tempest)

Riding a hefty drop down bass riff courtesy of the track’s producer, acclaimed DJ/artist, Sub Focus, the Belfast / Derry trio, KNEECAP, have focused on the British states abuse of power and intimidation following their failed pursuit at charging Mo Chara with terrorism offences. ‘No Comment’ hits back hard, another massive track that will bounce off the walls of clubs and arenas. The Artwork features Banksy’s now infamous 'Royal Courts of Justice’ mural - used with kind permission from the artist. ‘No Comment’ follows recent massive collaborations with Mozey on 'The Recap' and Paul Hartnoll of Orbital on ‘Sayōnara’ and 2024's critically acclaimed album 'Fine Art.' 

TRACK LISTING

1. No Comment
2. Get Your Brits Out

When it came to following up 'sound of the summer so far' single 'THE RECAP' Ft. Mozey, Kneecap had it in their heads that they wanted to make a proper 100% rave festival banger. A few days in the studio with one of the masters of that art form - Orbital's Paul Hartnoll - and the Belfast (and Derry) three piece emerge with an absolute classic of the genre - a mind pounding, drum heavy, relentless club monster of a single.

"Having worked on the Orbital track Belfast for the fantastic Kneecap film, I was delighted to be asked by the lads to help them make a rave festival banger. They loved the track and did it proud with their lyrics - it was all so easy and natural, just as a good collaboration should be. Hopefully, you’ll be lucky enough to be in a field this summer and hear it in its natural habitat , big , loud, and unashamed!" - Paul Hartnoll

As for 'THE RECAP', an astonishingly instant summer-smash in waiting, the West Belfast trio collaborated with drum & bass producer Mozey on the Kemi Badenoch baiting track which received its live debut at their momentous headline appearance at this year’s Wide Awake Festival in Brockwell Park, London. (Mozey appears courtesy of Rinse.)

Riding in on a punchy bassline and a drum track that effortlessly shifts from post punk rumble to drum and bass explosion, ‘THE RECAP’ is a massive statement of intent from the most talked about band in the world and is a guaranteed rallying cry at festivals across the country all summer.

TRACK LISTING

1. Sayõnara – KNEECAP And Paul Hartnoll
2. THE RECAP – KNEECAP Ft MOZEY
3. Sayõnara – KNEECAP And Paul Hartnoll (Instrumental)
4. THE RECAP – KNEECAP Ft MOZEY (Instrumental)

Kneecap are now the most talked-about group in the world, mobilising a generation in moshpits and on dancefloors, in fields and in clubs, and online and off. At the core of this, are undeniably exhilarating tunes. This is hip-hop at its most exciting – a potent and revolutionary force, smashing bans, barricades, censorship, and the occasional bottle of Buckfast.

Their BAFTA-winning feature film, Kneecap, starring Michael Fassbender, which was short-listed for an Academy Award, in tandem with their fiercely intelligent breakthrough concept album, 'Fine Art' (2024), produced by Toddla T, catapulted them into the mainstream and is now celebrating its first anniversary, as well as its official GOLD sales status in Ireland - with a brand new Gold foiled edition of the 12-track album, which seamlessly merges Irish with English & satire with socially conscious lyrics, is fiercely intelligent, consistently hilarious and genuinely thought-provoking. Theirs is a voice which comes screaming from the too-often deprived areas of the North of Ireland, speaking in a language which is too-often ignored.

Whether they’re rolling up to Sundance in a police Land Rover, encouraging tens of thousands of young people to learn Irish, breaking box office records, storming festivals with epic main stage sets, annoying right-wing politicians the world over, or earning support and solidarity from the likes of Noel Gallagher, Annie Mac, Elton John, Amyl & the Sniffers, Paul Weller, Primal Scream, Massive Attack, on banners in football stadiums, or in graffiti on city walls around the world, Kneecap’s message and mode of unity, community, collective action and the power of raving, punk, and rap, is all underscored with a revolutionary sound, and blistering live performances that have built a global wave of fans unified in the joy of solidarity and the shared sweat that flings from fine art like no other.

This is a moment and a movement. And it’s only just begun.

TRACK LISTING

1. 3CAG
2. Fine Art
3. I BhFiacha Linne
4. I’m Flush
5. Better Way To Live
6. Sick In The Head
7. Love Making
8. Drug Dealin Pagans
9. Harrow Road
10. Parful
11. Rhino Ket
12. Way Too Much

With a string of glowing reviews and handful of awards already behind it, the Irish-language semi-biopic award-winning film is one of the most-acclaimed movie releases of the year playing in over 500 cinemas across the U.K and Ireland. The film was recently selected by the Irish Film & Television Academy (IFTA) to represent Ireland in the Oscar International Feature Film category having previously scooped the ‘Next Audience Award’ at this year’s Sundance Film Festival and the ‘Audience Award’ at the Galway Film Fleadh in July.

Kneecap (Original Soundtrack) features tracks from the trio themselves alongside Bicep, Fontaines DC, Orbital plus the film’s incidental music composed by Michael ‘Mikey J’ Asante MBE interspersed with snippets of the film’s dialogue. The physical edition is available on double LP (featuring gatefold sleeve and colour vinyl) and CD.

STAFF COMMENTS

Barry says: There are few bands that have made as much of an impact as Kneecap have, with their debut album hitting our end of year charts pretty heavily. Here we get the soundtrack to the film, following Kneecap around their scene and their peers and contemporaries. Including Kneecap (obv), Fontaines DC, Bicep and loads more.

