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.
Walk the Plank
Alestorm Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For treachery upon the seas has taken place this day
Your final hour has begun,
We've all agreed your end has come
We'll take your sword, we'll take your gun it's time
For you to come undone
Be aware, what lies beneath
Razor sharp and pointy teeth
With your life, you'll pay the price
Walk the Plank!
Boots of lead, your blood runs red
Walk the Plank!
Time to die, your end is nigh
Walk the Plank!
Descend into the black and don't come back
A nameless bay, in the mist
You have no right to exist
You've got the captain really pissed,
and so it's time you were dismissed
Give the line a little twist
And wrap the ropes around your wrist
Eyes to fill your soul with dread
The fury of the hammerhead
Walk the Plank!
With your life, you'll pay the price
Walk the Plank!
Boots of lead, your blood runs red
Walk the Plank!
Time to die, your end is nigh
Walk the Plank!
Descend into the black and don't come back
Be aware my friend, what lies beneath
Razor sharp and full of pointy teeth
Burning eyes to fill your soul right up with dread
The raging fury of the hammerhead
The lyrics of Alestorm's "Walk the Plank" narrate the punishment of those found guilty of treason on the sea. The verses describe the execution that is about to take place, with the offender being stripped of their weapons and forced to walk the plank into the abyss. The chorus repeats the ominous command to "Walk the Plank" in a taunting and threatening tone, with the gruesome consequences of not complying fully depicted by the lyrics. The strong imagery of the "razor sharp and pointy teeth" of the creatures lurking below the surface of the water adds to the intensity and brutality of the punishment.
The lyrics of "Walk the Plank" are a perfect fit for Alestorm's nautical themed brand of epic folk metal. It reflects the band's penchant for writing lyrics that capture the spirit of adventure, danger, and excitement that comes with life on the sea. The song is also a perfect vessel for Alestorm's signature sound, with powerful guitars, catchy hooks, and bombastic drums adding to the energetic and theatrical atmosphere of the track. Overall, "Walk the Plank" is a masterful work of storytelling that perfectly captures the spirit of adventure and danger that is inherent in the world of pirate metal.
Line by Line Meaning
The time for execution, a harrowing display
It is time for the execution to happen, and it is going to be a horrific sight.
For treachery upon the seas has taken place this day
Because a betrayal occurred at sea, this execution is necessary.
Your final hour has begun,
You are about to face your last moments on this earth.
We've all agreed your end has come
Everyone has made the decision that it is time for you to die.
We'll take your sword, we'll take your gun it's time
They will confiscate all of your weapons because it is now time.
For you to come undone
The time has come for you to unravel, metaphorically speaking.
Be aware, what lies beneath
Be cautious because there is something dangerous under the water.
Razor sharp and pointy teeth
The dangerous thing has sharp and pointed teeth.
Walk the Plank!
You are being forced to walk off the edge of the ship into the water.
With your life, you'll pay the price
You will die as a result of your actions.
Boots of lead, your blood runs red
The lead in your boots will cause you to sink quickly, and you will be bleeding in the water.
Time to die, your end is nigh
Your death is imminent, and the time has come for it to happen.
Descend into the black and don't come back
Fall into the darkness of the water, and never return from it.
A nameless bay, in the mist
The bay is unnamed, and there is a mist that surrounds it.
You have no right to exist
You do not have the right to live anymore because of what you've done.
You've got the captain really pissed,
The captain is extremely angry with you.
and so it's time you were dismissed
Because of the captain's anger, you must be let go.
Give the line a little twist
The rope around your wrist will be tightened.
And wrap the ropes around your wrist
They will use the rope to tie your hands together.
Eyes to fill your soul with dread
Your eyes will be filled with fear.
The fury of the hammerhead
You will experience the anger of the hammerhead shark.
Be aware my friend, what lies beneath
Be cautious, because something dangerous is under the water.
Razor sharp and full of pointy teeth
The dangerous thing under the water has teeth that are sharp and pointed.
Burning eyes to fill your soul right up with dread
The thing under the water has eyes that are terrifying to look at.
The raging fury of the hammerhead
You will experience the anger of the hammerhead shark.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CHRISTOPHER BOWES, ELLIOT VERNON, LASSE LAMMERT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind