Boiled in Lead
King of the Dogwoods
Omnium Records
Crawling out of the woodwork with King of the Dogwoods, their 12th album and first full-length since 2008’s Silver, the venerable Boiled in Lead stages an eclectic Celtic-punk revival steeped in rustic, folky darkness. What a time for their new release to be alive.
Part of the old guard of the Minneapolis punk underground that settled famed club First Avenue, with a star on the wall as proof of a past incendiary life, Boiled in Lead storms back to relevance with an LP of earthy traditional and original music, just as their home state of Minnesota is under siege. Even oppressive fascism can’t keep King of the Dogwoods down, as Boiled in Lead engage in whirling Irish instrumentals, such as the lovely “Keshenever Bulgar” and the furious “Fast Reels,” and gritty folk-punk fare like their vintage remake of “Bold Lovell” and the ominous, cinematic title track, seemingly dragged out of woodsy mystery by rich, descriptive storytelling.
Huddled around a burning trash can of searing violin, guitar, drums, and bass, dancing to the tune of whistles, mandolin, and bodhrán beats, Boiled in Lead warms itself with world music exploration, letting it all hang out on a spirited, Cajun-inspired “Je T’aime, Helena” and the Irish free-for-all “Haley’s Reels” and clearing out the riffraff for the stark Serbian folk song “Adje Jano,” with its elongated, lonely violin pull and dramatic, bare vocals. Another creeping ballad that feels death’s hot breath, Boiled in Lead’s reading of “Winifer Odd” cuts even deeper.
Capable of light, nimble Americana workouts like “(I’ll Sing You) Sail Away Ladies,” its softly clipped, sunny rhythms getting carried away in a Pogues-like meltdown, Boiled in Lead is just as comfortable immersed in the doomed hurly-burly of “Love, Farewell,” the unexpectedly noisy ending to King of the Dogwoods.
Dripping with authenticity, four-part harmonies flying over heavy churn and freewheeling energy, it’s a record that alternately burns like fire and turns as cold as a tomb. Let’s hold off on writing Boiled in Lead’s eulogy.
