Genre of heavy metal music
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]
Early History of the Style-Black Jack and Running Wild
Commodore Redrum of Swashbuckle
The Dread Crew of Oddwood
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]
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 acoustic folk 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 27th 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.
The Folk Metal band Red Rum are from the East Midlands in the United Kingdom known for their cover of They're Taking the Hobbits to Isengard. They have toured with Skiltron, Lagerstein, and Iron Seawolf.[31][32][33]
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.
Alestorm's third studio album, Back Through Time, was released June 3rd 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.
Storm Seeker is a German pirate-folk-metal band from Düsseldorf and Neuss.[37]
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 1st 2014.[39] Alestorm released their 5th studio album, No Grave But The Sea, on May 26th, 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 29th, 2020.[42] Alestorm released their 7th studio album, Seventh Rum of a Seventh Rum, on June 24th 2022.
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