#alestorm — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #alestorm, aggregated by home.social.
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Zwarte Cross Festival 2026 🎶
📅 16.–19.07.2026
📍 Lichtenvoorde, Netherlands
🎸 Rock / Indie / Pop · from €30.00🔊 Kaiser Chiefs, Within Temptation, Dropkick Murphys, Razorlight & many more
🎧 Full playlist + 🎟 tickets: https://festivalplaylist.com#ZwarteCrossFestival2026 #Lichtenvoorde #Netherlands #Rock #Indie #Pop #KaiserChiefs #WithinTemptation #DropkickMurphys #Razorlight #TheVaccines #Alestorm #Zwarte2026 #festival2026 #festival #livemusic #lineup #musicfestival
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Zwarte Cross Festival 2026 🎶
📅 16.–19.07.2026
📍 Lichtenvoorde, Netherlands
🎸 Rock / Indie / Pop · from €30.00🔊 Kaiser Chiefs, Within Temptation, Dropkick Murphys, Razorlight & many more
🎧 Full playlist + 🎟 tickets: https://festivalplaylist.com#ZwarteCrossFestival2026 #Lichtenvoorde #Netherlands #Rock #Indie #Pop #KaiserChiefs #WithinTemptation #DropkickMurphys #Razorlight #TheVaccines #Alestorm #Zwarte2026 #festival2026 #festival #livemusic #lineup #musicfestival
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Zwarte Cross Festival 2026 🎶
📅 16.–19.07.2026
📍 Lichtenvoorde, Netherlands
🎸 Rock / Indie / Pop · from €30.00🔊 Kaiser Chiefs, Within Temptation, Dropkick Murphys, Razorlight & many more
🎧 Full playlist + 🎟 tickets: https://festivalplaylist.com#ZwarteCrossFestival2026 #Lichtenvoorde #Netherlands #Rock #Indie #Pop #KaiserChiefs #WithinTemptation #DropkickMurphys #Razorlight #TheVaccines #Alestorm #Zwarte2026 #festival2026 #festival #livemusic #lineup #musicfestival
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Zwarte Cross Festival 2026 🎶
📅 16.–19.07.2026
📍 Lichtenvoorde, Netherlands
🎸 Rock / Indie / Pop · from €30.00🔊 Kaiser Chiefs, Within Temptation, Dropkick Murphys, Razorlight & many more
🎧 Full playlist + 🎟 tickets: https://festivalplaylist.com#ZwarteCrossFestival2026 #Lichtenvoorde #Netherlands #Rock #Indie #Pop #KaiserChiefs #WithinTemptation #DropkickMurphys #Razorlight #TheVaccines #Alestorm #Zwarte2026 #festival2026 #festival #livemusic #lineup #musicfestival
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Zwarte Cross Festival 2026 🎶
📅 16.–19.07.2026
📍 Lichtenvoorde, Netherlands
🎸 Rock / Indie / Pop · from €30.00🔊 Kaiser Chiefs, Within Temptation, Dropkick Murphys, Razorlight & many more
🎧 Full playlist + 🎟 tickets: https://festivalplaylist.com#ZwarteCrossFestival2026 #Lichtenvoorde #Netherlands #Rock #Indie #Pop #KaiserChiefs #WithinTemptation #DropkickMurphys #Razorlight #TheVaccines #Alestorm #Zwarte2026 #festival2026 #festival #livemusic #lineup #musicfestival
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New post: Festival Review: Hellfest 2026 Day 1 – Clisson, France https://moshville.co.uk/reviews/gig-review/2026/07/festival-review-hellfest-2026-day-1-clisson-france/ #Alestorm #AliceCooper #BreakingBenjamin #BringMeTheHorizon
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#ALESTORM #HELLFEST Aye aye cap’taine ! Les pirates d’Alestorm partent à l’abordage du Hellfest. Dans leur coffre au trésor ?The Thunderfist Chronicles, un album aux effluves houblonnées publié en 2025. Alestormfait boire la tasse à la musique metal ! Anciennement connus sous le nom de Battleheart, les Ecossais concoctent depuis 2004 un "true Scottish pirate metal" décoiffant. Il faut…
› https://feedbot.net/watch/SyEMvlsdDWs via @feedbot -
#ALESTORM #HELLFEST Aye aye cap’taine ! Les pirates d’Alestorm partent à l’abordage du Hellfest. Dans leur coffre au trésor ?The Thunderfist Chronicles, un album aux effluves houblonnées publié en 2025. Alestormfait boire la tasse à la musique metal ! Anciennement connus sous le nom de Battleheart, les Ecossais concoctent depuis 2004 un "true Scottish pirate metal" décoiffant. Il faut…
› https://feedbot.net/watch/SyEMvlsdDWs via @feedbot -
🎶 Alestorm - The Storm (from the album "The Thunderfist Chronicles") 🎶.
