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Alestorm: Black Sails At Midnight

When I think of pirate metal Running Wild's enjoyable tune "Under Jolly Roger", always comes to mind. Well pirate metal fans rejoice fer the Scottish band Alestorm's ship has sailed once again, fighting off their many foes to bring ye another slab of catchy metal.
Alestorm's debut Captain Morgan's Revenge was a fun CD, there were mixed opinions, but I found it an entertaining album taken for what it was- after all how serious can ye take songs like "Wenches and Mead"? Many must have agreed fer Alestorm are back with another one, brimming with all things pirate.
There was certainly some solid musicianship on their debut, as Alestorm's members could handle many styles without much trouble, but fear not fer these lively lads have stuck with pirate metal. Opening with "The Quest" a fine speedster about their never ending quest, "Leviathon" is the tale of a rather nasty and large beast, and the lads are out to bring backs its head. There are many yarns for ye to enjoy on Black Sails At Midnight, there's even a darn fine instrumental "No Quarter" which will soon have ye sporting a patch and dancing the jig.
If Captain Morgan's Revenge didn't tickle your fancy, then nor will this probably, but fer those other brave souls, ye shall find Black Sails At Midnight has ten rollicking metal tracks, this creative pirate metal rocks hard me hearties.

Track Listing
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

Added: June 3rd 2009
Reviewer: Scott Jessup
Score:
Related Link: Band's MySpace
Hits: 3819
Language: english

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Alestorm: Black Sails At Midnight
Posted by Dean Pedley, SoT Staff Writer on 2009-06-03 08:09:09
My Score:

Avast ye land lubbers! Scottish Pirates Alestorm return with second album Black Sails At Midnight that continues in much the same vein as its predecessor, Captain Morgan's Revenge. Musically Alestorm take their lead from the Viking Metallers such as Finland's Turisas and Sweden's Amon Amarth and replace their tales of Norse Gods and longboats with quests for buried treasure, ripping the limbs from sea monsters and general pirate-like behaviour of pillaging unsuspecting villages with the vocals sounding as if they are being sung by Long John Silver himself.

Urgent opener 'The Quest' is embellished by some Mark Kelly-esque keyboards that date back to 'Garden Party' / 'Punch & Judy' and is a swashbuckling epic telling of a never-ending quest. In 'Leviathan' they are doing battle with a beast of the ocean and is a stirring call to arms. 'Wolves of the Sea' was originally an entry by Latvia into the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest and here is transformed into a metallic sea shanty. Pirate power ballad 'To The End Of Our Days' marks a change of pace and is a genuine highlight along with the accordion-led jig of instrumental 'No Quarter'.

Of course it is all very tongue in check and those without a sense of humour will find little of interest here and the rest can simply break out a bottle of rum and set sail for the high seas. That said you have to ask the question how long can Alestorm keep the joke going for? Another album, maybe two? Only time will tell.

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