Alestorm - No Grave But The Sea album review

Alestorm – No Grave But The Sea (Napalm Records)

Genre: Pirate Metal

As a genre, you might think that pirate metal has less legs than Long John Silver, but when Alestorm deliver an album that’s as full throttle as No Grave But The Sea you can’t help but be swept away by its infectious nature.

The key to enjoying everything the modern-day buccaneers put out is to take it in the same spirit it’s produced – drink a bottle of rum and just have fun with it. Alestorm are never going to be a band that can sustain marathon listenings through their full back catalogue, but they’re here for a good time not a long time anyway and you’d suspect that suits them just fine.

More Jack Sparrow than Blackbeard, the metallers flit between standard pirate fayre and songs about drunken trips to Mexico that could be the new Geordie Shore theme tune if they ever ditched the fake tan and picked up a guitar.

But while Mexico takes Alestorm off-piste, it’s sandwiched between No Grave But The Sea and To The End Of The World – which anchor the album firmly in it’s fightin’ and drinkin’ and sailing the seven seas roots.

Amongst all the silly stuff it’s tempting to override the fact that this band are full of serious musicians who know their instruments inside out. The song construction is impeccably catchy and even the most serious metalhead would have to admit the riffs are worthy of praise – especially the balls out, metalcore-ish start to Alestorm.

If you never tire of listening to ridiculous lyrics and thumping metal, this band and this album are 100% up your street. If you revel in the slightly silly, especially the schnitzel and German beer inspired Bar und Imbiss then No Grave But The Sea will keep you entertained for days.

If, however, you fancy your metal a little more serious, a little less fun and with less character than Alestorm it’s probably best if you stay away.

RUSHONROCK RATED: 7/10 Plundered my heart.

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