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.
Pirate Song
Alestorm Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I once had the heart of a lion.
Commanding my ship, between many a shore,
The ol' Jolly Roger a-flyin'.
Mine was a name that put fear into men,
And regret into plenty o' lasses.
Lo, how I wish I could take back those days,
As I stare at these empty beer glasses.
I think of the times past when I had it all,
I toyed with men's wives and their daughters.
And in my pursuit of this ill-gotten wealth,
I stabbed and I slashed and I slaughtered.
And for what? (HEY! )
The men that I've fought,
Are matched by the number of women I've bought.
And for what? (HEY! )
I've killed and I've shot,
And reddened the cold tears of children with blood.
And if I could go back and make my amends,
I'd make all those mistakes again.
And kill every last one of those bastards, my friend!
My ship was the last sight that many would see,
As we narrowed the gap with our quarry.
Sound of the cannons and splintering wood,
Did herald our pass into glory.
We seized all the bounty and scuppered the ship,
Our hearts hadn't time for no wounded.
I took my share and the crew got the rest,
And on into port we did bound it.
Life has many pleasures and we had our fill,
Of food and of wenches and beer.
When we tired of the port or had drunken it dry,
The time to set sail had come near.
And for what? (HEY! )
We heed no law,
The other man suffers so we can have more.
And for what? (HEY! )
We lived every day,
The noose of the hangman a hairsbreadth away.
And if I could go back and make my amends,
I'd make all those mistakes again.
And kill every last one of those bastards, my friend!
Oh, I have seen wonders you never have dreamed,
And taken my fair share I must say.
Holds full of booty I happily seized,
From crews who would not see a new day.
Spanish gold came and went, and gemstones were sold,
And I knew more lay on the horizon.
Yet the beer was too good, and gals were too sweet,
And now in my old age, it's gone.
These memories were bought with the lives of good men,
A price that I paid without scruple.
So many so suffered so I could get drunk,
And swagger from brothel to brothel.
Now for what? (HEY! )
It's been many years,
The screams of the vanquished still ring in my ears.
But for what? (HEY! )
I've blood on my hands,
I wait for my place in the halls of the damned.
And if I could go back and make my amends,
I'd make all those mistakes again.
I'D KILL EVERY LAST ONE OF THOSE BASTARDS, MY FRIENDS!
In Alestorm's song "Pirate Song," the singer reflects on his days as a notorious pirate, recalling the glory and excitement he felt while commanding his ship and raiding other vessels, all while flying the Jolly Roger. However, he also looks back with remorse and regret, acknowledging the many lives he took and the destruction he caused in the pursuit of wealth and pleasure. He wishes he could go back and "make amends", but also reveals that if given the chance, he would make the same mistakes again and "kill every last one of those bastards." The song captures the duality of the pirate lifestyle, with its allure and adventure, but also its brutality and moral ambiguity.
The lyrics highlight the theme of regret and the notion that one cannot change the past, but can only live with the consequences of their actions. The singer is haunted by the lives he took while also cherishing the memories of the excitement and pleasure he experienced. This duality is further emphasized by the repetition of the question "And for what?", suggesting that the singer is questioning the purpose of his actions and the price he paid for his lifestyle.
" Pirate Song" by Alestorm is a unique twist on traditional pirate-themed songs, as it acknowledges the dark side of piracy and the psychological toll it can take on those who embrace it. It highlights the fact that the pirate lifestyle is not just about treasure and adventure, but also involves violence and death, and that those who choose to live this way must reconcile themselves to the consequences of their actions.
Line by Line Meaning
Though you see me now, the mere ghost of a man,
I once had the heart of a lion.
I may look weak now but I was once great and fearless.
Commanding my ship, between many a shore,
The ol' Jolly Roger a-flyin'.
I sailed my ship to various shores, with the pirate flag flying high.
Mine was a name that put fear into men,
And regret into plenty o' lasses.
I was a notorious pirate, feared by men and despised by women.
Lo, how I wish I could take back those days,
As I stare at these empty beer glasses.
Now, looking back at my past, I regret the decisions I made and wish I could change them.
And for what? (HEY! )
The men that I've fought,
Are matched by the number of women I've bought.
I fought and killed as many men as I bought women and I question it now.
And for what? (HEY! )
I've killed and I've shot,
And reddened the cold tears of children with blood.
I killed and robbed innocent people, including children, and I now question if it was worth it.
And if I could go back and make my amends,
I'd make all those mistakes again.
And kill every last one of those bastards, my friend!
If given a chance, I would still make the same mistakes and kill those who crossed me.
My ship was the last sight that many would see,
As we narrowed the gap with our quarry.
As we approached our target, our ship was often the last thing our victims saw before meeting their fate.
Life has many pleasures and we had our fill,
Of food and of wenches and beer.
I enjoyed the pleasures of life – food, women, and alcohol – as a successful pirate.
And for what? (HEY! )
We heed no law,
The other man suffers so we can have more.
As pirates, we ignored the law and caused others to suffer so that we could have more for ourselves.
And for what? (HEY! )
We lived every day,
The noose of the hangman a hairsbreadth away.
Every day was lived as if it were the last, knowing that the hangman's noose was always nearby.
Oh, I have seen wonders you never have dreamed,
And taken my fair share I must say.
As a pirate, I experienced unbelievable things and took my fair share of the riches.
These memories were bought with the lives of good men,
A price that I paid without scruple.
My cherished memories were made at the expense of innocent lives that I took without remorse.
So many so suffered so I could get drunk,
And swagger from brothel to brothel.
I caused a lot of suffering to others, just so I could indulge in drinking and womanizing.
Now for what? (HEY! )
It's been many years,
The screams of the vanquished still ring in my ears.
Years have passed but the screams of my victims still haunt me.
But for what? (HEY! )
I've blood on my hands,
I wait for my place in the halls of the damned.
I have blood on my hands and I know that I will face a just punishment for my actions.
And if I could go back and make my amends,
I'd make all those mistakes again.
I'D KILL EVERY LAST ONE OF THOSE BASTARDS, MY FRIENDS!
Despite everything, if I had the chance, I would still make the same mistakes and kill those who wronged me.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CHRISTOPHER BOWES, JOE MCQUADE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind