Dropkick Murphys return with For the People, their thirteenth studio album—and arguably their most politically charged to date. Released digitally on July 4, with physical editions following in October, the album fuses the band’s trademark Celtic punk with a fierce, working-class defiance rooted in the now.
Opening with the explosive “Who’ll Stand With Us?”, the record sets a tone of urgency and solidarity. Frontman Ken Casey doesn’t hold back, calling out populist demagoguery and rallying listeners to stand against division. The band’s activism isn’t just posture—it’s embedded in the writing, sharpened by lived perspective and years on the front lines of protest and performance.
Musically, the album leans into Dropkick’s strengths: stomping rhythms, gang vocals, and Irish instrumentation that never feels like window dressing. Guests like Billy Bragg, The Scratch, and the Mary Wallopers widen the sound without diluting its punch. “School Days Over” becomes a worker’s hymn, “Longshot” surges with grit and melody, and “One Last Goodbye” offers a poignant tribute to Shane MacGowan.
Al Barr’s long-awaited return on “The Vultures Circle High” adds another layer of weight and familiarity, proving the band’s core chemistry remains intact even as they evolve.
Critics have been largely positive: Kerrang! praised it as their strongest political statement in years, while The Razor’s Edge highlighted its fusion of rebellion and melody. Even as the lyrics go deep into social and economic unrest, the album never loses the celebratory spirit that’s defined the Murphys since day one.
For the People isn’t just a collection of songs—it’s a rallying cry. Loud, urgent, and proudly grounded in community, this album finds Dropkick Murphys doing what they do best: standing their ground and singing for the ones who still fight.
🎵 The Big Man
