ALESTORM
“NO GRAVE BUT THE SEA”
Album Review By Iron Mathew

10/10

Alestorm are a folk/power metal band from Scotland, forming in 2004 as Battleheart, before having to change their name in 2007 due to a similarity in name with Battlelore. With a penchant for all things pirate, the bands debut album ‘Captain Morgan’s Revenge’, was released in 2008, featuring Captain Morgan on the cover, regarded as the bands mascot. Two more albums followed in quick succession, 2009’s ‘Black Sails At Midnight’ and ‘Back Through Time’, released in 2011. A live album was released in 2013, followed the next year by the bands fourth album ‘Sunset On The Golden Age’. Alestorm have experienced a few line-up changes through their career to date, but remain steadfastly dedicated to delivering powerful heavy metal anthems, blended with folk metal influences, and singing about all things pirate related. ‘No Grave But The Sea’ is the bands fifth album, and is a barnstorming booty of catchy and infectious anthems.

“rum, beer, quests and mead, these are the things that a pirate needs” sings Alestorm on their self titled song off the brand new album. Like all their previous albums, there is a strong lyrical reference to pirates in every song penned, with each one catchy, infectious and down right addictive. Alestorm deliver happy mood inducing anthems and songs that will most definitely get the party started. The title song opens the album with a bombastic blast of thundering riffage. Hitting harder than a heavyweight boxing champion, ‘No Grave But The Sea’ (the song) is head bangingly addictive and will also have your feet stomping hard in accompaniment. If ever there was a song that motivates you to go to a certain place, then ‘Mexico’ is that song…it’s one hundred percent sing a long-able and very, very catchy. “the party lasts all through the night, and the alcohol is free” is surely all the reason you’ll ever need to fly down to Mexico! At over six minutes in length ‘To The End Of The World’ is a majestic, story telling epic that will have you hanging onto every line as it swaggers on through catchy riffs, thundering rhythms and that oh so infectious folk metal twang.

The superb ‘Alestorm’ is a broadside of catchiness that hits you squarely in the forehead, conjuring images of a pirate boat swamped with pirates all raising their tankards high in the air and chanting “rum, beer, quests and mead, these are the things that a pirate needs, raise the flag, and let’s set sail” at the tops of their voices. Blending death metal growled vocals with their trademark folk metal sound, ‘Alestorm’ is a swashbuckling adventure, and one of the best songs the band have ever written. ‘Bar Und Imbiss’ has the vibe of a late night story tale, told around a camp fire. More mid tempo and melodic than anything that has gone previously ‘Bar Und Imbiss’ is a foot stomp of the highest order. Well, shiver me timbers, what the fuck . . . is the only expression available as ‘Fucked With An Anchor’ begins in totally crude lyrical fashion. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not offended in any way, in fact, I know a fair few people that actually deserve this punishment, and one or two that will probably enjoy it!!! As for the song itself, I defy anyone to not be singing the chorus by the end of it…the catchiness is that infectious. ‘Pegleg Potion’ is a bludgeoning fire in the hole of rampant riffs and galloping rhythms. Up tempo and full of energy, ‘Pegleg Potion’ sets a blistering pace and is everything the power metal genre was invented for.

One of the most anthemic songs on the album is the plodding ‘Man The Pumps’. Delivered at a pace similar to that of the anthems that legends Manowar are famed for, ‘Man The Pumps’ is majestic, and stands tall and proud. Involuntarily, your head will be nodding from side to side and your feet tapping in rhythmic accompaniment. Picking up the heaviness, ‘Rage Of The Pentahook’ is a storming rage that borders on the speed/thrash metal genres, yet amazingly still retains the infectious folk metal feel. Alestrom are masters of what they do, and have produced a masterful album. So it’s quite fitting that the album comes to an end with ‘Treasure Island’, where the booty is normally found. And in ‘No Grave But The Sea’ (the album). Alestorm have delivered a superb booty of addictiveness, catchiness and above all, cracking songs. So, me hearties, go get the album and join me in raising a beer laden tankard in celebration of a great album.

Overall, fiercely addictive and infectious, Alestorm have delivered a superb album of yo ho ho, that definitely marks the X on the treasure map.

TRACKLIST

No Grave But The Sea
Mexico
To The End Of The World
Alestorm
Bar Und Imbiss
Fucked With An Anchor
Pegleg Potion
Man The Pumps
Rage Of The Pentahook
Treasure Island

http://www.alestorm.net/
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