Rating: 9/10
Release: 2 March 2018
Label: Reedo Records

I listen to quite a lot of Celtic music, especially in March so sometimes I can get a little burned out on it. So it’s with a great big crooked smile that I got a listen to the new Mr Irish Bastard album.” The Desire for Revenge “is a really good album. This one cleared my head and made me want more. The mix is perfect and the lyrics are crystal clear and delivered in that perfect whiskey soaked voice. Every instrument stands out and cuts through the music making the songs pop with nice little surprises around every time change. The opening blast of “Black Eye Friday” and “Oliver Cromwell’s Head”, is a nice one -two punch full of Punk rhythms, anger, and some history as well. “Darlinka,(Darling Karlinka)” rides on a nice folk melody that sounds like it should be played around a gypsy fire. It’s filled with those little surprises like violin flourishes and gang vocals. “Poor Irish Billy” is one of the best songs I’ve heard this year. The banjo and the vocals really drive the song and then add in that sweet violin and a fantastic guitar solo and you have Celtic gold. “Phoenix” is another song that really stands out with a snappy rhythm and great vocals. It’s tough to pick out favorite tracks on this album it’s filled with great songs and every tune makes you want to sing along. “We are the Drunks” features one of the best choruses and makes me want to shout, we are the drunks whooooa ..at the top of my voice. It’s a classic bar song. “Mike Malloy” is filled with those musical flourishes that just make you smile ear to ear. Another classic tune . “I Only Like You When I’m Drunk” seems like a nice love song but… not quite. Its yet another album highlight. I don’t think you can listen to this song without singing along. In fact I think this entire album is filled with songs that make you sing along. It’s really infectious. Like the best Celtic punk music it makes you tap your feet, clap your hands and sing along. Even the darkest lyrics make you smile. Where else can you smile and clap while you sing about executing a corpse. This is a classic Celtic punk album. If you enjoy this type of music this one should be in your collection.

Tracklist

1. Black Eye Friday
2. Oliver Cromwell‘s Head
3. Darlinka (Darling Karlinka)
4. Poor Irish Billy
5. Pirates Of The Irish Sea
6. Phoenix
7. We Are The Drunks
8. Mike Malloy
9. I Only Like You When I‘m Drunk
10. Time After Time
11. …Before The Devil Knows You‘re Dead
12. The Soundtrack Of My Life