Alestorm

Emerging from Scotland in 2007, Alestorm crafted a boozy fusion of power metal and hard rock inspired by the high seas, taking cues from buccaneering German pirate metallers Running Wild. European listeners responded first to the group's humor and swashbuckling melodies, often reminiscent of sea shanties alongside traditional English, Irish, and Scottish folk songs, as evidenced by the solid German performance of 2009's Black Sails at Midnight. Broader international recognition arrived via their fourth long-player, 2014's Sunset on the Golden Age, which entered the U.S. Heatseekers charts at number seven, after which the band kept the Jolly Roger aloft across later releases including No Grave But the Sea (2017), Curse of the Crystal Coconut (2020), and Seventh Rum of a Seventh Rum (2022).

Alestorm originated in 2004 under the name Battleheart during their pre-nautical phase. At that stage Battleheart began as a duo comprising Gavin Harper on guitar and Christopher Bowes handling vocals and keyboards, issuing a self-titled EP in 2006. The following year the project grew to a quartet with the recruitment of bassist Dani Evans and drummer Doug Swierczek so they could deliver their material to Scottish audiences; the expanded lineup soon tracked the EP Terror on the High Seas, whose exposure earned a track placement on Metal Hammer magazine's Battle Metal V compilation. After inking a deal with Napalm Records in 2007, the members adopted the moniker Alestorm to advance their swashbuckling style of metal. Further lineup consolidation came when Ian Wilson secured the drum chair, paving the way for the debut album Captain Morgan's Revenge in early 2008. Later that year the band crossed the United States alongside fellow folk-metal giants Týr and Heidevolk, then issued their second full-length, Black Sails at Midnight, in spring 2009. Over the ensuing five years they reinforced their standing in grog-hoisting pirate-themed metal through 2011's Back Through Time and 2014's Sunset on the Golden Age, the latter achieving success both domestically and overseas. Dani Evans, guitarist on their fourth album, departed a year later and was succeeded by Máté Bodor of Wisdom, whose initial recorded contribution appeared on the well-received fifth studio album, 2017's No Grave But the Sea. For the sixth full-length effort, 2020's Curse of the Crystal Coconut, the group traveled to Thailand alongside longtime producer Lasse Lammert, delivering their customary mix of seaworthy metal, folk, and hard rock while experimenting with pirate rap-metal. Drawing on the title of Iron Maiden's 1988 LP Seventh Son of Seventh Son, 2022's Seventh Rum of a Seventh Rum showcased another boozy, bawdy, and raucous set that played to the band's strengths.