#17: Alestorm
Pirate metal, the first and only one of its kind.
Background Info (Encyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives):
Country of origin: United Kingdom
Location: Perth, Perth and Kinross, Scotland (early); United Kingdom / United States / Hungary (later)
Status: Active
Formed in: 2007
Genre: Folk/Power Metal
Lyrical themes: Pirates, Drinking, Adventure, Humour
Current label:Napalm Records
Years active:2004–2007 (as Battleheart), 2007-present
Alestorm is one of the first folk metal acts I came across way back in the late 2000s. I find their lyrical themes, which are mostly about stereotypical 16th-17th Century English pirate lifestyle, both fascinating and really enjoyable.
Apart from the pirate theme, they incorporate folk melodies to their music by way of simulating accordion and fiddle tones using keyboards/keytar.
Favorite Albums:
- Black Sails at Midnight (2009)
Favorite Songs:
- Keelhauled (Black Sails at Midnight)
- Leviathan (Black Sails at Midnight)
- Heavy Metal Pirates (Single, 2008)
- The Sunk’n Norwegian (Back Through Time, 2011)
- Rum (Back Through Time)
- Treasure Chest Party Quest (Curse of the Crystal Coconut, 2020)
- Wooden Leg! (Part 2: The Woodening) (Curse of the Crystal Coconut)
