After signing to Napalm Records in 2007, their debut album Captain Morgan's Revenge, was released on 25 January 2008. Black Sails at Midnight, the band's second album, was released on 27 May 2009. The band's third album, Back Through Time, was released on 3 June 2011. The fourth album from the band, Sunset on the Golden Age, was released in August 2014. Their fifth album No Grave But the Sea was released on 26 May 2017. Their sixth and latest album, Curse of the Crystal Coconut, was released on 29 May 2020.
The band was founded in 2004 as Battleheart, a studio project by Christopher Bowes and Gavin Harper. Originally intended as a standard power metal band, the success of song "Heavy Metal Pirates" convinced the band to permanently adopt a pirate theme and incorporate folk metal elements into their music. Gavin and Christopher recorded & released two independent demos in 2006, which were received well by the local metal community. The band began to perform live in 2006, with a lineup consisting of Bowes (vocals and keytar), Harper (guitars), Dani Evans (bass) and Doug Swierczek (drums). Doug Swierczek eventually left the band later that year and was replaced by Ian Wilson. After a period of inactivity, in late 2007 Battleheart sent their demos to Napalm Records, and the band was promptly offered a record deal.
After being signed by Napalm Records, the band changed their name from Battleheart to Alestorm. Their debut album, Captain Morgan's Revenge, was released in early 2008.
By September 2008, original guitarist Gavin Harper had left the band. Tim Shaw was Harper's replacement, but after a brief period of touring, was fired from the band. To fill the guitarist position, Dani Evans switched instruments from bass to guitar, and Gareth Murdock of Waylander joined as the replacement bassist. The band's 2nd album Black Sails at Midnight was released in May 2009. In March 2010, Ian Wilson left the band and was replaced with a new drummer named Peter Alcorn. Alestorm's third album, Back Through Time, was Alcorn's first appearance on an Alestorm album. In October 2011, Elliot Vernon joined the band as keyboard player and performing screamed / death metal vocals.
The band released their fourth record entitled "Sunset on the Golden Age" on 1 August 2014, reaching the #1 position in the UK Rock Chart.
In October 2016, Christopher Bowes announced during a concert on the Super Smashed Turbo Tour that the band planned to begin recording a fifth studio album in January 2017. The fifth record, entitled "No Grave But the Sea", was released on 26 May 2017.
On 8 January 2020, the band announced the title of their sixth studio album, "Curse of the Crystal Coconut". This was released on May 29th, 2020. Prior to its release, Alestorm released the singles "Treasure Chest Party Quest", "Tortuga" (feat. Captain Yarrface of Rumahoy) and "Fannybaws".
Alestorm is generally classified as pirate metal, folk metal, power metal, heavy metal, and hard rock. The band refer to themselves as "True Scottish Pirate Metal" and are identifiable by the pirate-themed lyrics in their songs. Alestorm's music utilizes the upbeat epic style of power metal with many orchestrations commonly found in folk metal. Album recordings feature heavy use of real trumpets and trombones, whilst implementing accordion synths, fiddle and tin whistle to convey a pirate sea shanty feel. Alestorm uses factors of absurdity to bring a jocular feel to their music, incorporating irreverent lyrical themes while retaining a tenuous connection to pirates.
They have also been known to experiment with different metal genres, going from songs that are predominantly thrash metal ("Black Sails at Midnight") to a switch to a black metal sonority mid-song ("Death Throes of the Terrorsquid"). The band's later albums have begun to incorporate more screamed vocals by keyboard player Elliot Vernon, adding hints of metalcore ("Magnetic North") and death metal ("1741 – The Battle of Cartagena") to the band's sound.
Official bio:
Avast, ye landlubbers! From the deepest darkest depths of the Caribbean comes Alestorm, a drunken band of pirates on an epic quest to drink your beer, steal your rum, and be the greatest damn band that ever did sail the seven seas!
From humble beginnings playing shows to farm animals in a field somewhere in Eastern Scotland, Alestorm have evolved into an international party machine hellbent on conquering album charts and festival stages throughout the world, with their infectious brand of 'Pirate Metal' and their dashing good looks.
Somehow they've managed to convince hundreds of thousands of people from New Zealand to Argentina to Lithuania and everywhere in between (except Paraguay), that it's cool to wear a pirate hat and sing stupid songs about getting drunk and stealing ships. So prepare your spleens, because Alestorm are coming to kick ass and chew gum. And they're all out of ass.
Also, they have a giant inflatable duck. Does your band have a giant inflatable duck? No. I didn't think so.
1741
Alestorm Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To distant lands unknown
Porto Bello fell in a day
Now Britannia rules the waves
Thirty thousand men at arms
Red Ensign in the sky
To Cartagena we set sail
With blood and plunder we'll prevail
But third time works a charm
The greatest fleet the world has seen
To fight the War of Jenkins' Ear
Waters lash across the bow
Through Caribbean Seas
The year is 1741
The final battle has begun
The skies are burning with thunder
The seas are ablaze with flame
Set the course for Cartagena
The sands of time will remember our names
The skies are burning with thunder
The seas are ablaze with flame
Set the course for Cartagena
History is written today
Across the sea-lashed deck
Our captain gives a cry
"Cartagena lies ahead
The Spanish foe will soon be dead!"
