Solidaritine
Casa Gogol, 2022
10/10
The New York gypsy punks Gogol Bordello return with their 8th album, and it’s a collection of tunes that surround survival and perseverance, which is quite fitting considering not only the pandemic, but the war in the frontman Euguen Hutz’s native Ukraine.
“Shot Of Solidaritine” starts the listen with gritty folk punk that erupts into swift and uproarious, anthemic ideas, and “Focus Coin” follows with some ska-punk nods amid the crisp drums and playful rhythm.
Elsewhere, H.R. of Bad Brains make an appearance on the raw yet melodic sounds of the string friendly “The Era Of The End Of Eras”, while “Take What Only You Can” features KAZKA across the Eastern European influences that meet at a place of harmonic punk prowess.
Approaching the end, “Fire On Ice Floe” is both raw and folk driven with a hint of cabaret rock sounds, and “Huckleberry Generation” exits with a blistering pace of raging, memorable and multi-faceted hardcore.
The always impressive Walter Schreifels (Quicksand, Rival Schools, Gorilla Biscuits) turned the knobs on this one, and it makes for a timeless soundtrack of unity and power that’s easily the best work Gogol Bordello have done yet.
Travels well with: DeVotchka- This Night Falls Forever; Rogue Wave- Nightingale Floors