Dead Pioneers: Wagon Burner – Review

I’m Dead Pioneers: Wagon Burner

(Hassle)

Vinyl | CD | DL available at Piccadilly Records

Out 26th June 2026

Dead Pioneers stretch their musical reach as they continue to expound a powerful message of indigenous experience on their third full-length release, collaborating with some big names. Nathan Brown recommends the new album Wagon Burner, full of righteous anger.

It’s a bit of a cliché to say that for some bands the message is more important than the music, but in this case it is arguable. Giving voice to indigenous experiences of the American dream, Dead Pioneers’ message is vitally important. However, they’ve got the chops as well, which you need to get people to listen to what you have to say. The core message that Dead Pioneers have addressed front and centre throughout their short but impressive lifespan is the impact of 5 centuries of colonisation, occupation and genocide on indigenous people in North America. They continue to explore and exorcise different angles to this subject and shine a light on hidden truths.

Musically, Dead Pioneers are experimenting with their sound even more than before. With every album they grow and expand. They’re not completely neglecting their hardcore numbers which is good, but they are less frequent. Their second album Po$t American had seen more post-hardcore moves but they aren’t just pushing in a post hardcore direction. There are mellow monuments, dark gothic undertones and anthemic pop-friendly rabble rousers.

As the old adage goes, “you can tell a man by the company he keeps”, and in the case of Dead Pioneers on this album, it’s almost like someone shouted “Avengers Assemble” with no less than 3 full collaborations. Nazi Teeth has Stephanie Byrne of Cheap Perfume, on Never Alone they are joined by The Interrupters, and there is an appearance by Jason Williamson from Sleaford Mods on The Worst Among Us. They also have A Message From Mr Bell delivered by stand-up comic Mr W. Kamau Bell as an intro to No Kings. The intro to Animals That Roam The Earth is delivered by Sage Deal and other members of the Deal family also get to contribute backing vocals. This speaks to the communitarian values of the band – doing things with other people is something shared by indigenous culture and punk rock culture.

This album comes at you in waves, and while the music varies a fair amount, it still sounds coherent rather than a cut-and-shut. You can ride the waves from reflection to anthemic positivity and air-punching rebellion and back again.

From the outset, the spoken word of Dead Presidents sets the scene in case you didn’t know what you were about to dive into. This band challenge the “nationalistic narrative of our country, deifying dead presidents” instead focusing on indigenous “forbears who fought to stay alive”. Never mind manifest destiny, Gregg Deal is manifest. Then we take off with the fist pumping anti-fascist post-punk rhythms and driving hardcore of Nazi Teeth. This was the first digital single from the album, covered in a bit more detail in this review. The anti-fascist momentum is maintained with No Kings, galloping along as Dead Pioneers reject Trump’s power dreamscape of white supremacy, ending on the punchline: “Fuck You and Your Golden Toilet”.  Another digital single, which we reviewed here. Pausing for breath, Animals That Roam The Earth is rhythmic, mournful and soulful, bringing the focus back to the genocide of indigenous people.

We take off again with the upbeat, hopeful anthem of Never Alone featuring The Interrupters. It pays tribute to the power of punk rock to unlock a world for people who feel isolated, different and alone – surely familiar to many of you out there in your formative years. This was the third digital single from the album. The first side of the vinyl edition ends with the brooding, dreamy gothic undertones of the 4th digital single, The Worst Among Us (covered here). Again, Gregg starts by drawing on personal experience before expanding to the wider narrative. “The worst among us cast shadows long…The worst among us strip mine souls, Kill for profit, imperalize.”  There’s no sweetening the pill when it comes to colonisation and genocide.

Opening the B side, Seeing Red starts with a monologue and then a guitar sound and drumbeat straight out of the Killing Joke songbook bleeds in. Recounting how he was challenged by someone for using “angry words”, Gregg Deal’s increasingly exasperated righteous anger couples with the building musical tension. “Am I Angry? Am I Angry? Am I ANGRY? AM I ANGRY? My only sin here is being indigenous in the 21st century.” A coda of “Am I Angry?” with Sabbath-heavy guitars tops off the song before the calm concluding response…”Yes, I am.”

Circle Jerk The Wagons has a big pounding start before speeding off. Aside from the obvious Circle Jerks similarity (duh), think MDC, Dead Kennedys and some of Jello Biafra’s subsequent musical adventures. It has in its sights the hypocrisy of white nationalists and all manner of fascists who condemn “political violence” when it suits them and look the other way when people they don’t care about are killed. You know, Charlie Kirk national tragedy, school shooting? Meh. It’s by no means restricted to gun lobby American fascists – it’s something we have seen play out on the screens and then in the streets in this country in the last few weeks.   It’s not just the fascists who are the problem though. In Zealots, a subdued tune led by a repetitive bassline and shuffling drumbeat is littered with wails and cheeky little squeals from the guitars. The playful words explore the damage that people involved in progressive politics or the anti-fascist milieu can do when they try to enforce compliance with their value set or ethical perfection: “You’re just a pig of a different colour”. It’s nice to hear the honesty “We’re all hypocrites here. We’re all trying our best”. Following up, Nobody is not dissimilar in the musical approach, although the soundscape behind the words is more driving. Lyrically, it returns to the theme of stereotypes and tropes attributed to indigenous people.

LFG starts with the shout of “Let’s Fucking Go”, and while it sounds like they are about to fly off into a hardcore rager, they ease off into something more mid-paced. However, the head nodding rhythm, anthemic chorus riff and crew vocals are really catchy. This is punk rock. Let’s thrash, let’s slam, let’s rage. But also let’s break down the barricades. Dead Pioneers end this album calling on us to “Change the state of mind that divides the human kind…We’re in this together! Let’s Fucking Go!”.

While I’m a huge fan of the more overtly political work, I’ve surprised myself by being captivated over time by Never Alone which I initially dismissed as a more radio-friendly song. It’s now become a firm favourite. It’s all about the catchiness. This could be the song that gets Dead Pioneers noticed by a wider audience who can then hear the vital messages on their other songs. The thing is that mutual support and acceptance of difference in the punk rock community is more important in these escalating times of day-to-day conflict and culture wars. Solidarity is a political act. We all need an uplift in the face of a horde of fascists making life shit all around us, taking all the joy. This song, and punk rock in general, could just save your sanity.

I’m glad Dead Pioneers have embraced a variety of sounds to avoid becoming formulaic. I know it never did Ramones any harm, but no one else can get away with third album, same as the first. The important thing is Dead Pioneers haven’t lost their edge. They haven’t gone off into wanky cock rock land like so many others in the past – usually accompanied by claims of “musical progression”. As ever, it’s the words that really MAKE Dead Pioneers, but the musicianship and songwriting is of a high quality that carries you with them as they progress. It all feels like organic steps rather than a huge shift, not forced or chasing a cliché-laden path. The production on this album pops and really brings out the best in what should be recognised as a crucial band for these times.

Album details and ordering here.

If you like the recorded output then you are going to love the experience of Dead Pioneers in real life. Catch them on tour with a new set:

July
8 – IE Róisín Dubh, Galway
9 – IE The Workman’s Club, Dublin
11 – UK 2000 Trees Festival
12 – UK Liverpool Rough Trade (Co-headline with Petrol Girls)
13 – UK Nottingham Rescue Rooms (Co-headline with Petrol Girls)
14 – UK Brighton Green Door Store (Co-headline with Petrol Girls)
16 – DE Back To The Future Festival
17 – DE Adieu Tristesse Festival
18 – DE Seepogo Festival
19 – DE Essen – Don’t Panic

~

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