Energy, aggression, raw passion and sheer power; it’s all here in the latest single and video from Dropkick Murphys. ‘Ten Times More’ is based around a military call-and-response structure with the only musical accompaniment coming from percussion and harmonica. Stamping feet and handclaps reinforce the pounding beat as Dropkick Murphys holler their way through an anthem for the downtrodden and dispossessed, the working people of America. The music for ‘Ten Times More’ was written and recorded on the spot and the version of the song you hear on the forthcoming album was actually the first demo take. Consequently, the song has a lively dynamic and vibrant feel to it. In the video, the grainy film and muted colours add to the grittiness in the band’s performance while we also see brief images of historical opponents of labour movements and modern-day fascists.
The single is taken from the upcoming new album, ‘This Machine Still Kills Fascists’, which is due out on 30th September. Fans should also look out for the limited edition vinyl that will be released on 11th November. The album is the band’s latest link to Woody Guthrie and all the songs are based on previously unpublished lyrics by the Oklahoma legend. It’s an intriguing project that has involved Dropkick Murphys working with Guthrie’s daughter Nora, who has curated the songs. Strengthening the link, the band recorded the album at The Church Studio in Tulsa, close to where Guthrie was born. They also walked the streets of Okemah, Guthrie’s hometown, trying to project themselves across time and into his musical and lyrical world. Guthrie’s lyrics inspired so many new songs that a second volume will be released in 2023. It’s ambitious and fresh, turning something old into something new. Check it out.
