The Mahones "The Hunger & The Fight (Part Two)" Wolverine Records WRR215
Release date: October 16th, 2015
Running time: 40:58, 12 tracks
The voyage is over. If “The Hunger & The Fight (Part One)" was said to be focused on The Mahones folk side and on Dublin city, “The Hunger & The Fight (Part Two)” is said to be focused on the band’s punk side and on New York City.
What can be heard on this final concept album installment? Amazing songs (“Turn This Town”, a number coming back to the “Here Comes Lucky” era), the usual anthems (“Riot Tonight”, featuring Strawberry Blondes singer Mickie Stabbs on guest vocals, “Irish Brigade” and the gimmicky “Punk Rock Saved my Life”), early U2 inspired stuff (“Skeleton Sea”), Velvet Underground/Lou Reed infused material (“JFK”) and simple but effective numbers (the hardcore song “F*** You”). “Réamhrá”, the link to the previous album, is a short but interesting uileann pipes intro. And “The Parting Glass” is probably the best standard cover that The Mahones have ever recorded (maybe because they have followed a different approach).
On the other side, there are a few album fillers. The mash-up “Hunger & The Fight Ouverture” was not really needed. The “Alternative Ulster” cover is too faithful to the original. And I do understand that The Mahones wanted to dedicate a track to Cuzo, but “Dancing in the Moonlight” as a bonus track after “The Parting Glass” doesn’t work at all.
“The Hunger & The Fight (Part Two)” CD is delivered in a 4 panel digipack. The liner notes provide all the info (band’s line-up, guests, studio credits, song credits, thank yous and the dedication to the late Paul “Cuzo” Mancuso). Unfortunately, there are no lyrics to the songs. All the fans that have funded the album will find their names on one of the panels (among them, some Celtic punk active fans on Facebook like Barry Burke, David Engelman, Timmy Mihalko or Rafael Ponchio, together with former Irish Moutarde piper Christian Haerinck).
“Part Two” has been produced again by Finny and Dave Baksh. This time, the album has not been mixed and mastered by Gene Hugues; Paddy MCallion and Josh Gwilliam have mixed the album in Calgary and Rene de la Muerte (“Angel & Devils” co-producer) has mastered it in Montreal. The guests list is shorter than usual. Apart from Mickie Stabbs, Mark Gilligan plays sax on “Dancing in the Moonlight” and Paddy McCallion guitar on “Dancing in the Moonlight” and “Alternative Ulster”. By the way, track order is different on the iTunes digital version, since “Irish Brigade (Fighting 69th)” is track no. 3 and “Skeleton Sea” track no. 4, while on the European CD version “Skeleton Sea” runs before “Irish Brigade (Fighting 69th)”
Anyway, Finny, Katie and Dom must be happy. Whatever they do, their fans and fellow reviewers will love it.
Tracklist:
01 - Réamhrá 0:25
02 - Punk Rock Saved My Life 4:06
03 - Skeleton Sea 4:44
04 - Irish Brigade (The Fighting 69th) 3:34
05 - Turn This Town (New York City) 4:27
06 - JFK 3:42
07 - Hunger & the Fight Overture 5:21
08 - Riot Tonight 3:56
09 - F*** You 1:55
10 - Alternative Ulster 2:55
11 - The Parting Glass 2:12
12 - BONUS TRACK: Dancing in the Moonlight 3:42
Website
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Click to buy:
Wolverine's Store
Review by Kinksmarkham
Release date: October 16th, 2015
Running time: 40:58, 12 tracks
The voyage is over. If “The Hunger & The Fight (Part One)" was said to be focused on The Mahones folk side and on Dublin city, “The Hunger & The Fight (Part Two)” is said to be focused on the band’s punk side and on New York City.
What can be heard on this final concept album installment? Amazing songs (“Turn This Town”, a number coming back to the “Here Comes Lucky” era), the usual anthems (“Riot Tonight”, featuring Strawberry Blondes singer Mickie Stabbs on guest vocals, “Irish Brigade” and the gimmicky “Punk Rock Saved my Life”), early U2 inspired stuff (“Skeleton Sea”), Velvet Underground/Lou Reed infused material (“JFK”) and simple but effective numbers (the hardcore song “F*** You”). “Réamhrá”, the link to the previous album, is a short but interesting uileann pipes intro. And “The Parting Glass” is probably the best standard cover that The Mahones have ever recorded (maybe because they have followed a different approach).
On the other side, there are a few album fillers. The mash-up “Hunger & The Fight Ouverture” was not really needed. The “Alternative Ulster” cover is too faithful to the original. And I do understand that The Mahones wanted to dedicate a track to Cuzo, but “Dancing in the Moonlight” as a bonus track after “The Parting Glass” doesn’t work at all.
“The Hunger & The Fight (Part Two)” CD is delivered in a 4 panel digipack. The liner notes provide all the info (band’s line-up, guests, studio credits, song credits, thank yous and the dedication to the late Paul “Cuzo” Mancuso). Unfortunately, there are no lyrics to the songs. All the fans that have funded the album will find their names on one of the panels (among them, some Celtic punk active fans on Facebook like Barry Burke, David Engelman, Timmy Mihalko or Rafael Ponchio, together with former Irish Moutarde piper Christian Haerinck).
“Part Two” has been produced again by Finny and Dave Baksh. This time, the album has not been mixed and mastered by Gene Hugues; Paddy MCallion and Josh Gwilliam have mixed the album in Calgary and Rene de la Muerte (“Angel & Devils” co-producer) has mastered it in Montreal. The guests list is shorter than usual. Apart from Mickie Stabbs, Mark Gilligan plays sax on “Dancing in the Moonlight” and Paddy McCallion guitar on “Dancing in the Moonlight” and “Alternative Ulster”. By the way, track order is different on the iTunes digital version, since “Irish Brigade (Fighting 69th)” is track no. 3 and “Skeleton Sea” track no. 4, while on the European CD version “Skeleton Sea” runs before “Irish Brigade (Fighting 69th)”
Anyway, Finny, Katie and Dom must be happy. Whatever they do, their fans and fellow reviewers will love it.
Tracklist:
01 - Réamhrá 0:25
02 - Punk Rock Saved My Life 4:06
03 - Skeleton Sea 4:44
04 - Irish Brigade (The Fighting 69th) 3:34
05 - Turn This Town (New York City) 4:27
06 - JFK 3:42
07 - Hunger & the Fight Overture 5:21
08 - Riot Tonight 3:56
09 - F*** You 1:55
10 - Alternative Ulster 2:55
11 - The Parting Glass 2:12
12 - BONUS TRACK: Dancing in the Moonlight 3:42
Website
Soundcloud
Click to buy:
Wolverine's Store
Review by Kinksmarkham
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