70%
The once Sydney-based Celtic punk mob has spread their wings with success in Europe and parts of the US, aided by a vocalist replacement in the Boston-based Mike Rivkees. The first album with Rivkees treaded a little light and played to the tropes the band were well known for.
This album comes out more immediate and ready to rumble, bruising their way out of the speakers with an opening salvo that are instantly hummable and easy to get into. This goes on for the opening four tracks, including ‘Cold Like This’ that sees them joined by The Dropkick Murphys for a song that could easily be lifted from the latter band’s long list of Celtic punk shanties.
The album pivots into slower Pogues-esque territory as it progresses through An Irish Goodbye on St Valentines Day and even more so on the stunning October, that on the first few spins really felt like a saggy mid album track, but works its way into your head.
The two tone ska under current of Scandal is one of the most refreshing parts of the less punky parts of Dead Anthem, danceable and without the Irish melancholy that permeates so many tracks, the story of mates playing up a little.
The final tracks play out musically as polar opposites to the opening salvo, leaving an uneasy sadness that I don’t want from my punk, although closer Some Legends Never Die – dedicated to Shane MacGowan – is a beautiful slice of forlorn punk written for a man who was a hero to many.
Over all Dead Anthems is another great slice of the Rumjacks’ cake. It still doesn’t carry as much weight or swagger as the releases with the problematic Frankie McLaughli, but the more this unit are together the more they bring in a diverse array of influences that will only continue to find them new fans.
