Reviewed by Ian Phillips.
By Flogging Molly, Rise Records 2023.
‘Til The Anarchy’s Restored is a three track EP which follows on from Flogging Molly’s wonderful seventh album, Anthem, which was released last year.
The title track is the only new track with the other two tracks being live versions of two of their classic tracks, Drunken Lullabies and What’s Left of the Flag.
Both songs originally appeared on the Drunken Lullabies album.
The live recordings were recorded in one take during the sessions for Anthem and they show how tight the band is.
They are certainly good enough without being multi-tracked etc.
The EP was produced by Steve Albini who produced the band’s Swagger and Drunken Lullabies albums.
‘Til The Anarchy’s Restored is an excellent song that is an appropriate anthem for troubled times.
It’s a song that reaches out to renew and refresh relationships with friends and neighbours.
Relationships that on the surface may seem lost but just need some love and attention.
The song expresses the same feelings of hope for a better future, if we’re prepared to work for it, that is conveyed in the outstanding single A Song of Liberty from the album Anthem.
Although Song of Liberty was written about Irish liberty it is just as relevant to the conflict in the Ukraine and ‘Til The Anarchy’s Restored is also indirectly relatable.
Flogging Molly is an Irish/American Celtic punk band that play a raucous mix of traditional Irish tunes and melodies performed with punk vitality and energy.
They’ve built a fanatical following in their homeland (USA) and in Ireland as well as a strong following in the UK and Europe.
They’ve become a staple in the punk scene, toured extensively, performed on late night TV shows, and even run an annual ‘Salty Dog’ sea cruise through the Caribbean.
I’d say that’d be a dangerous trip to take for many reasons.
Their Anthem album was warmly received by the critics with New Noise saying, “Anthem easily satisfies expectations the Celtic-inspired punks have built over a decade long career” and American Songwriter declaring “Flogging Molly Is Back!”.
Flogging Molly are the natural inheritors of the movement started by The Pogues, and I believe they are equally as good as that quintessential Irish punk band.