TRACK LISTING

1. 'Every Fucking Story About Belfast Starts Like This' – Liam Óg Ó Hannaidh
2. Parful – KNEECAP
3. ITS BEEN AGES – KNEECAP
4. Run – Mikey J
5. ‘Nothing But A H.O.O.D’ – Marty Maguire & Liam Óg Ó Hannaidh
6. Civil Rights – Mikey J
7. ‘A Wee Operation’ – Michael Fassbender & Cillian Kernan & Aidan McCaughey
8. Dad's Gone – Mikey J
9. Amach Anocht – KNEECAP
10. ‘You Bring A Stolen Car Here’ – Michael Fassbender & Naoise O Caireallain      
11. Ceasefire Babies – Mikey J
12. Guilty Conscience – KNEECAP
13. ‘Love Affair With The Shniff’ – Liam Óg Ó Hannaidh
14. C.E.A.R.T.A – KNEECAP
15. Arrested – Mikey J
16. 80% – Dirty Faces
17. 3CAG (ft. Radie Peat) – KNEECAP
18. The A Minor Set – The Bonny Men
19. ‘No Need To Panic’ – Naoise O Caireallain & Gerry Adams      
20. Thart Agus Thart – KNEECAP
21. ‘What The Fuck Was That?!’ – Liam Óg Ó Hannaidh & Jessica Reynolds
22. Glue – Bicep
23. Sick In The Head – KNEECAP
24. Liberty Belle – Fontaines D.C.
25. ‘Special Delivery’ – Liam Óg Ó Hannaidh & Naoise O Caireallain & Adam Best & Cathal Mercer 
26. Phone Booth – Mikey J, Gemma Doherty And Simone Kirby
27. Ash Plant – Absolute Lilt
28. Belfast (Fuck The Fuck Off) – Liam Óg Ó Hannaidh & Kerri Quinn & Orbital
29. Better Way To Live (ft. Grian Chatten) – KNEECAP
30. Kneecapped – Mikey J
31. Fall In Love Again – Alanna Royale
32. Is A Bullet – Mikey J, Gemma Doherty And Simone Kirby
33. ‘The Irish For The End Is...’ – Liam Óg Ó Hannaidh        
34. H.O.O.D – KNEECAP

When Mo Chara, Moglaí Bap and DJ Provaí - aka Belfast’s finest Kneecap - entered the studio with producer Toddla T in the summer of 2023, they quickly decided to scrap everything they had already prepared for the album they were about to record. Instead, they decided to build a pub together.

Built on a West Belfast side street, The Rutz is a community boozer, in that the entire community uses it. All human life is inside, either thriving, striving or skiving. There’s people just trying to get served at the bar or up on the stage performing; others are slumped in darkened corners or emerging bleary eyed and coke smeared from the toilets. Religious affiliations are irrelevant and the chatter is a intoxicating blur of English and Irish.

Although the pub is currently just a figment of the band’s imagination, all of the action on Kneecap’s exhilarating first album - Fine Art - takes place in The Rutz. Like the band themselves, Fine Art is fiercely intelligent, consistently hilarious and genuinely thought provoking. It’s genius is to immerse you in a world thus far unrepresented in modern music.

Across the record’s twelve tracks and the interconnecting moments between them (recorded by the band and friends including DJ Annie Mac), the pub comes to life vividly, providing the perfect backdrop for the cast of characters that join the dots throughout the album. From the moment the idea was born back in Toddla T’s studio, it was the obvious location to base the world of Kneecap in.

STAFF COMMENTS

Millie says: The curveball, not-what-you’d-expect from a Piccadilly Records chart, Kneecap. Belfast’s newest rising stars that made an absolutely belting debut album ‘Fine Art’. If you’re not already acquainted with the trio, Kneecap have taken the world by storm with their Irish Hip Hop. Recognisable from their iconic Irish flag adorned bally, streetwear, and hoodies. In fact, it’s not too dissimilar to Andy’s Manchester weather appropriate cycling-gear, for those who haven’t had the pleasure - it consists of a bucket hat, waterproofs and plastic shop bags over his shoes tucked into trousers. Anyway, back on track, Kneecap have a strong look and an impactful sound, their music is political and rife with anarchy.

Fine Art is bursting with quick wit, the peppered language interchangeable lyrics between English and Gaeilge is what makes this album come alive. The standout track for me has to be ‘Parful’, they touch on how rave culture goes beyond the divide of communities within Ireland, showing how music in general goes beyond sectarian divide. And also getting on it with your mates of course, the bass hits hard on this one taking it to euphoric levels.

Also to note, the album is set in a fictional pub, my favourite interlude being ‘Last Orders’ is the epitome of pub atmosphere at the end of a long night, this then segues into ‘Way Too Much’ which I’d argue is the gateway into becoming a fully fledged Kneecap fan, it’s the summertime anthem that you least expected. It’s probably time you entered the Kneecap hype if you weren’t already.

TRACK LISTING

1. 3CAG Feat. Radie Peat
2. Fine Art
3. I BhFiacha Linne
4. I'm Flush
5. Better Way To Live Feat. Grian Chatten
6. Sick In The Head
7. Love Making
8. Drug Dealin Pagans
9. Harrow Road Feat. JELANI BLACKMAN
10. Parful
11. Rhino Ket
12. Way Too Much