Dropkick Murphys - TheWarrior's Code

Mon 20th Jun, 2005 in Music Reviews

Boston septet Dropkick Murphys are back with Warrior’s Code, their seventh album to date and chock-full of the jig-happy, punk anthems that one comes to expect from the band. Full of break-neck-paced songs and shouted choruses, this is one meat and potatoes kind of album. This is a band who, after all, released shirts with Kiss Me, I’m Shitfaced emblazoned on the front.

From opener Your Spirit’s Alive, dedicated to a friend of the Dropkick Murphys who passed away, the energy is palpable and Al Barr’s familiar, hoarse vocals tear the songs apart. Title track The Warrior’s Code follows and is a song dedicated to Micky Ward, a Massachusetts boxer whose image graces the front cover of the album.

Songs like Sunshine Highway combine melodic Irish folk music with punchy verses and addictive choruses, while humour abounds in songs such as WSC as the band shouts, “you gotta shake hands with your feelings in the Wicked Sensitive Crew” and “I ain’t ashamed I cried when Mickey died in Rocky II”.

There are also a few covers and re-arrangements of Irish tunes such as the traditional Captain Kelly’s Kitchen (Courtin’ in the Kitchen), The Green Fields of France (No Man’s Land by Eric Bogle) and The Auld Triangle (written by Brendan Behan).

The Burden departs from the style of Dropkick Murphys song that we are used to. It is far more laid-back and… um, gentle than the rest of the album. In direct contrast is penultimate song Citizen C.I.A, which positively sears thanks to the crazy drumming, rapid-fire vocals, and raucous guitars. Likewise Last Letter Home is wonderfully chaotic, with hollered lyrics and frenzied music.

I’m Shipping Up to Boston (written by Woodie Guthrie) is a great little (predominantly instrumental) tune that combines traditional music with powerful guitars and the lyrics “shipping out to Boston to find my wooden leg”.

Final track Tessie was the official anthem of the Boston Red Socks in 2004. The liner notes state that:

“After giving it [the track] to the Red Sox told anyone that would listen that this song would guarantee a World Series victory. Obviously no one listened to us or took us seriously.”

Well, it obviously worked because the Red Sox went on to win the World Series.

This is a thoroughly enjoyable album, and while it is arguably more melodic than the albums that have gone before it, you can bet your last dollar that the band’s infamous live shows will continue to be nothing short of chaotic.