The Casualties Release New Song “Allies and Assassins”

Veteran New York street punk band The Casualties have released a new song titled “Allies and Assassins,” offering fans another preview of their upcoming studio album Detonate. The track arrives ahead of the album’s official release and marks the band’s continued return after an extended break between full-length records.

“Allies and Assassins” captures the band’s signature aggressive street punk sound while delivering politically charged lyrics that reflect growing social and political tensions. Vocalist David Rodriguez described the song as a reaction to the hostility and division he witnessed during recent political cycles, explaining that it channels the feeling of uncertainty over who can truly be trusted in a deeply polarized environment.

The song appears on Detonate, which will be the band’s first album in eight years and their first release for Hellcat Records. It also represents the group’s second full-length album with Rodriguez on vocals following the departure of longtime frontman Jorge Herrera in 2017. Rodriguez first recorded with the band on the 2018 album Written in Blood, and the new record reflects a stronger creative connection among the current lineup.

The current lineup of The Casualties features Rodriguez alongside longtime guitarist Jake Kolatis, drummer Marc “Meggers” Eggers, and bassist Doug Wellmon. According to the band, Detonate represents a moment where the group fully clicked together creatively after several years of lineup adjustments and touring.

Thematically, the album explores frustration with modern society, media saturation, and political conflict. Members of the band have said the title Detonate reflects the sense of pressure many people feel in the current climate, describing the constant flood of troubling news and social media discourse as something that can make people feel like they are on the verge of exploding.

The record will also feature several guest contributions, including hardcore legend Vinnie Stigma of Agnostic Front and members of the Native American punk band 1876. These collaborations highlight the band’s ongoing commitment to representing voices that have historically been overlooked within the punk community.

Formed in New York City in 1990, The Casualties became one of the most recognizable acts in the global street punk revival, drawing inspiration from classic UK punk bands such as The Exploited and Charged GBH. Over the decades, the group has built a loyal international following through relentless touring and albums like Underground Army, Die Hards, and We Are All We Have.

With “Allies and Assassins,” The Casualties continue to deliver the fast, confrontational sound that has defined their career for more than three decades while preparing fans for the arrival of their long-awaited new album.