With that in mind, much has been made of a ‘return’ to hardcore on FTHC — it stands for Frank Turner Hardcore, after all — though it feels like something of a red herring; adopting that sound here feels the equivalent of reaching for that one coat we’ve all got that doesn’t seem to deteriorate and never fails to make us feel good. Perhaps it’s the confidence this return to the comfortable brings that’s empowered writing about some very challenging topics, as on Miranda and A Wave Across A Bay, neither of which is musically heavy but both of which carry serious weight.
Miranda is about Frank’s father’s transition to being a woman. And while, initially, the songwriter’s economy with words makes proceedings feel a little on the nose, it soon blossoms into something more, seeing this development as the latest surprising chapter in a tumultuous relationship, while healing divisions with an estranged parent. ‘Miranda, it’s lovely to meet you,’ Frank chimes; drawing a line beneath a difficult episode has rarely been done so succinctly or beautifully. Further context on why this dynamic was problematic can be found two tracks earlier, on Fatherless.
A Wave Across A Bay is a tribute to Frightened Rabbit's Scott Hutchison, who took his own life in 2018. Dreamy in its delivery but unsparing in its detail – ‘There must have been a moment, just before you hit the water / When you were filled with a sense of peace and understanding’ – it finds Frank, a man whose anxiety has been diagnosed in recent years, contemplating the pain of a friend he misses so dearly. It's gorgeous and devastating.
FTHC is likely to hit hardest with those who have grown with Frank, witnessing his evolution and the ways in which it’s helped chronicle their own. That’s not to say there’s not much to enjoy for new fans, though, who will no doubt find an empathetic ally in a man whose honesty and anger and heart continue to inspire.
Verdict: 4/5
For fans of: Jamie Lenman, Möngöl Hörde, NOFX
FTHC is out now via Xtra Mile