Watch This! Dead Pioneers release title track

Dead Pioneers: Po$t American

(Hassle Records)

DL

Out Now

Another welcome bristling attack on the American dream from Dead Pioneers.

Dead Pioneers are a fave at Louder Than War, their debut making it into our top albums of 2024. We’re stoked that their second album Po$t American will be released on 11th April on Hassle Records. Review to follow soon.

Meanwhile the title track Po$t American is out as a single now and could not be more on point. The music almost takes a back seat so as not to interfere which backs up Gregg Deal’s strident polemic. Musically it is a slow rhythmic plod with perhaps a nod to Lard while a short fast middle eight is more in the vein of jerky hardcore perfected by the likes of Minutemen. As we’ve come to expect Gregg holds up a mirror to white Amerikkka. Although written 6 months ago on “White people’s day of Independence, July 4, 2024” it really captures the mood under the new President, making it highly topical in a way that is reminiscent of Dead Kennedys, DOA and Crass in the 80s. Here’s just a snatch – the line “All the white folks get a clean slate” could so easily be about the recent pardoning of the 6th January rioters.

“Celebrate white independence, it’s great
All the white folks get a clean slate
Freedom sold as the newest elixir
‘merican white not an ethnic mixer

A country built on genocide
Wrestle with the facts, don’t run and hide
Sets a tone for us countrywide
Blind nationalism, American pride”

As Gregg himself says “Although we didn’t expect the political relevance to become more relevant, we have no illusions to the American dream, or to where we seem to be going. But we have hope that we can get to a better place for people to have what they need.”

Probably the most positive response to the new President I’ve heard.

Single and album pre-order links

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Words by Nathan Brown. You can read more from Nathan on his Louder Than War archive over here.