Franz Ferdinand

Where did we leave the good old Franz Ferdinand? Their last album, Always Ascending, was released in 2018, marking a lineup change following the departure of longtime guitarist Nick McCarthy. In recent years, the Scottish band welcomed a new drummer, Audrey Tait, and, in an era when almost no one does this anymore, released a greatest hits compilation titled Hits To The Head, featuring a couple of new tracks.

Now, with more than two decades of career under their belt—and exactly twenty years since their sophomore album, You Could Have It So Much Better—they're back with their long-awaited and delayed sixth studio effort (not counting the brief collaboration with Sparks in the mid-2010s). The Human Fear, according to Alex Kapranos, is a concept album that explores "the thrill of being human through fears."

The result is 11 new songs packed into 35 minutes of music. Not a long album, but a largely successful one that will certainly not disappoint fans. Let's be clear: Franz Ferdinand no longer have the raw energy they displayed twenty years ago, as one might expect. The drive behind their post-punk revival formula, with its powerful guitar textures combined with an explosive rock 'n' roll style, has undeniably faded over the years.

What we have instead is a mature, reflective band, less "hurried" in recording and performing songs that clearly stem from a creative vision rather than fan expectations or current trends. It's the privilege of an experienced and seasoned band to do exactly what they want.

However, this also makes the album feel "lukewarm" at times, without too many surprises. Nonetheless, there are standout moments worth mentioning. Hooked, a haunting song about love and obsession, is undoubtedly the album's peak, reminiscent of their darker works like Evil Eye (2013). Other highlights include the Beatles-esque Audacious, which opens the tracklist; the elegant and baroque (but still rock-infused) Build It Up; and the martial post-punk of Black Eyelashes—all tracks that could easily fit into their more classic albums, such as the first two. Noteworthy as well is the closing track, The Birds, a climactic wall of sound that ends the album on a high note.

Essentially, the formula employed by the British band is one we've come to expect: a guitar-driven post-punk sound that has become increasingly mellow over time. It’s not so much hybridized as it is “tempered,” adding little in terms of external influences but evolving into an increasingly full and confident sound, with little room for hesitation or deviation. This brevity is reflected in the album’s length: even after a seven-year gap, Kapranos and company say what they want to say in just over half an hour.

So, is The Human Fear a good album? Considering it arrives after two decades of a distinguished career, with the band already having carved its name into the history of post-2000s pop music and with nothing left to prove—and in an era where post-punk is now championed by younger avant-garde acts like Fontaines D.C., Idles, Yard Act, and Shame—the answer is a resounding yes. If you’ve been a fan of the band since the distant, naïve days of Take Me Out back in 2004 and have followed their journey over these twenty years, The Human Fear will not disappoint.

(This English adaptation was produced with AI-assisted translation)

12/01/2025