Why is this song so good? IDK what it is but I've listened to it multiple times today... (also the lyrics could totally be form some supervillain theme song).
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Alestorm confirma su regreso a Chile | vía #iRock
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As a personal message I put into my #Instagram account: 'Pirate Metal is where it's at' Instagram removed the message because I was endorsing Piracy... It's a genre, bitch not about stealing music #Alestorm I hate Artificial dumbness because that is what it is.
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By Samguineous Maximus
If you’re like me, then your experience with German industrial metal largely revolves around Rammstein, the fun, if not inconsistent, institution that still somehow sells out arenas worldwide with their patented brand of simple riffs, simpler grooves, and deep-voiced German monotone “singing.” If you’re also like me, then listening to Rammstein became a lot less appealing when allegations surrounding frontman Til Lindemann arose, tainting my ability to enjoy the band. Thankfully, Germany is nothing if not efficient, and for every aging industrial Goliath there’s a newer, sleeker unit revving up on the assembly line. Erdling is one such machine, and they’ve been honing their brand of Neue Deutsche Härte since 2014. 1 My simian overlord, Steel Druhm, found their 4th record, 2020’s Yggdrasil, to be competent enough, if not a tad underwhelming. Since then, the Krauts have kept busy, releasing 2 albums in quick succession and garnering a respectable (and I presume mostly German) following. Now, they’re back with Mana, a lean collection of 11 tracks readymade to soundtrack a Berlin nightclub. Has Erdling crafted a delectable enough display of dance-inducing industrial to fill the void?
Mana is what happens when Rammstein and Crematory’s industrial template slams into the glossy, market-tested sheen of Amaranthe. No, Erdling doesn’t have over-processed female vocals or cringe-inducing rap parts (thank Wotan); instead, they take the clear craftsmanship and studio-minded sheen of a more commercial-oriented Euro sound and apply them to a beefy industrial metal core. The result is a batch of sleek, pop tunes that feel precision-engineered to get your fist pumping and stick in your head for days afterwards. The essential ingredients—straightforward Nü-tinged riffing, simple but danceable grooves, and monotone but charismatic German spoken vocals are all here—but they’re arranged in razor-tight formation and often spruced up with garish synth leads or autotuned choirs. Nearly every track on Mana sits around the 3-minute mark, featuring absolutely zero fluff or overlong vibe-killing sections. We have the tried-and-true methodology of ABABCB 2 applied throughout with just enough variety to keep things interesting. For most albums, this slavish devotion to formula would turn me away, but luckily for Erdling, they’re incredibly proficient in their execution.
