The Rumjacks – Hestia

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This is The Rumjacks 5th studio album and it comes in like a Japanese bullet train, timed to perfection and with a sonic boom.  Perfectly placed to lift the spirits after a year of lockdowns and sadness, this album is everything you want from a Celtic Punk band and more. 

The album Hestia is named after the Greek god of family/hearth, maybe could have also been named Janus (a new beginning), anyway enough of the mythological stuff.  If you rolled up Ferocious Dog, The Levellers, Roughneck Riot, Dropkick Murphys and maybe a bit of Frank Turner thrown in for good measure, your on your way to The Rumjacks sound, originally formed in Australia then moving to Europe the band now consists of Mike Rivkees (vocals), Johnny McKelvey (bass), Gabe Whitbourne (guitar), Adam Kenny (bouzouki/mandolin), and Pietro Della Sala (drums).

Can I just say that whilst writing this I was so inspired by the bands name, that yes a certain amount of Cuban did pass over my lips, so please be patient if things go a bit off kilter by the end.

From the first symbol crash to the final note, this album feels like you’re hurtling along in said bullet train, with the thing rocking from side to side as it goes.

‘Naysayers’ sets us off on the journey, and what strikes you is the ferocity and energy that is thrown in here, it’s not until ‘Hestia’ comes in do you get chance to take breath, but not for long!  The title track picked perfectly, an anthem of never giving up and togetherness, followed by one of the stand outs, both lyrically and musically ‘Through These Iron Sights’ has everything, rock guitar, mandolin, angst filled vocals, a story that hits home and all wrapped up in the heaviest sound on the album.

As remarked on earlier, The Rumjacks are possibly the most rounded Celtic Punk band you could ever want to here, songs like the Pogues sounding ‘Sainted Millions’, then with a heart of ska that is reminiscent in part to the Interrupters the wonderful ‘Tell Me What Happened’ bounces along with the a melody that will stick with you for days, ‘Light In My Shadow’ which gives a Celtic twist to what could have easily made a Rancid set list. 

Folk songs with stories that use tales of old, tales of now, but most importantly tales that lift the spirit.

Is there any negative to this album?

If you were to pick it apart, yes you could say, nothing new here, nothing that breaks ground, but to be sure, this is possibly not the point of this band.

The plus is that they have rolled everything up that is out there in this genre and made something that is their own!

Totally enjoyable and what a great way to crack open the Rum!  Dance away the night and fall down, get up and fall down again… 

OUT NOW!

Get hold of or stream this album from numerous outlets HERE

Connect with the band on their FACEBOOK or via their website HERE