This self-described "True Scottish Pirate Metal" band is generating a bit
of buzz, though how much of it is based on music and how much is based
on image is debateable.
It all goes back to 2004 when a band known as Battleheart emerged.
As Battleheart they self-released two EPs and then signed to
Napalm
Records, and as that label already had a similarly-named band
(Battlelore),
Battleheart officially became Alestorm in August 2006, and in short
order the proper full-length debut, Captain Morgan's Revenge,
was put out.
Now, it's not as if this image is new, as
Running Wild
employed (and, arguably, ran into the ground) the pirate theme years
ago, but Alestorm are determined to embrace every pirate cliche imagineable
and run with it.
Musically, they are weakly in the folk metal camp and more aligned with
power metal and even
rollicking Viking metal (musically, not lyrically, of course), with
Turisas
being an occasional soundalike.
Overall, they're enjoyable enough and good for a laugh, but musically they
haven't really established a unique identity, which may or may not be
an issue as they progress.
