Album Review: The Dropkick Murphys are Back and Better Than Ever, it’s a Bold Statement and I’m Stic

Official music video for Until The Next Time off the band's latest album 11 Short Stories of Pain & Glory

The Dropkick Murphys new album 11 Short Stories of Pain & Glory was released after a painful 4-year wait for fans, but their latest release is proof that the best things come to those who wait. The Bostonian Celtic Punks have matured the sweet palpable angst that translates into their iconic punchy sound which they wrap around their raucous instrumentals and raw lyrical content.

I’ve always counted myself as a diehard fan of Dropkick Murphys for the unique way they highlight the disparity of modern reality which creates an easily relatable resonance to anyone that shares in their impassioned sensibility. Each of the 11 tracks on the album pertains to their timeless storytelling approach which tackles everything from social issues to heartily resentful tales of their upbringing. What I’ve always loved about Dropkick Murphys is their proactive reproach to their music, they’ve transcended the superficiality of the Punk sound, they’re not using their sound as an outlet to express petulant rage. The 2nd track on the album Rebel with A Cause was influenced by their heavy involvement with charity. Back in 2009 frontman Ken Casey established The Claddagh Fund, which aids vulnerable populations of people in their local communities. You can taste the discernible fever of passion which drives the band through each of the 11 tracks on the album.

I’ve heard many renditions of ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’, but I’m not ashamed to say this cover brought a tear to my eye. Around their tight drum rolls and raucous harmonies, the track bleeds pure sentiment. The connection that the Dropkick Murphys create with their fans is something that most musicians could only ever dream of. If You’ll Never Walk Alone, wasn’t enough the penultimate track on the album 4-5-13 pays homage to the Boston Marathon bombings. The humanity behind their lyrics makes the collective more than just a bunch of musicians making music, whilst it does sound like potent aural alchemy their music serves a higher purpose. Ever since the tragic bombings which happened almost 5 years ago the band have been deftly orchestrating a song to pay their respects. Vocalist and bassist Casey poured every emotion he had into the song, eluding in a recent interview that 4-5-13 is the most importing piece of music that the band have ever created.

Along with their harrowing sentimentality, the band also infused some upbeat medleys into the album which can only be defined as instrumental masterpieces such as the 7th track; I Had a Hat, which never fails to bring a smile to my face. 11 Short Stories of Pain & Glory was released on 6th January 2017, produced by Ted Hutt by Born & Bred records, if you haven’t checked it out yet, it’s available to purchase, stream and download across all major platforms along with their standout single Blood.

The Dropkick Murphys are currently on tour across America with a handful of European dates with their sensational new album. Grab your tickets now, it’s not a show you want to miss.

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