Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Avast, Ye Lubbers!, February 18, 2008
Arrrr, tis Pirate Metal, me hearties! These four Scottish scallywags play a heavy brand of Power Metal that'll have you banging your head against the mainmast and shaking your poop deck. Sure we've seen this concept before with the German group Running Wild, but Alestorm devote an entire album to songs of pirates, drinking, wenches and battles instead of one or two songs per album. If you're familiar with the Running Wild song Under Jolly Roger(which if you ask me is still the definitive pirate metal song), imagine that concept and energy throughout a whole album. Not all of the songs are fast, there are a few mid paced tunes and even a good ol' sea shanty thrown in for good measure. Plus, you'll hear an accordion through many of the songs, maintaining that piratey feel. The final song, Flower of Scotland, is the only one that doesn't follow the pirate theme. Alestorm isn't a band that lives off of a gimmick though. This is a band with the talent and know-how to be respected and admired regardless of lyrical content. The songs are very catchy and have great hooks(get it?). Vocalist Christopher Bowes isn't a typical high range Power Metal vocalist, but more gruff and raspy. Sort of like Grave Digger, but less harsh. In fact, it really does sound like a pirate singing! The vocals, while a bit rough, are crystal clear to the point where you might not even need to read the lyric booklet. Speaking of lyrics, these guys seem rather serious in their descriptions of battles at sea, plundering and curses, but they aren't afraid to go a little tongue in cheek as well. With lines like, "With the power of ale, he could not fail" and, "A reign of terror on the seas, we'll bring these poseurs to their knees", you know they're having fun with it all. Bowes is also a good keyboardist, adding a nice progressive tinge to the music. Alestorm's debut hasn't been out too long yet, and they've not yet taken the metal scene by (Ale)storm, but I think it's only a matter of time before these guys are discovered and given their due. So, if you're looking for a smokin' metal album that'll knock your booty right out of the crow's nest, I'd highly recommend this. The only complaint I can really come up with is that I wish it were longer. Henry Morgan would be proud.
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Metal on the High Seas!, April 18, 2008
**** 1/2
These guys are a great mix of thunderous metal, traditional pirate jigs, loads of energy.. and dont forget the drunken choir!
1. Over the Seas - a fast and frantic, yet catchy opener(5/5)
2. Captain Morgan's Revenge - a little slower than number one, but it has a very epic feel with catchy choruses and good story telling(5/5)
3. The Huntmaster - speed up the tempo again. with the power of ale he could not fail! (4/5)
4. Nancy the Tavern Wench - second slowest song on the album, a tale of a portside taven. (4/5)
5. Death Before the Mast - probably the second heaviest song on the album, not as strong of a pirate vibe as the first 4 tracks though.(4/5)
6. Terror on the High Seas - Heaviest, most frantic song on the album(4/5)
7. Set Sail and Conquer - not quite as frantic as terror on the high seas, its got a pretty epic chorus(4/5)
8. Of Treasure - slowest song on the album with the most traditional "pirate" vibe (4/5)
9. Wenches and Mead - Speeding things up again for this one, you learn what the pirates are into when they arent pillaging! what could it be?? (4/5)
10. Flower of Scotland - Strongest use of the "drunken choir" but i felt the instruments were lacking in this one (3/5)
its very exciting to discover these guys just off their first studio album. i cant wait to see what they do next
lately ive had a "theme" fix with my metal, and these guys fit into that mold perfectly. i love the fusion of metal with more traditional themes/sounds.
also recommended: Finntroll and Korpiklaani. while not of the pirate variety, these bands mix traditional irish melodies with different styles of metal (sadly there arent many bands that pull off such a great fusion)
ill also suggest the aptly dubbed "viking metal" to anyone that likes the idea's behind this album. AMON AMARTH are leading the charge in that subgenre. best albums - With Oden on Our Side, Fate of Norns, and Versus the World.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Ahoy, metal fans!, February 7, 2008
Here' an album which comes off like a gimmick at first, but is truly a very good heavy metal album. When I'd first seen the review for Alestorm's "Captain Morgan's Revenge" on Blabbermouth, I thought that I'd download this as a joke, laugh at the pirate cliches and move on. Wow, was I wrong.
Rarely does an album on the metal community site Blabbermouth receive alot of positive attention from both reviewers and fans. Usually the fanboys are simply on the site to bash everything and call everyone a "poser" and absolutely attack anyone's different metal tastes. This album seemed to please everyone, which is why I downloaded it and have fallen in love with it.
The songs are all written in an old style pirate vein, singing about the gallows, rum and wenches. The band tells stories of searching for gold and overtaking other ships, and all of this is set to the heaviest pirate score you could imagine. There's no barbaric screaming, no hard to follow lyrcs and nothing but a really fun metal disc, that you'll really want to listen to over and over.
I've intropduced a number of friends to this CD and like me, they assume it's a joke and give it a quick listen. A few days later they tell me they're hooked and that this CD is anything but a joke.
Do yourself a favor, matey. Walk the plank and get this CD.
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by Alestorm 
