Dead Men Walking: FREEDOM – It Ain’t On The Rise

The Dead Men Walking supergroup has now been in existence for two decades, in that time it’s membership has included Mike Peters (The Alarm), Pete Wylie (Wah!), Glen Matlock (Sex Pistols), Bruce Watson (Big Country), Chris Cheney (The Living End), Slim Jim Phantom (The Stray Cats) and Captain Sensible (The Damned), and that’s not including guest appearances, touring members or the band’s ongoing counterpart, The Jack Tars. The current line up of this vintage punk collective features founder member Kirk Brandon (Spear Of Destiny / Theatre Of Hate / The Pack), Jake Burns (Stiff Little Fingers) and Dave Ruffy and Segs Jennings (The Ruts / Ruts DC)

Looking at the past and present membership of Dead Men Walking it’s clear the name is a knowing nod to their advancing years, with the majority of it’s membership having been embedded in the punk scene since the late 1970’s and early 1980’s, with the exception of Chris Cheney who is the equivalent of the office junior and the only member of the band, both past and present, who hasn’t reached his half century yet. The band have previously released live and studio albums, had disagreements, split up, reformed, split up again, changed the band name, split up and changed it back again, all the while constantly rotating the line up, and now they’re back with their new album, Freedom – It Ain’t On The Rise.

FREEDOM – It Ain’t On The Rise sits stylistically between their debut album, Graveyard Smashes, and their sophomore album of original material, Easy Piracy, as this album features both original compositions and acoustic reinterpretations of songs from it’s members back catalogue, although on this occasion rather than exclusively digging deep into their past, as they did with Graveyard Smashes, they are also revisiting recent history. Whether you will enjoy Dead Men Walking’s latest full length will depend very much on your opinion of it’s members full time outfits, and if you are of the old school persuasion, or a die hard fan of any of the members more prominent outfits, then this is an album that you’ll want in your collection.

Whilst this really is one for the die hard fans who always want to hear more from their heroes, their are moments where the acoustic treatment really delivers. As The Ruts showed on their recent ElectrAcoustic album, their songs work however they’re delivered, the superb Kill The Pain, that originally appeared on 2016’s Music Must Destroy, and their classic single, Staring At The Rude Boys, are obvious highlights, on the flip side of this Stiff Little Fingers tracks work better for me with the traditional amplification and decibels, rather than the tender acoustic approach on display on FREEDOM – It Ain’t On The Rise.

Kirk Brandon of course dips into his past, as he has been doing regularly with his solo shows and tours with The Pack, Spear Of Destiny and Theatre Of Hate, and if you are one of the legion of Kirk’s devotees then this really is an essential purchase for you. For most this will be a mixed bag, one that depends on your allegiances and preferences from punk’s past. For fans of any of the members legendary outfits, FREEDOM – It Ain’t On The Rise will provide a chance to hear another side to them, one that will surprise and may (or may not) delight.

Dead Men Walking’s official website can be found here