Dropkick Murphys - The Warriors Code
Reviewed on Oct 8, 2005 by Tom
Other than with their devastating live-act (and I mean that in a good way), I’ve never really been too keen on what these Boston lads produced musically. At least never enough to make me go out and purchase one of their discs. So when their seventh release (and 4th or 5th full-length) landed on my doorstep I wasn’t particularly thrilled or enthused.
But on the base of “The Warriors Code”, it is easy to see why the band has generated such a massive following. They’re just so bloody good at what they do without having to trade in certain aspects of their sound in favour of “maturity” and “progression”. No, the Dropkick Murphys will probably always bring those loud, spirit-full and anthemic sing-along type of songs that get you all crackered up before you head down to your local pub. That being said, “The Warriors Code” does sound a bit harder and is generally a lot faster than 2003’s “Blackout”, although the band mixes it up pretty well, displaying their ever-lasting inspiration on all subjects that involve some kind of brawl. In terms of style the DKM vary heavily, from the pirate-punk (who came up with that term anyway?) of “Captain Kelly’s Kitchen” to the absolutely stomping ”Citizen C.I.A.” and “Your Spirits Alive”, the humorous “Wixked Sensitive Crew“ where the band takes a stab at the whole fashion-fancy emo-core phenomenon, and the undeniable celtic-influenced tracks like “Sunshine highway” and “The Warriors Code” dedicated to boxer Mickey Ward (whom fronts the artwork for this one). It just counts in the bands favour that they don’t feed off the same trick all the time and show they are more than capable of bringing a collection of tracks of which none sounds contrived or generic in the least. For a band that place the changes in style, influence and pace under such a broad horizon, it really is a bit remarkable that every song comes across as strong and convincing as the last. And for someone who isn’t a fan in the first place and needs something extra special to be dragged along in the raw, spirited drive of it all, it’s all the more surprising. Punch, melody, bagpipe fused ballads, more laid-back piano-driven grooves, traditional Irish folk, feet-stomping choruses, more energy than you can feed the Duracel Bunny and a positive, light-hearted vibe … that, and a lot more, is all up for grabs on this latest DKM release, and they pull it off with a lot of style.
What with all the pirates on the coast of street-punk-land (you know: Street Dogs, Ducky Boys, Flogging Molly), The Dropkick Murphy’s are the ones sailing the marine flagship itself and don’t need to worry about being boarded and commandeered at all. “The Warriors Code” is an album that is as diverse as it is enjoyable and will ultimately leave you with a very fulfilling feeling after listening, just in time for you to start off the festival season on a positive note. So down that ale, clear your throat and let “The Warriors Code” do the rest!
Album Information
| Best Song: | Captain Kelly’s Kitchen |
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| Medium/Type: | Full-Length |
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| Released: | June 21st, 2005 |
| Record Label: | Epitaph Records |
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| Viewed: | 2066 times |
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Tracklisting
- Your Spirits Alive
- The Warriors Code
- Captain Kelly’s Kitchen
- The Walking Dead
- Sunshine Highway
- Wicked Sensitive Crew
- The Burden
- Citizen CIA
- The Green Fields of France
- Take It And Run
- I’m Shipping Up To Boston
- The Auld Triangle
- The Last Letter Home
