Dead Pioneers should be the soundtrack to your discontent this summer as the country celebrates its milestone birthday with nary a mention of the genocides that occurred to “Make America Great Again”. The band, led by artist Gregg Deal, are on the rise with their brand of acerbic, rage-filled punk
Gregg Deal worries about life in America right now. As a man with Native American roots, he understands division and oppression. On Dead Pioneers’ new album “Wagon Burner”, he says there’s great responsibility in saying what needs to be said about where things are at. “There’s a lot to be fixed on its best day. But we’re going backwards…”
Dead Pioneers blaze a path through modern punk-rock with a sound that harks back to the days of 90’s west-coast American punk, but with a strong lyrical focus on Gregg Deal’s indigenous heritage, and cultural issues in the USA as a whole. A brilliantly hefty, scathing blast of noisy punk rock. Just what we need.
Sonically, you can hear greats like Dead Kennedys (not the inspiration for the band name, though, by the way), Suicidal Tendencies, and Minutemen, with the rebellious heart of Public Enemy. The lead single from their newest, “Wagon Burner”, is “Nazi Teeth”, a rager with guest vocals from Stephanie Byrne of Cheap Perfume. “Nazis, fascists, and incel scum, go back to where you came from,” snarls Deal.
It’s a powerful opening salvo, and the rest of the tracks build on the promise of their previous releases. Sleaford Mods show up for “The Worst Among Us”, and “Never Alone” is an upbeat ode to punk rock’s ability to save lives that features the Interrupters. In the late 1980s, hip-hop was the real world’s CNN. In 2026, it’s easy to hear Dead Pioneers carrying the torch with these songs.
‘The Worst Among Us’ by Dead Pioneers, featuring Jason Williamson.
Taken from the album ‘Wagon Burner’
The Fat Angel Sings 