Alestorm

Want to get your band noticed? Do what Perth, Scotland quartet Alestorm did. Starting as a joke bedroom band called Battleheart, the band declared themselves "True Scottish Pirate Metal" and set out writing songs about, well, pirates. After all, with the recent success of all those Pirates of The Caribbean movies, now is as good a time as any to sing songs about swashbucklers on the seven seas, even if your homeland isn't really known for such things. In fact, Scottish pirates were about as rare as quality Mexican hockey players – yes, I have investigated both – but with music this catchy, it was only a matter of time until they got signed. Napalm did the trick, with one condition: they change their name. So goodbye Battleheart and hello Alestorm. If declaring yourselves "Scottish Pirate Metal" wasn't interest piquing enough then renaming your band Alestorm certainly should do the job. But is the music worth listening to? Aye. Similar in style to current folk/pagan metal bands like Turisas, Eluveite and Tyr, the quartet play fun, jig-filled metal that's perfect for a few rounds with your metal mates. It's not the best thing you've ever heard and isn't truly original but it is fun as hell and should bring a smile to the face of even the most jaded power metal enthusiast. How could songs with titles like "Wenches and Mead," "Death Before The Mast" and "Set Sail and Conquer" not impress?