Dropkick Murphys hits hard with Citizen I.C.E., a fierce new single

When Dropkick Murphys release a new track, it's never just for the sake of making noise. With Citizen I.C.E., the Boston band hits where it hurts, transforming an old track into a political firebrand. Between rage and urgency, the single denounces institutional violence in the United States and reminds us that the band has never stopped combining music and activism.

Dropkick Murphys at Adidas Arena, 2025 - Photo by @shotsofchaos

After several weeks of teasing and a preview already shared on social media, Dropkick Murphys has released Citizen I.C.E., a new single available since February 4. The track revisits their 2005 song Citizen C.I.A., but this new version is anything but nostalgic: it is direct, confrontational, and sadly deeply rooted in current events in the United States. The song is inspired by the recent killings in Minneapolis and denounces the institutional violence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The band accompanies it with a clear message: stand up against tyranny and speak out for those who can't.

Citizen I.C.E. is part of a larger project: the split LP New England Forever, produced with Boston band Haywire. Each band contributes three original tracks and covers one of the other band's songs. Dropkick Murphys revisits Always By My Side, while Haywire covers The Boys Are Back. The 12" vinyl will only be available during the For The People... In The Pit – St. Patrick's Day Tour, which kicks off on February 9 and ends in Boston on March 17, the day the album is released digitally.

Since their debut in 1996, Dropkick Murphys have never separated music from activism. Their Celtic punk, capable of filling arenas and resonating in the streets, remains a space for protest and solidarity. With Citizen I.C.E., the band confirms this trajectory: they don't just tell stories, they take a stand, highlight injustice, and give a voice to those who refuse to remain silent. This single is also a continuation of their latest album, For The People, which already expressed a fragile humanity in the face of dehumanization and identity withdrawal. Citizen I.C.E. is the most urgent, and perhaps the most abrasive, expression of this message.