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Album Review: FENIAN by Kneecap
- Olive McCagh
- Jun 11
- 3 min read
Written by Olive McCagh
Kneecap has flirted with the light and dark for some time. The rap group has mastered a powerful combination of deep storytelling and danceable hip-hop, reaching wide audiences and drawing attention to where it matters.
FENIAN is an anxious return for Belfast-trio Kneecap, although it’s as if they never left. Their name has barely left the headlines, perhaps working harder behind the scenes of music to battle terrorism charges and advocate for lost language and land.
It’s no surprise they have leaned into the shadows for this album, considering they have been forced there by mainstream media and government officials. ‘Smugglers & Scholars’ is driven by bass and the hard truths of Ireland’s colonisation. It’s an anthem of revolution, celebrating the uprisings of every generation in Ireland. Eerie drones are ringing as sirens bounce behind; it’s an alarm, a warning to listen carefully to what Kneecap is saying.
The album captures a moment in time for the band, when their rise was rapid, and they faced heavy criticism. Over the past year, they took over Glastonbury stages and courtrooms. Kneecap knew how to make an impression. The third track on the album ‘Carnival’ highlights the absurdity of Mo Chara’s dropped terrorism charges. Laced between bouncing drums, Móglaí Bap and Mo Chara take the micky and the magistrates' court. With signature mocking voices courtesy of DJ Provei, the track portrays the circus-try of it all. Criticising the misplacement of attention on the band and their likeness, the message isn’t themselves, it’s in the music. Kneecap comes in assured and critical, exposing the distractions and refocusing the spotlight on governments’ participation in war and land possession.
‘Palestine’ ft. Fawzi is one of the more powerful tracks on the album; the trio are maturing not only their sound but have also refined their approach to solidarity and advocacy. Móglaí Bap, Mo Chara, and DJ Próvaí may have set the stage, but they have no urge to hog the spotlight. Collaborating with artists like Fawzi to highlight the stories of others, using their platform for powerful advocacy. The transnational track flows between Irish and Arabic dialects, facing the ongoing conflict in Palestine head-on. Where Kneecap has attempted to be silenced and charged, they have retaliated in a considerate and forceful manner.
Working alongside British producer Dan Carey (Fontaines D.C, Wet Leg, Geese), the band moves forward strong, tapping further into their electronic sound with punk-rave, acid house and hip hop all playing their roles in the house of FENIAN.
‘Liar’s Tale’ was the first single; the band wanted it to be abrasive and punk, a real ‘fuck you’ to the systems that had been trying to push them down over the past year. Fuelled with energy, a little signature cheek, and innovative sonics, Kneecap is holding the fort down in all areas over the album. With big stories, brash attitudes, and their new status of celebrity, they have a lot to back up with the music, and FENIAN is proof that they can do it all.
They packed a punch with the album; over 42 minutes, listeners are guided through choruses of rebellion, melodies of loss, and hints of their iconic party-boy stature. It’s a rollercoaster with the right amount of highs and lows. The album allowed the band to look inward and reflect on personal woes that have defined their person and sound.
“Irish Goodbye” ft. Kae Tempest is subjectively the best track on the album, the last ride of the record. Móglaí Bap opens up about the departure of his mother and the feelings tied to his nostalgia of looking back. It’s evocative, driven by the dribble of Móglaí's lyricism, reflecting on grief, and how he struggled to cope with her depression and suicide. Giving the audience an insight into his mind beyond his worldly views is another indication of how Kneecap’s relationship with music and stories is forever taking turns. Kae Tempest’s addition to the song completely makes it; her warm voice and instinctive delivery feel as though she is reading from a diary. Perhaps Kae’s input allowed Móglaí to hide behind her voice and dig deeper into the sharing of his story. ‘Irish Goodbye’ will be a defining tune for the Irish rap group.
Through it all, Kneecap remains honest, becomes confrontational, and shares stories between artists, cultures, and the listeners. This album was born from the real world, and reflects their journey, their beliefs of a free world, and showcases how music is one of the most important tools in a revolution.
You can purchase FENIAN by Kneecap here
