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Editorials

THERE’S SUCH A THING AS PIRATE METAL? WHY OF COURSE THERE IS!

 Friday, March 21st, 2008 at 11:07am by

Alestorm

Avast ye mateys. And starboard your bows. Or something. Did you really think there wouldn’t be a sub-genre of metal called pirate metal? Don’t be silly. Amidst the burgeoning sub-genres of pagan, folk, celtic, and viking metal are Perth, UK’s Alestorm who bill themselves as “True Scottish Pirate Metal” (as if there was any doubt?) and take their eye-patches and puffy shirts quite seriously. The first 40 seconds of “Captain Morgan’s Revenge” — the first song on their MySpace page — are normal enough for metal these days… and then comes the piratic fury. And yes, they really do sing about sailing, swigging, masts and planks.

What exactly is an Alestorm anyway… a storm of ales? If so, that is so metal. And we certainly wouldn’t mind finding out first-hand.

-VN

[Alestorm on MySpace]

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  • Peter

    I think Running Wild is the first pirate metal band. Their Under the Jolly Roger album released in 1987.

  • http://countshockula.blogspot.com ezra

    You should checkout a band called Swashbuckle, they’re from jersey. They’re album is kinda boring, but they kick-ass live. Plus, “Captain Nobeard” plays with a stuffed parrot pinned to his shoulder.

  • http://www.hibernum.net Hibernum

    ???

  • ERiK

    Swashbuckle’s album is fucking awesome. You are on crack! I’m trying to bring those cocksuckers to Detroit.

    Swashbuckle > Alestorm

  • attackmole

    Alestorm gives Van Canto a run for their money in the godawfulness factor. Seriously, I can’t listen to that shit. Too much talk of rum, wenches, the seas and the like combined with generic metal just kind of pisses me off.

  • http://www.buzzgrinder.com Matthew Moore

    I’d like to see Alestorm and Amon Amarth sqaure off. My vote is on the vikings.

    • Tesla

      YES! I’m all for the VIkings!

  • mrsaucytrousers

    Yeah check out swashbuckle. They fucking rule live.

  • http://DarkTwinCities.com devil

    Fun at first, but the shtick grows old quick. This is a gimmick with a limit. I doubt they’ll even record another album.

  • Pingback: Pirate Metal « enter the goatlady

  • http://enterthegoatlady.com/ goatlady

    Swashbuckle are good, but I reckon Verbal Deception are better. Alestorm are too much pirate folk and not enough metal for my taste…

  • attackmole

    Heh, Verbal Deception are the local legends here (Calgary). They’re pretty good except their vocals aren’t very good. Too raspy, they just feel kinda weak. Other than that though, they got some cool stuff going on.

  • ERiK

    I checked out Verbal Deception. To each their own, I think Swashbuckle is far more talented. Pirate metal or not, Swashbuckle’s songs measure up against anyone.

  • Trainwreck

    The Alestorm album is great…definitely one of the better folk albums I’ve heard this year.
    Ahoy mateys!!!

  • http://www.ghostboy.tk Les Hommes

    FUCK YEA PIRATE METAL!!!1!!!11!

  • flintTOWN

    you guys should check out ghosts of atlantis… they’re pretty new but full of epic pirate-ness!

  • colton

    never heard of it and you probly the most stupidest person i’ve ever listen to you and pirate metal is not metal at all

  • VikingIrishman

    I rather enjoy Alestorm. I gave Swashbuckle a listen, but I’d like to find a metal band these days in which the vocalist feels he has to growl every word as though he were summoning some demonic entity of unintelligibility. You can understand Alestorm’s lyrics WITHOUT a lyric sheet, and that’s a big plus for me.

  • Hamish Glencross

    why, are you illiterate? You can’t read the lyric sheet?

    All these bands stink, for people who think
    it’s cool and “funny” to stick some patches on a new cut off denim and buy a conquest
    of steel CD and pretend to be true metal for a few weeks

    Fuck them, only real artists will last

  • Iron Jack Deathbringer

    If you guys want to hear A NEW PIRATE METAL BAND go check it out on IMEEM…Called CRACK JENNY’S TEACUP…It has more of a thrash/classical/folk/video game feel for the genre…

    http://www.imeem.com/ironjackdeathbringer/playlist/t-5DXEyv/crack-jennys-teacup-music-playlist/

    Crack Jennys Teacup

  • pklatovski

    Why bash someone who likes a certain type of music? Isn’t it the whole point of individualism to be able to like whatever each individual chooses? If you do not like pirate metal, you are definitely on a wrong site. I am sure there are plenty of sites where “true” whateveryoulistenandlikeshite believers can talk about that particular thing your particular batch of people enjoy…K?

  • http://www.myspace.com/piratesandmetal Iron Jack
  • Captain Jakkob

    I FUCKING LOVE SWASHBUCKLE! I didnt even knew prirate metal was true befor my friend that loves vikings said viking metal could kick any other metals ass but then i proposed that pirate metal kick ass even though i hadnt known it until today!…i win

  • Capt. Prescott Redbeard

    Nonono. Swashbuckle is, first of all, FAR to thrashy. I listened to almost a full 3 songs, and they ALL sounded alike. No change in the drum patterns or anything. Alestorm is really amazing though. It’s like listening to “Portage to the unknown” by Turisas for a whole album. XD I like it!

  • Paul

    I’m pretty much addicted to Alestorm. Given that it’s a rare form of metal, I figure that it wouldn’t be that great. But I actually listened to them and I fell in love with the sound. The double bass was good, fast, and diverse. It didn’t sound like it was recorded in a garage, and they’re songs don’t sound all the same. And they have amazing guitar riffs!!