Hold Fast waste no time letting listeners know that Black Irish Sons is not some pastoral collection of lilting Celtic ballads and airs. No, this aggressive Celtic punk band likes it loud, and that's the best way to listen to these 10 blistering tracks.

Based in south-central Pennsylvania, the band is Cole Brown on lead vocals, Drunk Dave Thompson on tenor and 5-string banjos, mandolin, acoustic guitar, tin whistle and piano, Michael Parks on drums, Buzz Klinger on bass, Kayla Rosencrans on tin whistle and Jon Heller on bagpipes and accordion. Everyone chimes in on backing vocals, too, which sometimes means singing and sometimes means shouting.

The music is fast, loud and a whole lot of fun. There are some raucous renditions of a few familiar tunes, such as "I'll Tell Me Ma" (here redubbed "Belle of Belfast") and "Big Strong Man." I haven't heard most of these songs before, and unfortunately I'm not sure if I should credit Hold Fast for their composition; the liner notes leave that bit out. But it's good, rowdy stuff, from "Gangway" and "Drunken Irish Bastard" clear through to "Curse of the Drinking Class" and (my favorite) "Pour Me Grog."

If you like your Irish music with some volume and edge, pick up a copy of Black Irish Sons ... or, if you're in the neighborhood, check them out live!

[ visit Hold Fast online ]