Pirate metal is a style of heavy metal music[1][2][3] characterized by its incorporation of pirate mythology within the music and sometimes in stage performances. Lyrics often use piratical jargon[1] and various musical genres, such as thrash metal,[4]speed metal,[1] and folk metal,[5] may be combined with traditional-sounding songs like sea shanties.[1] Folk instruments, such as the concertina, can be incorporated or emulated with synthesizers.[6] Band members often dress up in period costume during performances, and concert attendees may do so as well.[7] Pirate metal is sometimes referred to by the media as a music scene.[7]
The earliest example of pirate metal most likely appeared when Australian heavy metal band Black Jack released their 1979 and 1983 demos, and their later 1985 vinyl EP, 'Five Pieces O' Eight'. Their pirate themes, lyrics, stage shows and imagery were a precursor to later, more mainstream pirate metal. Black Jack's stage show featured costumes, sets, props and mock hangings.
Pirate metal was more widely established and popularized by German heavy metal band Running Wild.[8] They released their third album, Under Jolly Roger in 1987,[1] and according to Rolf Kasparek, lead singer and guitarist for the band, the album's pirate theme was not planned.[9][10] Instead, it grew from the album's title song.[11] Eventually, the album's artwork was changed to match the title, and set decorations and costumes for future concerts were designed. The piratical lyrics also became a way to convey the band's political message, since their use of the devil as a symbolic figure was being misunderstood on their first album Gates to Purgatory.[10][12] Kasparek began reading about pirates and, after finding "everything very interesting",[10] he incorporated the motifs into their music. The subject matter was expanded during rehearsals[11] for the fourth release, Port Royal, and their trademark style was solidified.[10]
Although Kasparek was more interested in the true histories of the Golden Age of Piracy,[11] pirate metal would eventually be inspired, to a greater extent, by the inaccuracies as invented[12] or portrayed in novels and Hollywood films.[1]
Another band that adopted a pirate motif before the official coining of “Pirate Metal” is Detritus from the UK. They were founded in 1989. Their music combines thrash metal, Christian metal and pirate motifs[13] They continue to release music, with their most recent album coming out in 2020.[14]
Visions of Atlantis, an Austrian Symphonic Metal Band, was founded in 2000.[15] Their original concept was focused around the mythical lost city of Atlantis and adventuring on the sea in general, but their more recent work is directly about pirates.[16]
Alestorm and the revival of Pirate Metal.
In 2006, after a two-year hiatus, Christopher Bowes and Gavin Harper reformed their band, Battleheart. Napalm Records signed them to the label, and they were told to change their name; Bowes and Harper easily agreed and settled on Alestorm.[17][18][19] Since then, the band is responsible for reviving the popularity of pirate metal with their pirate image and humor in their albums and performances.[20]
Post-Alestorm
Following the success of Alestorm, further bands have adopted the pirate metal style in their own ways. Not all of them are Power Metal like Alestorm, they range from Folk to Death Metal.
Swashbuckle is another band labelled pirate metal, known for its pirate image and humorous stage performances.They were founded in 2005, with their first album releasing a year later.[21][1][22][23][24]
The Dread Crew of Oddwood is a San Diego-based band founded in 2008 that does acousticfolk metal with a pirate theme.[25] They describe their style as “Heavy Mahogany”. They have released 4 albums so far, with the latest in 2016.
Ye Banished Privateers is a (currently) 20 member folk metal group from Umeå, Sweden.[26] They were also founded in 2008. In 2017, they signed with Napalm Records, the same label as Alestorm. They have released 5 albums, the first in 2012 and the latest in 2021. In 2022 they performed a concert with an orchestra in Umeå.
The Netherlands also has its own pirate metal band called Schtack. They play Death Metal in the pirate metal style.They were founded in 2008, and their first studio album was released in 2013.[27]
Iron Seawolf was founded in 2009 in Lancashire England.[28] They play a mix of symphonic and folk metal with a pirate theme. They have toured with other pirate metal bands including Calarook and Red Rum.
Alestorm's second studio album, Black Sails at Midnight, was released May 27, 2009.[29]
In 2010 Lagerstein was founded in Australia.[30] Their first album, Drink Till We Die, was released in 2012. They have released 3 full albums, a live album, and 2 singles. They have toured with Alestorm and Red Rum.
Also founded in 2011 was Rumahoy.[34] Each of the members wears a ski mask while performing. Their lead singer, Captain Yarrface, has guest starred on several Alestorm albums and the 2 bands are frequent collaborators. They have released 2 full length albums, The Triumph of Piracy and Time II: Party in 2018 and 2019, respectively in addition to several singles and a demo. Later it was revealed that Rumahoy was founded by Christopher Bowes as a side project.
Alestorm's third studio album, Back Through Time, was released June 3, 2011.[35]
Stormfrun is another Swedish folk metal band with a pirate theme.[36] They were founded in 2013 and have released 2 albums. They sing in both English and Swedish.
Skull and Bones is another pirate metal band from Argentina with their main theme centered around the golden age of piracy.[38]
Alestorm's 4th studio album, Sunset on the Golden Age, was released on August 1, 2014.[39] Alestorm released their 5th studio album, No Grave But The Sea, on May 26, 2017.[40]
Calarook is a Swiss Pirate-Deathmetal Band from Winterthur. They were founded in 2019 and play Death Metal with a pirate theme.[41]
Alestorm released their 6th studio album, Curse of the Crystal Coconut, on May 29, 2020.[42] Alestorm released their 7th studio album, Seventh Rum of a Seventh Rum, on June 24, 2022.
