The Rumjacks have dropped “Cold Like This,” a raw and biting new single featuring Ken Casey of Dropkick Murphys. The track marks another step in the countdown to their sixth studio album, Dead Anthems, set to release February 7, 2025, via Four Four.
The song’s origins are as rugged as its sound—frontman Mike Rivkees penned it after trudging home in the unforgiving Boston cold, with windchills hitting -20F (-28C). “It was written in a sea shanty format,” Rivkees recalls, “and when I got home, it was stuck in my head from humming the chorus the whole time, so I knew I had to record it.”
Ken Casey’s guest appearance adds weight to the song’s story, a collaboration born out of camaraderie between Celtic punk veterans. “Loved being a part of this track with my old friends the Rumjacks,” Casey shared. “I love the band and the song and look forward to hearing the rest of the album.”
Dead Anthems promises to carry forward the storytelling legacy that has defined The Rumjacks’ sound, with Rivkees noting a mix of influences from social commentary to traditional folk narratives.
The record was crafted in Asbury Park, New Jersey, with co-production by Rivkees and Pete Steinkopf, known for his work with The Bouncing Souls, Beach Slang, and Brian Fallon. This collaboration lends Dead Anthems a raw edge, bridging punk energy with introspective songwriting. Pre-orders for the album are open now via the band’s website.
This release builds on the success of 2021’s Hestia, an album that Kerrang described as “the complete package” with its mix of “social commentary, lore, and affecting storytelling.” With Dead Anthems, the band aims to expand its reach, blending their signature Celtic punk with contemporary grit.
In support of the album, The Rumjacks will embark on an extensive UK and European tour in 2025, kicking off in Florence, Italy, on January 31st and wrapping up in Amsterdam on March 17th. Along the way, they’ll hit key cities, including Warsaw, Berlin, Paris, and London. They’ve also confirmed a slot at the Red Bridge Fest in Quebec, Canada, on June 7th.
Complete tour dates are listed below, with more to be announced in the coming weeks.
Upcoming Tour Dates:
JANUARY
31 – Florence, Italy @ VHS Club
FEBRUARY
01 – Mantova, Italy @ Acri Tom Club
02 – Milan, IT @ Legend Club
04 – Barcelona, Spain @ Sala Upload
05 – València, Spain @ 16 Toneladas
06 – Madrid, Spain @ Gruta 77
07 – Santiago de Compostela, Spain @ Sala Malatesta
08 – Oviedo, Spain @ Cerveceria GONG
09 – Bilbao, Spain @ Zorrotzako Gaztetxea
12 – Brighton, UK @ Patterns
13 – Bristol, UK @ The Fleece
14 – Leeds, UK @ The Key Club
15 – Glasgow, UK @ The Cathouse
17 – Manchester, UK @ Gorilla
18 – Nottingham, UK @ Rescue Room
19 – Wolverhampton, UK @ KK’s Steel Mill
20 – Milton Keynes, UK @ The Craufurd Arms
21 – London, UK @ The Underworld
22 – Southampton, UK @ Papillon
26 – Hannover, Germany @ MusikZentrum
27 – Antwerp, Belgium @ TRIX
28 – Parthenay, France @ DIFF’ART
MARCH
01 – Tarbes, France @ La Gespe
04 – Munich, Germany @ Backstage Club
05 – Zurich, Switzerland @ Dynamo
07 – Vienna, Austria @ Flex
08 – Prague, Czech Republic @ Lucerna Music Bar
09 – Warsaw, Poland @ Klub Proxima
10 – Dresden, Germany @ Beatpol
11 – Hamburg, Germany @ Logo
13 – Berlin, Germany @ SO36
14 – Cologne, Germany @ Luxor
15 – Paris, France @ Le Trainon
16 – Frankfurt, Germany @ Das Bett
17 – Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Melkweg
JUNE
07 – Quebec, Canada @ Red Bridge Fest