The new Alestorm album is a very strange listen. It incorporates metal, melodic keyboards, violins and pirate vocals! You may think this sounds like the other releases by Alestorm " Captain Morgan's Revenge " and " Black Sails At Midnight ", but you be wrong! The guitar riffs are faster which give an energetic feel to the album. Songs such as " Back Through Time " show the technical stuff that this band can play. When Alestorm go on tour to celebrate this new album, the crowd will defiantly be on their feet the whole time because of their fast, jolly riffs! Alestorm haven't disappointed with their pirate vocals, living up to their name as Scottish, pirate metal legends! But of course, if you don't like the pirate sound, this is NOT the album for you.

This album contains a lot of keyboards which give a really good effect to the music. It makes the songs more melodic and active. If keyboards weren't included, I think this album would definitely lack the punch it has. Although the keyboards add to this album, sometimes too much it used, which makes some of the songs sound messy and disorganised.

I really love the intro riffs to " Shipwrecked ", Buckfast Powersmash" and " Midget Saw ". They sound almost thrashy in places but then the pirateness shines through when the keyboards/ violins play. These are the best songs on the album, with very catchy lyrics that make you want to shout at the top of your lungs, amazing riffs and melodic tunes!

This album is faster and more upbeat than Alestorm's last release " Black Sails At Midnight ", with also more keyboards and string instruments used. Although it is faster, it doesn't make it better, seeming sloppy, overcomplicated and busy in places. On their new album Alestorm have definitely got a more dramatic sound but I think sometimes it is just too much and after a while, the songs start to get repetitive. I think their previous album packs more of a punch, with slower melodies which have more of an impact.

The song " Buckfast Powersmash " is the song with the catchiest lyrics on this album, the moment I heard it, the lyrics were stuck in my head and I wanted to listen too it again and again! This is defiantly THE best song on the album. Very thrashy! There is a also a BRILLIANT solo in " Scraping The Barrel ". Excellently executed!

Overall I think this album does have some brilliant songs on it, that Alestorm should be proud of. But on the other hand, some songs are too messy and repetitive and really do not show what this band is capable of. I definitely think a bit of " Rum " is needed to enjoy this album.

Album Rating: 6/10