Gather round the table and hold yer frothy drink up high, the Dreadnoughts are back with their most vigorous, heartfelt album yet. The 15-song collection of modernized sea-shanties speaks to a different time, where it’s often forgotten that something as simple as a strong accordion-backed harmony can fill a room to the brim.

Based out of Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, the six-piece ragtag crew of folk-punkers continue to carry the torch for a genre that celebrates the misfit. After dedicating their previous album to World War I, Into the North feels less focused in one direction and more tapped into what the band does best: gathering folks together to drink, dance, and be merry at all costs. More often than not, the songs start stripped, leading with singer, Nicholas Smith’s deep, echoing vocals, leaving the flute, accordion, and violin no choice but to follow suit.

The album varies throughout, ranging from cheerful to somber and all notes in between, yet boasts a substantial weight at its center. With Into the North, the Dreadnoughts continue sailing, no matter the height of the waves, all the while singing their jaunty song.

Best Track: Northwest Passage

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