A full listen of Mana delivers industrial metal banger after banger in rapid succession. The single “Dominus Omnium” showcases Erdling’s command of the style, skillfully building from eerie, restrained verses that highlight vocalist Neill Freiwald’s sinister delivery, into massive, synth-drenched choruses backed by layered guitars. Throughout the album, Erdling nods to various major European metal acts, adding variety and keeping the tracklist feeling fresh. “Los Los Los,” for example, is driven by an Amon Amarth-style melodeath riff but leans more into dance territory, complete with a flashy EDM lead that shines throughout and, of course, an earworm of a chorus. “Miasma” draws from the folk metal playbook, centering its chorus around a natural minor progression you’ve probably heard in dozens of Alestorm tracks. Another element that sets Erdling apart from many of their industrial peers is their lead guitarist. Ole Anders delivers several impressive solos and tasteful lead melodies across the album, adding a dynamic edge to even the more traditional cuts. Tracks like opener “Aurora” are pulled out of complacency by fiery, harmonized guitar work that keeps things from feeling too safe.
Now, it’s not all glühwein and glowsticks. Mana is a formulaic record by design and by limitation. Erdling commit to their template with near-militant discipline. There are no breathers, no tempo shifts, no moody detours. If you’re hoping for a left-field ballad or something vaguely introspective, keep walking. That said, the B-side introduces some welcome variations, like the blast beats and blackened vocals on “Alles dreht sich,” or the somber clean guitar textures on the closer “Sternenschimmer.” The album doesn’t evolve so much as it sprints headfirst into your chest for 37 minutes straight. But that also makes it endlessly re-listenable. Where most industrial albums sag under the weight of their own cyberpunk cosplay, Mana just keeps throwing punches. It’s the kind of record that’s over before you notice, only for your body to demand you hit play again like some kind of blood sugar-crashing dancefloor junkie.
At the end of the day, Erdling aren’t here to challenge the genre’s boundaries; they’re here to perfect it. Mana is a polished, addictive blast of industrial metal that would feel equally at home in a sweaty Berlin club or as fuel for your next deadlift PR. The songwriting is tight, the hooks hit hard, and the band understands exactly what kind of experience they’re delivering: 100% efficiency, zero filler. Is it deep? No. Is it innovative? Not really. Is it a blast and addictively replayable? Absolutely. Until Rammstein either implode or redeem themselves, Erdling just might be the Neue Deutsche Härte fix we need.
Rating: 3.5/5.0
DR: 7 | Format Reviewed: 192 kbps mp3
Label: Out of Line Records
Websites: erdling.rocks |erdling.bandcamp.com
Releases Worldwide: October 17th, 2025#2025 #35 #Alestorm #Amaranthe #AmonAmarth #Crematory #ElectronicMetal #Erdling #GermanMetal #Industrial #IndustrialMetal #Mana #NeuDeutscheHärte #Oct25 #OutOfLineMusic #PopMetal #Rammstein #Review #Reviews
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By Samguineous Maximus
If you’re like me, then your experience with German industrial metal largely revolves around Rammstein, the fun, if not inconsistent, institution that still somehow sells out arenas worldwide with their patented brand of simple riffs, simpler grooves, and deep-voiced German monotone “singing.” If you’re also like me, then listening to Rammstein became a lot less appealing when allegations surrounding frontman Til Lindemann arose, tainting my ability to enjoy the band. Thankfully, Germany is nothing if not efficient, and for every aging industrial Goliath there’s a newer, sleeker unit revving up on the assembly line. Erdling is one such machine, and they’ve been honing their brand of Neue Deutsche Härte since 2014. 1 My simian overlord, Steel Druhm, found their 4th record, 2020’s Yggdrasil, to be competent enough, if not a tad underwhelming. Since then, the Krauts have kept busy, releasing 2 albums in quick succession and garnering a respectable (and I presume mostly German) following. Now, they’re back with Mana, a lean collection of 11 tracks readymade to soundtrack a Berlin nightclub. Has Erdling crafted a delectable enough display of dance-inducing industrial to fill the void?
Mana is what happens when Rammstein and Crematory’s industrial template slams into the glossy, market-tested sheen of Amaranthe. No, Erdling doesn’t have over-processed female vocals or cringe-inducing rap parts (thank Wotan); instead, they take the clear craftsmanship and studio-minded sheen of a more commercial-oriented Euro sound and apply them to a beefy industrial metal core. The result is a batch of sleek, pop tunes that feel precision-engineered to get your fist pumping and stick in your head for days afterwards. The essential ingredients—straightforward Nü-tinged riffing, simple but danceable grooves, and monotone but charismatic German spoken vocals are all here—but they’re arranged in razor-tight formation and often spruced up with garish synth leads or autotuned choirs. Nearly every track on Mana sits around the 3-minute mark, featuring absolutely zero fluff or overlong vibe-killing sections. We have the tried-and-true methodology of ABABCB 2 applied throughout with just enough variety to keep things interesting. For most albums, this slavish devotion to formula would turn me away, but luckily for Erdling, they’re incredibly proficient in their execution.
A full listen of Mana delivers industrial metal banger after banger in rapid succession. The single “Dominus Omnium” showcases Erdling’s command of the style, skillfully building from eerie, restrained verses that highlight vocalist Neill Freiwald’s sinister delivery, into massive, synth-drenched choruses backed by layered guitars. Throughout the album, Erdling nods to various major European metal acts, adding variety and keeping the tracklist feeling fresh. “Los Los Los,” for example, is driven by an Amon Amarth-style melodeath riff but leans more into dance territory, complete with a flashy EDM lead that shines throughout and, of course, an earworm of a chorus. “Miasma” draws from the folk metal playbook, centering its chorus around a natural minor progression you’ve probably heard in dozens of Alestorm tracks. Another element that sets Erdling apart from many of their industrial peers is their lead guitarist. Ole Anders delivers several impressive solos and tasteful lead melodies across the album, adding a dynamic edge to even the more traditional cuts. Tracks like opener “Aurora” are pulled out of complacency by fiery, harmonized guitar work that keeps things from feeling too safe.
Now, it’s not all glühwein and glowsticks. Mana is a formulaic record by design and by limitation. Erdling commit to their template with near-militant discipline. There are no breathers, no tempo shifts, no moody detours. If you’re hoping for a left-field ballad or something vaguely introspective, keep walking. That said, the B-side introduces some welcome variations, like the blast beats and blackened vocals on “Alles dreht sich,” or the somber clean guitar textures on the closer “Sternenschimmer.” The album doesn’t evolve so much as it sprints headfirst into your chest for 37 minutes straight. But that also makes it endlessly re-listenable. Where most industrial albums sag under the weight of their own cyberpunk cosplay, Mana just keeps throwing punches. It’s the kind of record that’s over before you notice, only for your body to demand you hit play again like some kind of blood sugar-crashing dancefloor junkie.
At the end of the day, Erdling aren’t here to challenge the genre’s boundaries; they’re here to perfect it. Mana is a polished, addictive blast of industrial metal that would feel equally at home in a sweaty Berlin club or as fuel for your next deadlift PR. The songwriting is tight, the hooks hit hard, and the band understands exactly what kind of experience they’re delivering: 100% efficiency, zero filler. Is it deep? No. Is it innovative? Not really. Is it a blast and addictively replayable? Absolutely. Until Rammstein either implode or redeem themselves, Erdling just might be the Neue Deutsche Härte fix we need.
Rating: 3.5/5.0
DR: 7 | Format Reviewed: 192 kbps mp3
Label: Out of Line Records
Websites: erdling.rocks |erdling.bandcamp.com
Releases Worldwide: October 17th, 2025#2025 #35 #Alestorm #Amaranthe #AmonAmarth #Crematory #ElectronicMetal #Erdling #GermanMetal #Industrial #IndustrialMetal #Mana #NeuDeutscheHärte #Oct25 #OutOfLineMusic #PopMetal #Rammstein #Review #Reviews
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I never would have imagined that in 2025 my two new favorite bands would be a Scottish pirate metal crew, and three incredible women from Mexico killing it with intensely hard rock. #Alestorm #TheWarning
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Gig Review: Alestorm Keelhauled Brooklyn’s Warsaw – 9/15/25:
#LiveReview #LivePhotos #Alestorm #Gloryhammer #Glyph
Link: https://metalinsider.net/photos/gig-review-alestorm-keelhauled-brooklyns-warsaw-9-15-25
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Concert Calendar (09/15-09/21) Gigs, Wild Parties and Shredding: Alestorm, Slayer, & more:
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New Merch T-Shirt from #Alestorm. I love myself some #Pirate #Metal music, so much so I bought their complete CD collection from #NapalmRecords. Aaaargh Wench, fill my goblet again!
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Thursday Five List with a theme of "Beneath the Waves"
I can think of 2 songs right away so let's try for 5:
Calah Mikal - An Ocean https://song.link/us/i/1452645868
Lael - Open Waters https://song.link/s/6V1FMOVYa9YqKHFRGgQNcj
Forester - The Flood https://song.link/s/75HZuwZLKZMjnOgRFE2ao7
Inakaki - Drown https://song.link/s/0X875XrZq3AyuevTC7vjSU
Alestorm - The Sunk'n Norwegian https://song.link/us/i/1184686987
I made it, any guesses on which two I thought of right away?
#Music #ThursdayFiveList #BeneathTheWaves #CalahMikal #Lael #Forester #Inkakai #Alestorm
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Thursday Five List with a theme of "Beneath the Waves"
I can think of 2 songs right away so let's try for 5:
Calah Mikal - An Ocean https://song.link/us/i/1452645868
Lael - Open Waters https://song.link/s/6V1FMOVYa9YqKHFRGgQNcj
Forester - The Flood https://song.link/s/75HZuwZLKZMjnOgRFE2ao7
Inakaki - Drown https://song.link/s/0X875XrZq3AyuevTC7vjSU
Alestorm - The Sunk'n Norwegian https://song.link/us/i/1184686987
I made it, any guesses on which two I thought of right away?
#Music #ThursdayFiveList #BeneathTheWaves #CalahMikal #Lael #Forester #Inkakai #Alestorm
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Well, this is going to be stuck in my head for the next week, at least. 🏷️ #Alestorm #CaptainMorgansJoggingClub #Earworm #Fitness #Jogging #MetalBands #Music #PirateMetal #Pirates
ALESTORM - The Captain Morgan ... -
Morgen ist BandcampFriday. Was für Empfehlungen gibt's für jemanden der gerade hauptsächlich folgendes hört #Bloodywood #BABYMETAL #DragonForce #Alestorm #Powerwolf #AngusMcSix #VisionsOfAtlantis #Warkings #BattleBeast
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:megaphone: DEMNÄCHST!
*Zusammenfassung 10.01. bis 10.02. für BerlinHammerhead
10.01.2025 Berlin / LidoA Ghost in Rags
11.01.2025 Potsdam / ArchivOcean
11.01.2025 Berlin / FRANNZ ClubRotten And Poor Stage Kill
11.01.2025 BerlinThe Ocean
11.01.2025 Berlin / KesselhausWeite
11.01.2025 Berlin / Neue Zukunft
14.01.2025 Potsdam / ArchivAlestorm
12.01.2025 Berlin / HuxleysOla Englund
12.01.2025 BerlinThe Haunted
12.01.2025 BerlinSlowkiss
14.01.2025 Berlin / SchokoladenTurmion Kätilöt
15.01.2025 Berlin / BadehausMight
16.01.2025 Berlin / Cassiopeia#AGhostInRags #Alestorm #Archiv #Badehaus #Berlin #Cassiopeia #FRANNZClub #Hammerhead #Hole44 #Huxleys #Kesselhaus #Lido #Might #NeueZukunft #Ocean #OlaEngl #Potsdam #RottenAndPoorStageKill #Schokoladen #Siamese #Slowkiss #TheHaunted #TheOcean #TurmionKatilot #Weite #SteelFeed #SteelFeedSoon
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:megaphone: DEMNÄCHST!
*Zusammenfassung 03.01. bis 03.02. für BerlinPurple Rising
03.01.2025 Potsdam / LindenparkHands Label Night Berlin Januar
04.01.2025 Berlin / Urban SpreeDie Art
09.01.2025 Berlin / FRANNZ ClubRefugiadas
09.01.2025 Berlin / ResetHammerhead
10.01.2025 Berlin / LidoA Ghost in Rags
11.01.2025 Potsdam / ArchivOcean
11.01.2025 Berlin / FRANNZ ClubRotten And Poor Stage Kill
11.01.2025 BerlinThe Ocean
11.01.2025 Berlin / KesselhausWeite
11.01.2025 Berlin / Neue Zukunft
14.01.2025 Potsdam / ArchivAlestorm
12.01.2025 Berlin / HuxleysOla Englund
12.01.2025 Berlin#AGhostInRags #Alestorm #Archiv #Berlin #DieArt #FRANNZClub #H #Hammerhead #Huxleys #Kesselhaus #Lido #Lindenpark #NeueZukunft #Ocean #OlaEngl #Potsdam #PurpleRising #Refugiadas #Reset #RottenAndPoorStageKill #TheHaunted #TheOcean #UrbanSpree #Weite #SteelFeed #SteelFeedSoon
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#TheMetalDogArticleList
#BLABBERMOUTH
CLÉMENTINE DELAUNEY Talks How 'Pirate Metal' Has Changed Course Of VISIONS OF ATLANTIS's Career#PirateMetal #VisionsOfAtlantis #ClémentineDelauney #RunningWild #ALESTORM #SWASHBUCKLE
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#TheMetalDogArticleList
#BLABBERMOUTH
CLÉMENTINE DELAUNEY Talks How 'Pirate Metal' Has Changed Course Of VISIONS OF ATLANTIS's Career#PirateMetal #VisionsOfAtlantis #ClémentineDelauney #RunningWild #ALESTORM #SWASHBUCKLE
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Maart zit er bijna op! Sum 41, Alestorm, Night Verses, DragonForce en nog veel meer bands kwamen deze maand met nieuwe muziek. Check ons overzicht voor de hele lijst en blik alvast vooruit op april! https://buff.ly/3v6gFe2
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#TheMetalDogArticleList
#MetalInjection
The Weekly Injection: New Releases From ALESTORM, LEAVES' EYES & More Out Today 3/22
Plus releases from Boris/Coalar of the Deepers, Brodequin, Sylvaine, and Hideous Divinity.#Alestorm #LeavesEyes #HeavyNewReleases #UpcomingReleases #MetalInjection #March22 #OutToday
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#TheMetalDogArticleList
#MetalInjection
The Weekly Injection: New Releases From ALESTORM, LEAVES' EYES & More Out Today 3/22
Plus releases from Boris/Coalar of the Deepers, Brodequin, Sylvaine, and Hideous Divinity.#Alestorm #LeavesEyes #HeavyNewReleases #UpcomingReleases #MetalInjection #March22 #OutToday
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The Dread Crew of Oddwood – Rust & Glory Review
By Twelve
We’re no strangers to “pirate metal” ’round these parts, are we? There’s just something about the enduring and relatable ideals of pirate-themed music that we at Angry Metal Guy universally love, commenters, readers, and writers alike. I’ve opened my review with this entirely uncontroversial statement as a way to share with you my own excitement when I received the promo copy for Rust & Glory, the fifth full-length release for the U.S.-based pirate musicians that make up The Dread Crew of Oddwood. As was the case with Lawful Evil, you’ll find no metal here, but rather an acoustic delight designed to appeal to metal fans… and appeal it does.
The core of Rust & Glory’s appeal—apart from the obvious pirate theme—is just how rich it is1 in its composition. It would be easy enough to pick up a couple of acoustic guitars and start jamming about piracy, but instead, The Dread Crew of Oddwood augment their fantastical tales with mandolins, banjo, concertina (Deckard Cordwain), tin whistles, bouzouki (Stark Cordwain), piano, harpsichord, accordion, flutes (Wolfbeard O’Brady), and a hurdy-gurdy (Anny Murhpy of Cellar Darling and formerly Eluveitie, in a guest spot). The result is incredibly lush instrumentation that does a stellar job making up for the “missing” metal elements. Behind the drumkit, Pistol(s) Pete clearly wasn’t told—or doesn’t care—that the band isn’t actually playing metal and does a fantastic job of tying everything together in that style. It would remind of The Gentle Storm, especially in its terrific mix and master, except, of course, that Arjen Lucassen never wrote that he’ll “kick Poseidon in the balls and be forever free” (“Leather Ship”). So there is that.
Yes, the pirate influence is everywhere, and it’s in that Alestorm-y style of adventure, misadventure, and drinking. “Give Me Your Beer” is a prime example, with its exceptionally straightforward chorus that Steel Druhm would undoubtedly approve of (“Hey, you! Give me your beer!”), though the use of whistles and flutes is what really sells the song for me. Then there’s “The Apple,” a gloriously upbeat ode to adventure, contrasting the tragically funny “Lost Comrades,” a call-and-repeat tavern ballad that shows off the vocal skills and styles of, well, everyone. That’s another superbly pirate-y thing The Dread Crew of Oddwood has going for them—everyone contributes vocals, including most of the guest musicians. Whether in the form of hoarse growls, in the style of Alestorm, singing, or choral singing/shouting, everyone is joining in, giving the impression of a crew of pals singing sea shanties together to pass the time. In this way, the acoustic nature of the band is perfectly on-theme.
One of the most interesting elements of Rust & Glory is something I’ve already mentioned—that the album is almost certainly written to appeal to fans of folk metal. Album opener “Lawful Evil” hits the ground running in this way, with a fast-paced tune and a catchy chorus in the vein of Ensiferum—big and memorable and shouting “Lawful evil!” a lot. It’s almost too metal, highlighting the “missing” electric elements, which is a funny thing to say because The Dread Crew of Oddwood really don’t need them. “Squall of Death” handles this a bit better by making the folk instruments the focus atop a speedy series of really fun themes, but there’s still an occasional sense of something missing. It’s a funny critique to offer born purely from my own musical tastes and subsequent expectations, but it’s also one of the only critiques I have.
Rust & Glory is a fun album. The Dread Crew of Oddwood show no signs of slowing down on album five, and instead seem to be creeping closer and closer to perfecting their “heavy mahogany” style of music. This is an album that will worm its way into your head and get stuck there, one that keeps you smiling to yourself and getting kicked off of trains because you keep shouting the lyrics aloud by accident. If you’re here looking for serious music, you’ll have to go somewhere else—preferably to grab a beer, come straight back, and start singing along.
Rating: 3.5/5.0
DR: 9 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps mp3
Label: Self-Released
Websites: thedreadcrewofoddwood.com | thedreadcrewofoddwood.bandcamp.com | facebook.com/thedreadcrewofoddwood
Releases Worldwide: March 15th, 2024#2024 #35 #Acoustic #Alestorm #AmericanMetal #CellarDarling #Eluveitie #Ensiferum #FolkMetal #NotMetal #Review #Reviews #RustGlory #SelfReleased #TheDreadCrewOfOddwood #TheGentleStorm
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The Dread Crew of Oddwood – Rust & Glory Review
By Twelve
We’re no strangers to “pirate metal” ’round these parts, are we? There’s just something about the enduring and relatable ideals of pirate-themed music that we at Angry Metal Guy universally love, commenters, readers, and writers alike. I’ve opened my review with this entirely uncontroversial statement as a way to share with you my own excitement when I received the promo copy for Rust & Glory, the fifth full-length release for the U.S.-based pirate musicians that make up The Dread Crew of Oddwood. As was the case with Lawful Evil, you’ll find no metal here, but rather an acoustic delight designed to appeal to metal fans… and appeal it does.
The core of Rust & Glory’s appeal—apart from the obvious pirate theme—is just how rich it is1 in its composition. It would be easy enough to pick up a couple of acoustic guitars and start jamming about piracy, but instead, The Dread Crew of Oddwood augment their fantastical tales with mandolins, banjo, concertina (Deckard Cordwain), tin whistles, bouzouki (Stark Cordwain), piano, harpsichord, accordion, flutes (Wolfbeard O’Brady), and a hurdy-gurdy (Anny Murhpy of Cellar Darling and formerly Eluveitie, in a guest spot). The result is incredibly lush instrumentation that does a stellar job making up for the “missing” metal elements. Behind the drumkit, Pistol(s) Pete clearly wasn’t told—or doesn’t care—that the band isn’t actually playing metal and does a fantastic job of tying everything together in that style. It would remind of The Gentle Storm, especially in its terrific mix and master, except, of course, that Arjen Lucassen never wrote that he’ll “kick Poseidon in the balls and be forever free” (“Leather Ship”). So there is that.
Yes, the pirate influence is everywhere, and it’s in that Alestorm-y style of adventure, misadventure, and drinking. “Give Me Your Beer” is a prime example, with its exceptionally straightforward chorus that Steel Druhm would undoubtedly approve of (“Hey, you! Give me your beer!”), though the use of whistles and flutes is what really sells the song for me. Then there’s “The Apple,” a gloriously upbeat ode to adventure, contrasting the tragically funny “Lost Comrades,” a call-and-repeat tavern ballad that shows off the vocal skills and styles of, well, everyone. That’s another superbly pirate-y thing The Dread Crew of Oddwood has going for them—everyone contributes vocals, including most of the guest musicians. Whether in the form of hoarse growls, in the style of Alestorm, singing, or choral singing/shouting, everyone is joining in, giving the impression of a crew of pals singing sea shanties together to pass the time. In this way, the acoustic nature of the band is perfectly on-theme.
One of the most interesting elements of Rust & Glory is something I’ve already mentioned—that the album is almost certainly written to appeal to fans of folk metal. Album opener “Lawful Evil” hits the ground running in this way, with a fast-paced tune and a catchy chorus in the vein of Ensiferum—big and memorable and shouting “Lawful evil!” a lot. It’s almost too metal, highlighting the “missing” electric elements, which is a funny thing to say because The Dread Crew of Oddwood really don’t need them. “Squall of Death” handles this a bit better by making the folk instruments the focus atop a speedy series of really fun themes, but there’s still an occasional sense of something missing. It’s a funny critique to offer born purely from my own musical tastes and subsequent expectations, but it’s also one of the only critiques I have.
Rust & Glory is a fun album. The Dread Crew of Oddwood show no signs of slowing down on album five, and instead seem to be creeping closer and closer to perfecting their “heavy mahogany” style of music. This is an album that will worm its way into your head and get stuck there, one that keeps you smiling to yourself and getting kicked off of trains because you keep shouting the lyrics aloud by accident. If you’re here looking for serious music, you’ll have to go somewhere else—preferably to grab a beer, come straight back, and start singing along.
Rating: 3.5/5.0
DR: 9 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps mp3
Label: Self-Released
Websites: thedreadcrewofoddwood.com | thedreadcrewofoddwood.bandcamp.com | facebook.com/thedreadcrewofoddwood
Releases Worldwide: March 15th, 2024#2024 #35 #Acoustic #Alestorm #AmericanMetal #CellarDarling #Eluveitie #Ensiferum #FolkMetal #NotMetal #Review #Reviews #RustGlory #SelfReleased #TheDreadCrewOfOddwood #TheGentleStorm