Portents of coming doom
Engulf the battle line
High above, the heavens sigh
A red light burning in the sky
An omen of dread
Which no man can deny
The legends hold true
We must turn back or die
Superstitious fools
Be gone from my sight
Blast the trumpets of war
And prepare for the fight
The skies are burning with thunder
The seas are ablaze with flame
Set the course for Cartagena
The sands of time will remember our names
The skies are burning with thunder
The seas are ablaze with flame
Set the course for Cartagena
History is written today
Hard to starboard
Man the cannons
And on my command, unleash hell!
FIRE! Show them your steel
Bring them to death on the battlefield
Ride on the wind, and conquer the foe
The legends be damned, to our deaths we will ago
The skies are burning with thunder
The seas are ablaze with flame
Set the course for Cartagena
The sands of time will remember our names
The skies are burning with thunder
The seas are ablaze with flame
Set the course for Cartagena
History is written today
The song "1741" by Alestorm tells the tale of a naval battle that took place in 1741 between the British and Spanish fleets. The first stanza of the song sets the scene for the battle, with the British sailing on the open sea in search of new lands to conquer. The second stanza speaks of the battle itself, with the British fleet attacking the Spanish port city of Cartagena. The third and final stanza is a call to arms, with the captain ordering his crew to man the cannons and unleash hell on the Spanish.
The lyrics are heavy with themes of conquest, war, and the glory of battle. The use of imagery, such as the burning skies and seas, give a sense of the intensity and violence of the battle. The repetition of the phrase "the skies are burning with thunder, the seas are ablaze with flame" emphasizes the magnitude of the conflict and the power of the naval weaponry involved.
Overall, the song celebrates the bravery and heroism of the British sailors who fought in this battle, and their triumph over the Spanish fleet.
Line by Line Meaning
Sailing the raging seas
Embarking on a voyage through turbulent waters
To distant lands unknown
Traveling to unfamiliar territories
Porto Bello fell in a day
The capture of a port in Panama in a single day
Now Britannia rules the waves
The British navy dominates the seas
Thirty thousand men at arms
A large military force is assembled
Red Ensign in the sky
The British flag is flown high
To Cartagena we set sail
Heading to the Spanish city of Cartagena
With blood and plunder we'll prevail
The British will emerge victorious with casualties and loot
Twice struck, and twice we've failed
Two attempts at capturing Cartagena have failed
But third time works a charm
The third attempt will be successful
The greatest fleet the world has seen
The British navy is a formidable force
To fight the War of Jenkins' Ear
Participating in a conflict between Britain and Spain over trade disputes
Waters lash across the bow
The waves are hitting the front of the ship
Through Caribbean Seas
Sailing through the waters around the Caribbean islands
The year is 1741
The events take place in the year 1741
The final battle has begun
The last conflict for the capture of Cartagena has started
The skies are burning with thunder
The sound of lightning is prominent in the sky
The seas are ablaze with flame
The ships and water are illuminated by intense fire
Set the course for Cartagena
Heading towards the location of Cartagena
The sands of time will remember our names
Their deeds will be remembered for ages to come
Across the sea-lashed deck
Over the area of the ship that is battered by the sea
Our captain gives a cry
The leader of the ship makes a loud shout
"Cartagena lies ahead
The city of Cartagena is approaching
The Spanish foe will soon be dead!"
The enemy will perish soon
Portents of coming doom
Signs of an impending disaster
Engulf the battle line
The negative omens surround the conflict area
High above, the heavens sigh
The sky appears to indicate concern with a deep sigh
A red light burning in the sky
A red signal flares up in the sky
An omen of dread
A sign that causes fear and apprehension
Which no man can deny
The proof of the sign is undeniable
The legends hold true
The myths and tales of the past are proven to be accurate
We must turn back or die
The only options are to retreat or face certain death
Superstitious fools
Term used to describe those who believe in superstitions
Be gone from my sight
Leave my presence, people with irrational fears
Blast the trumpets of war
Signal the commencement of battle with trumpet sounds
And prepare for the fight
Make all necessary arrangements for the conflict
Hard to starboard
Turn the ship sharply to the right
Man the cannons
Assign crew members to operate the artillery
And on my command, unleash hell!
Attack with full force as soon as the order is given
FIRE! Show them your steel
Shoot the cannons and display superior firepower
Bring them to death on the battlefield
Engage in battle with the intent to kill the enemy
Ride on the wind, and conquer the foe
Utilize favorable conditions to defeat the opposing forces
The legends be damned, to our deaths we will go
Ignoring fearful stories, soldiers are ready to risk their lives for the mission
Set the course for Cartagena
The destination has not changed: Cartagena must be reached
History is written today
The outcome of this battle will affect how people remember this historic event
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CHRISTOPHER BOWES, LASSE LAMMERT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind