Alestorm - Back Through Time

Folk/Power Metal
Napalm
2011

1. Back Through Time
2. Shipwrecked
3. The Sunk'n Norwegian
4. Midget Saw
5. Buckfast Powersmash
6. Scraping The Barrel
7. Rum
8. Swashbucked
9. Rumpelkombo
10. Barrett's Privateers (Stan Rogers Cover)
11. Death Throes Of The Terrorsquid

Alestorm are a band that I initially viewed with a bit of skepticism. As a fairly dedicated Running Wild fan I was somewhat learly of another band taking up a pirate metal theme. Over the past two albums I've really come to enjoy this band and believe they both have their place however. We won't even talk about crap like Swashbuckle. Anywho, while Running Wild was more of a speed metal band with a pirate flavor, Alestorm has played up the sea shanty theme a bit more with a folksy slant. At this point I'd say both have their own takes, styles, and are both worthy.

On that note I'm going to start this review with the lyrics that made me bust out laughing. Scraping The Barrel comes through with the laugh inducing line "You may think you've heard all this music before. That Running Wild did it back in '84. But time are a'changin and we don't give a damn. So If you don't like it, go start your own band". Fantastic. I love how very not seriously these guys take their lyrics, etc.

The first word that comes to mind when listening to Alestorm is just 'fun'. This music is ridiculously so. This stuff begs for you to sing along to it and has a great energy & catchiness. Pirates = metal and this album does it as well as the band has since they started. Three albums in and I'm richly enjoying their style.

All in all, this is pretty comparable to their other albums. I will say it seems like there's a bit more emphasis on some pretty heavy guitar. Maybe a little less folksy and a bit heavier. At times the music gets downright thrashy. There's still plenty of epic sing song pirate feel though. If the idea of metal sea songs appeals to you than you absolutely should get this.

Highlights: Shipwrecked, The Sunk'n Norwegian, Scraping The Barrel, Rum

Rating - 4.0/5

Alestorm - Black Sails At Midnight

Folk/Power Metal
Napalam

2009

1. The Quest
2. Leviathan
3. That Famous Ol' Spiced
4. Keelhauled
5. To the End of Our Days
6. Black Sails at Midnight
7. No Quarter
8. Pirate Song
9. Chronicles of Vengeance
10. Wolves of the Sea

Black Sails At Midnight marks the second album from this gimmicky new band. I liked the first one well enough as some of the songs succeeded at being catchy sing along sort of pirate songs. This band hasn't blown me out of the water (yuck yuck) but their debut was good enough to merit a second listen.

Black Sails At Midnight is much like the album that preceded it. Really, I could sum this review up with two comments. Those are don't expect anything new and if you're ok with that and liked the first album then you should like this as well. There's not a whole lot remarkable about this since the gimmick has been done (and a bit better), there's not really amazing guitar work, and the singer can barely do just that with his gruff voice that's practically spoken most of the time. The singer's raspy yarr me matey voice does have a certain charm though and songs like The Quest and Keelhauled in particular have a good energy and they nail the sing along pirate sea chantey vibe they're going for. Basically, what the band is good at is a fun niche and that's not a terrible thing. The album is a little hit and miss, but even the songs that aren't great still are pretty decent. Plus there are insanely catchy and energetic tunes like Keelhauled that pull up the album's ranking. That one is the definite highlight, accordion and all.

Basically, what we have here is an album that doesn't have a lot of stunning musicianship or really bring much new to the table. However, when it comes down to it this album does have some fun songs and not everyone needs to reinvent the wheel or blow me away with their skill. If you can just not take this band too seriously then there's some good stuff here.

Highlights: Keelhauled, The Quest, Pirate Song

Rating - 3.5/5

Alestorm - Captain Morgan's Revenge

Power/Folk
Napalm

2008

1. Over the Seas
2. Captain Morgan's Revenge
3. The Huntmaster
4. Nancy the Tavern Wench
5. Death Before the Mast
6. Terror on the High Seas
7. Set Sail and Conquer
8. Of Treasure
9. Wenches & Mead
10. Flower of Scotland (The Corries cover)

When I first heard about this band I was fairly skeptical as to me, and most who know them, Running Wild already owns this sort of gimmick so to speak. Not that no one else can do it but they will inevitably have to be compared to a band with some really excellent material and a great take on the subject matter. What I'm talking about for those who might not realize is pirates.

I've got to say that all comparisons aside I do enjoy this release and they do have a slightly different, more folk infused take on pirate themes in metal. It works quite well for them as this whole album has a sort of sing-along nature and the tracks resemble metalized sea shanties and tavern songs. Musically this band just seems addictive and unlike some bands with folk influences doesn't get too bogged down in that for me and keeps things metal. The vocals are definitely not going to win any awards for singing but they are a part of the band's success in sound as the gruff, sometimes talked about vocals just give you the impression you're hearing a pirate singing on a ship. I think the one big musical gripe I have on this album is that a certain very familiar riff creeps up in Terror On The High Seas... yeah I've heard Grave Digger - Hell To Pay too guys.

In conclusion, this is just a fun album in it's feel and catchyness. If you like power with a hint of folk and these sort of sing-along folky song structures with some fast, heavy, and gruff power metal than this is worth pursuing.

Highlights: Over The Seas, Nancy The Tavern Wench, Captain Morgan's Revenge

Rating - 3.5/5