Since forming in New York in 1999, Gogol Bordello have built a reputation as one of the most explosive live bands in punk. Led by Ukraine-born frontman Eugene Hütz, they broke through with 2005’s Gypsy Punks: Underdog World Strike, recorded with Steve Albini. That record set the template: Eastern European folk energy colliding with hardcore punk.
In the years since, line-ups shifted and the band experimented with different sounds, but they were often seen as stronger on stage than on record. We Mean It, Man! changes that.
Hütz calls it the band’s “post-punk revenge,” and that description makes sense. The album leans into bass-driven grooves, loops and gated drums. A 2023 collaboration with Bernard Sumner clearly influenced the direction. You can hear elements associated with New Order in the tighter rhythms and dancefloor focus.
Produced by Nick Launay and Adam “Atom” Greenspan, the record sounds controlled and deliberate. The chaos is still there, but it is structured. The title track opens with mechanical noise before locking into a driving rhythm. Lyrically, it is direct and political. The war in Ukraine is not hidden between the lines. It sits at the centre of the record’s urgency.
No Time For Idiots is one of the most immediate tracks. It has a simple, shout-along chorus built for live shows. Hater Liquidator stands out for its organ-led groove, almost disco in feel but still sharp in tone. Erica Mancini’s synth and accordion work adds weight rather than novelty, and new guitarist Leo Mintek thickens the overall sound.
There is more range than just anger. Life Is Possible Again offers cautious optimism, shaped by recent events. Boiling Point pulls back into something closer to a folk ballad, despite its title. Meanwhile, Ignition and Mystics reflect Hütz’s long-standing interest in techno, blending electronic textures with the band’s established style.
The closing track Solidarity, again featuring Sumner, reinterprets a song by Angelic Upstarts as a statement of unity for Ukraine. It builds from restrained acoustic sections into a full, dance-driven finale. It is a clear link between punk history and the band’s current direction.
What stands out most is focus. This is not a dramatic reinvention, but a tightening of ideas that have always been present. The folk elements are still there, but they are integrated into a broader post-punk framework. The production is heavier and more modern, without losing the band’s identity.
After years of being defined mainly by their live reputation, Gogol Bordello have delivered a studio album that feels complete and purposeful. It is political, energetic and structured in a way that gives the songs lasting impact.
Releasedate: 13-02-2026 | Label: Casa Gogol | Instagram
Tracklist:
01. We Mean It, Man!
02. Life Is Possible Again
03. No Time For Idiots
04. Hater Liquidator
05. Boiling Point
06. Ignition
07. From Boyarka to Boyaca
08. Mystics
09. We Did Good With The Good We Did
10. Crayons
11. State of Shock
12. Solidarity (Nick Launay Mix)
