Alestorm – Back Through Time (2011)

The Scottish Pirates are finally back with another epic of pirates, wenches, and drinking, but they seemed to have added time travel to the equation this time. In “Back through Time”, Alestorm delivers 11 tracks of exactly the same thing they have been doing for the last past years: catchy, wacky, and irreverent Pirate Metal.

We all know that the band is not the most talented one when it comes to making the most complicated and elaborated songs out there, but they have managed to find a niche that allows them to be enjoyed by thousands of Metalheads (including us). If you are not aware of the band’s previous releases, this is a band you will either love or hate, no middle ground.

Opening the album with the title track “Back through Time”, the band is back at its old antics with Christopher’s typical vocals and brilliant keyboard sections that immediately set the pirate mood. The song is very epic in nature and the chorus section is pretty catchy and effective.

One thing to note is that the guitars sometimes sound more aggressive than in the band’s previous releases. This is more noticeable in songs like “Shipwrecked” (opening section) and “Buckfast Powersmash”. There is also a bigger ‘Folk’ sound to the band like on the track “The Sunk’n Norwegian”, “Midget Saw” and “Scraping the Barrel”, these songs have the pirate vibe, but still sound Folk enough to easily be played by any other band.

The fun never stops with hilarious songs like “Midget Saw”, “Rum”, and “Barret’s Privateers”, clearly showing the band does not take themselves too seriously and enjoys having fun (you should see them live if you don’t believe this). In terms of the most epic and memorable tracks of this release we have to say that “Swashbuckled” and “Barrett’s Privateers”, and “Death Throes of the Terrorsquid” (sounds like Dimmu Borgir at some point…WTF!!) are some of the best in this release.

If you liked Alestorm’s previous releases, you will love “Back Through Time”. The band has consolidated their sound and delivers powerful guitars, brilliant keyboards, fast-paced drumming and a pounding bass-guitar line. As one of the most funny and engaging releases of 2011, “Back Through Time” will surely blow you away with its quirkiness and very catchy songs.

Release: June 14th, 2011

Country: Scotland