#30 - Top of 2020

Alestorm - Curse of the Crystal Coconut  (Napalm Records)

The Scottish pirate metal crew is back with their 6th full length album which provided the perfect dose of fun & adventure needed for the dreadful 2020 (also see Top of 2014 and Top of 2017)! Alestorm have definitely not lost their magic touch and have given us a number of quirky and funny tracks such as "Treasure Chest Party Quest" and "Shit Boat" which are not so much on the heavy metal side but make everyone listening to the album miss live concerts even more! Packed with the equally enjoyable but also more epic tracks like " Fannybaws" and "Call of the Waves", the band achieves a balance of the elements that makes them what they are, with the best example being "Tortuga" juggling between electronic elements and epic choruses. However, the most interesting song has got to be none other than "Wooden Leg Part 2" which spans over 8 minutes and between 3 languages to tell the story of The Woodening of a pirate who loses more than a leg in the course of the track! If you are itching to go on a quest for an entertaining album of pirate adventures, look no further than the Curse of the Crystal Coconut! 

93.1/100

 

Below are the official music videos for "Treasure Chest Party Quest", "Pirate Metal Drinking Crew", "Shit Boat" and "Fannybaws"!

#14 - Top of 2017

Alestorm - No grave but the sea (Napalm Records)

2018 gave us another great pirate-themed treasure by the all time favourite privateers, Alestorm! The album starts right away with setting the "join the adventure" vibe with epic sing along "No Grave but the Sea", which also serves as the title song. Of course there are a number of more fun songs like "Mexico" that will make want to set a course for a bar in Mexico and the catchy "Alestorm". "To the End of the World" is a great surprise with a darker but full of epic feeling that goes over 6 minutes (!) and along with the pumped & heavier "Treasure Island" build on what Alestorm have shown us before but also taking it a notch further! Highlights of the records are definitely "Bar ünd Imbiss" with its great storytelling and guitar riffs, the aggressively funny "Fucked with an Anchor" (which is a personal favourite for bad days) and the awesome "Man the Pumps" that is straight-up Alestorm classic! Harsh vocals (with gang shouts and vulgar sing-alongs filled with hilarious swear words) blend with great & fun song-writing, upbeat songs and a range of folky instruments creating a perfect atmosphere for a pillaging voyage! If this doesn't sound fun enough you can check the  bonus track "Pirate Pizza Party" or the extra disc where the vocals have been replaced with dog barks and treat yourself!




94.5/100

Below is official videos for the the songs "Mexico", "Alestorm" and "Fucked With an Anchor".

#9 - Top of 2012

Ye banished Privateers- Songs and Curses (Record Union)

Ye Banished Privateers welcome you along with an album full of "Songs and Curses"! The crew consists of Major John (Piper), Blackpowder Pete, William  "One Eye" O'Sullivan (Accordion), Monkey Boy (Drummer), Fiddler Eve, Old Red, Scurvy Ben, Val & Emilio DuMonde (Guitarra), "Hog Eye" (Banjo), One Chou Zhong (Strings) and the extended crew. All the tracks are true to the pirate spirit telling stories about travels, exotic places, drunkard parties and violence! The tracks could not be classified as metal (in contrast to other similar bands that combine the two elements), however, their tone is representative of the pirate genre and makes their approach unique. Starting the journey with "The lamentation of the Marooned Sailor (Bottle of Rum)", you instantly get hooked to the vibe. The most uplifting songs are "Welcome to Tortuga" and "It Matters Not", while the best examples of intense story-telling are the aggressive "Colour of Sin", the melancholic "Drowned Walz" and the gloomy "When ye Dead Come Sailing Home Again". Songs like the "Yellow Jack", "Waves Roll High", "Fire Down Below" and "'Bout Me Father" are bound to make you wanna drink and sing along with the crew!


95/100

This is the official video clip for the cheerful song "Welcome to Tortuga".

#27 - Top of 2012

Lagerstein - Drink 'Til We Die (Independent)

In number 27, we have Lagerstein, an Aussie band belonging in the "noble" pirate folk genre. "Drink til We Die" is the debut album of the band and was released independently. Although not a big name or very well-known in their own subgenre, Lagerstein manage to produce an excellent record with references to excessive drinking and pirating the world, while at the same time sounding fresh and not too cliche or repeating the endeavors of similar bands.
The album with the starts with the heavy " The Rum Thieves" which sets the tone with great choruses and riffs, followed by the equally entertaining "Dreaded Skies" and the more melodic "Harpoon the Sun" and "Nightmare Ship". The record is filled with energy (as expected by pirates!) that will make you want to join the party with the highlights being the "Pirate Music Piracy" and the "Plunderberg"! The party is wrapped up with two great cover versions of "Beer" (by Reel Big Fish) and "I Am on a Boat" (by The Lonely Island)!

AHOY!

 92/100

Below is the live version of the song "Pirate Music Piracy".

 

#30-Top of 2014

Alestorm- Sunset on the Golden Age (Napalm Records)

Alestorm are back, 3 years after their previous album and the "Sunset on the Golden Age"! The Scottish pirates are determined to put you in a good mood and sing along with Christopher Bowes and the rest of the band-crew! Although they are experimenting with longer songs, like "The Battle of Cartagena" and the "Sunset on the Golden Age" they manage to add a more epic feeling to this album. This album is made for anyone that wants to have fun by getting hooked to feel good music without listening to mindless or regular songs. So join along to listen to great riffs, catchy lyrics and all the enjoyable elements that make Alestorm what they are. Arrr!


92/100


Below is the music video from the album track "Drink"