Table of Bands
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Running Wild is a German heavy metal band formed in Hamburg in 1976. They were part of the German metal scene to emerge in the early to mid-1980s, and are also considered to be one of the country's so-called "big four" of power metal, along with Grave Digger, Helloween and Rage. Over the course of their career, they have released 17 studio albums, three live albums, five compilation albums, and six singles/EPs.
Branded and Exiled is the second studio album by German heavy metal band Running Wild, released in 1985.
Port Royal is the fourth album by German heavy metal band Running Wild. It expanded on the pirate theme introduced in their album Under Jolly Roger (1987) and established them as "pirate metal" in the metal community. The album takes its name from the location of Calico Jack's death.
Pile of Skulls is the seventh studio album by Running Wild, released in 1992. It is their last album with guitarist Axel Morgan.
Under Jolly Roger is the third studio album by German heavy metal band Running Wild. It marked a stylistic turning point in which the group dropped the Satanic imagery they had previously used and adopted the pirate theme they would become known for, creating and influencing the later named pirate metal subgenre of heavy metal in the 2000s in the process. The album's title comes from the famous Jolly Roger, the flag used by pirates to identify their ships.
The Brotherhood is the twelfth studio album by German heavy metal band Running Wild.
Alestorm are a Scottish heavy metal band formed in Perth, Scotland. Their music is characterised by a pirate theme, and as a result, they have been dubbed a "pirate metal" band by many critics and their fanbase. The group currently consists of lead vocalist/keytarist Christopher Bowes, bassist Gareth Murdock, drummer Peter Alcorn, keyboardist/harsh vocalist Elliot Vernon and guitarist Máté "Bobo" Bodor.
Captain Morgan's Revenge is the debut studio album by Scottish heavy metal band Alestorm, released in 2008 by Napalm Records.
Death or Glory is the fifth studio album by German heavy metal band Running Wild, released 8 November 1989 through Noise Records. It is the band's last album with both guitarist Majk Moti and drummer Ian Finlay. Being one of their most successful releases, it contains the concert favourites "Riding the Storm" and "Bad to the Bone". The final track, "March On", was not included on the vinyl release due to space constraints.
Black Sails at Midnight is the second studio album by Scottish heavy metal band Alestorm. As with their first album, all the drums tracks were recorded by session drummer Migo Wagner but touring drummer Ian Wilson added additional percussion. The album features string and brass arrangements and folk instruments as opposed to the more heavy metal instrumentation of Captain Morgan's Revenge. The special edition of the album included a live DVD of the band's performance at the 2008 Wacken Festival.
Swashbuckle are an American pirate metal band based in Plainsboro, New Jersey, and were signed to Nuclear Blast Records. Formed in 2005, the band is known for its pirate image and humorous stage performances.
Blackguard is a Canadian melodic death metal band from Montréal, Québec, previously known as Profugus Mortis.
Trollfest is a Norwegian folk metal band.
Shadowmaker is the fourteenth studio album by German heavy metal band Running Wild, released on 20 April 2012. It is the band's first studio album since 2005's Rogues en Vogue and the first since the band's return after breaking up in 2009.
Gloryhammer is a British power metal band founded by keyboardist Christopher Bowes, lead vocalist of the band Alestorm. Each member of the band represents a character in the story concept. Band members appears on stage in armour and costumes to represent their respective characters.
The Dread Crew of Oddwood is an acoustic pirate band from San Diego, California. Their music, referred to by the band as "Heavy Mahogany", is characterized by a pirate theme and heavy use of acoustic instruments.
Curse of the Crystal Coconut is the sixth studio album by Scottish heavy metal band Alestorm. It was released on 29 May 2020 via Napalm Records. The album was recorded at Krabi Road, Thailand with the band's long-time producer Lasse Lammert. It was preceded by four singles: "Treasure Chest Party Quest", "Tortuga", "Fannybaws" and "Pirate Metal Drinking Crew".
The Scottish heavy metal band Alestorm has released seven studio albums, two live albums, five EPs, and twenty three music videos.
Æther Realm is an American heavy metal band from Greenville, North Carolina. Their music is a blend of melodic death metal and folk metal, with lyrical themes of fantasy and mythology. The band's influences include Wintersun and Children of Bodom. They have been active since 2010, and have released three studio albums.
Seventh Rum of a Seventh Rum is the seventh studio album by Scottish heavy metal band Alestorm. It was released on 24 June 2022 via Napalm Records. The album title is a reference to Iron Maiden's 1988 album Seventh Son of a Seventh Son. The album was produced by the band's long-time producer Lasse Lammert. It was preceded by four singles: "Magellan's Expedition", "P.A.R.T.Y.", "The Battle of Cape Fear River", and "Seventh Rum of a Seventh Rum".
References
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Myers, Ben (3 August 2009). "Scene and heard: Pirate metal". guardian.co.uk. Guardian Media Group. Archived from the original on 22 April 2010. Retrieved 14 May 2011. Pirate metal: This speed metal subgenre...
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