5 Power Metal Albums You Should Own (Version 2)

Welcome to the end of Power Metal Pandemonium’s return fellow Otaku & Metalheads.

I confess I kind of wanted this festival to continue throughout the rest of 2020. It’s a safe bet to say that this year.....has been a little shitty. Everything has been thrown into chaos thanks to the plague and incompetent politics, and the rest of 2020 is something I’m not looking forward to. That being said, I have to keep my chin up somehow, and this will definitely help a little. Like I did last year, I showed off 5 power metal records you should have in your collection, and this year is going to be no different. I tried to mix older albums with newer ones, and the end result is....intriguing to say the least. So, here are 5 more Power Metal Albums you should own. Enjoy!

1) Sinergy - Beware The Heavens (Song)Obscurity is often the biggest fault with some bands. Power Metal or otherwise, if you’re obscure you’re going to possibly stay there unless you do something big. Despite having quite the musical pedigree in terms of it’s musicians, it seems that Sinergy unfortunately would remain firmly in obscure/cult status. It’s a shame, as Beware The Heavens had a hell of a lot of promise behind. Like I said last month, the prototype of Battle Beast was front & center, what with it’s mix of Power Metal & 80s nostalgia. Goss’s vocal work adds to this as well, and while softer than Noora Louhimo at times, she knows how & when to bring out the war queen when she wants to. Like any good fantasy adventure, it’s the things off the beaten path that can help your journey, and when it comes to obscure metal........sometimes the less popular can surprise you.

2) Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow (Song)

 

If it wasn’t for Ritchie Blackmore and Ronnie James Dio, I don’t think Power Metal wouldn’t have formed into what it is today. This album may not necessarily be a progenitor in terms of instrumentation & feels, but it’s the vocal work & storytelling that has the pre-Power Metal feel. Sure, Ronnie seems like he’s singing gibberish, but at the same time he’s crafting a fantastical vision of a fantasy world that seems intriguing. It’s a story that’s just enchanting, and as you listen to the album you won’t be able to get away from, and if you like old-school rock, you may find this to be something worth your time.

3) Beast In Black - From Hell With Love (Song)

It’s a crying shame that Battle Beast has fallen off the wagon in recent years. Their first three albums were the perfect mix of modern day Power Metal & 80s nostalgia (along with some geekery as well), and were well received. Bringer of Pain was a step backwards due to Anton Kabanen no longer being in the band, but there was still some potential to be had. Their most recent album however....was a bit of a betrayal thanks to the heavily commercial nature, and just the overall watering down of what made Battle Beast so good in the first place. Luckily, there was another beast that Anton unleashed, and they were Beast In Black! Perhaps even more Power Metal & nostalgia inducing than his original group, they immediately made an impact with their first album, Berserker. However, it was their second album that I think really gave them a reputation. From Hell With Love is everything that Battle Beast should still be: cheesy, powerful, emotional, badass, etc. Not only that, but it shows off the fact that Anton Kabanen really was the brain behind Battle Beast, and it shows on this album. If for whatever reason BiB’s first album wasn’t your thing, then this one definitely is!

4) U.D.O. - Mean Machine (Song)

A bit of an oddball choice, but here me out.

If you ever watched the Metal Evolution episode on Power Metal, you might recall Sam Dunn (The host & maker of the show) make mention of the legendary band Accept as one of the groups that helped create the blueprint for the style to form. While I can certainly see why some might call these German knights as predecessors, but I’m surprised to see that not many people say that U.D.O. were predecessors also. If anything, I think they have more of a Power Metal feel than Accept ever did. The band’s second record has all the trademarks of Power Metal: cheesy but emotional ballads, simple but awesome headbangers, instrumentation that’s equal parts heavy and uplifting, vocal work that’s easy to listen to, and a warm & fuzzy feel all around. Turning 30 years old last year, it’s obvious to see why it still has so many fans to this day. Definitely a classic you shouldn’t skip.

5) Everfrost - Blue Eyed Emotion (Song) & Everfrost - Winterider (Song)

Hey, it’s me talking about Everfrost again! No, I’m not getting tired of this band!

I confess that I was originally thinking of just putting Winterider here, but then I realized that I can’t. Both albums are damn good, and they’re huge surprises as well. Using anime and manga as a basis for a Power Metal band seems like a daunting task at first, but it’s shocking at just how well the three mediums mix together so easily. You can easily put songs from either album onto a show’s soundtrack, and it would somehow fit perfectly. Even taking their sources of inspiration out of the picture, it’s obvious that the band knows what the hell they’re doing. The guitars are fantastic. The drumwork is fantastic. The keyboarding is fantastic, and Mikael Salo is a big upgrade when compared to their original singer (Even though Hew Wagner has a hell of a set of vocal pipes). As I said last year, Everfrost was quite the surprise when I sat down & listened to them, and it’s that feeling I had that’ll keep me coming back for more.

And these were 5 more Power Metal albums you should own. Again, it’s an unintentionally weird list, but perhaps it’s that accidental weirdness that might convince you to seek one of these albums out. Well, we got the last 3rd of 2020 to get through, and September is just a few days away. See you then!


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If you’re curious about what was on my last list, then click on the link below:

5 Power Metal Albums You Should Own

Album Review: Alestorm's Curse Of The Crystal Coconut

Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum fellow Otaku & Metalheads!

Well, we’ve may for an odd island. There’s palm trees all over, but the coconuts....they’re not normal. They’re.....crystal coconuts? What has befallen this place!? It’s almost as if.....a curse was placed upon this floating piece of land.

That’s right, we’re reviewing the latest entry in the saga of Alestorm’s journey through the Caribbean. Their last record, No Grave But The Sea, was a hit, but the band may have outdone themselves with this one. Released just a few months ago, it came out during a time where the plague that has seemingly engulfed the world, and provided it’s own odd ray of sunshine. It’s goofy, silly, weird, and just a hint of trollish fun. So, let’s depart this wicked place, and take a look at my review for Curse of the Crystal Coconut while we sail for the main land. Let’s begin!

Background
As the years went on for Alestorm, their musical craftsmanship improved from album to album. From Captain Morgan’s Revenge to No Grave But The Sea, there was a clear advancement and evolution of the band’s musical talent & taste. However, this crew of musical scallywags didn’t rest on their treasure chests and rum barrels, and so they decided to set out on another musical voyage. On the 8th of January, 2020, our boys from Scotland would reveal the name of their new adventure, and on the 29th of May within the same year, Curse Of The Crystal Coconut would be released to us cutthroats and drunkards in such a plagued time. The album was received very well across the board: while there were some that gave it a more neutral rating, the consciences seems to be that the album is a worthy addition to Alestorm’s musical treasure horde.

Basic Description
Lighthearted humor & fun trolling.

Like I said in the first review this month, Alestorm seemed to have a more serious stance at the start of their career, but as time passed the band opted to take a more humorous route with their music. No Grave But The Sea seemed to be the funny counterpart to Captain Morgan’s Revenge, but Curse of The Crystal Coconut has usurped that release. This is a genuinely funny album from beginning to end, and considering how awful 2020 has been, it almost seems needed. On top of that, the band goes down the troll path with this record, and while it might be a little too forward at times (More on that below), for the most part it’s the kind of trolling that’s not malicious, and has just as much fun with the listener as it does annoy the haters.

Best Track
Bit of a tie between the initial two singles off of the album, Treasure Chest Party Quest & Tortuga. The former is a delightful piece of Pirate Metal, but with lyrics that almost come across like a mix between pirate & rap elements, and even the instrumentation seems to reflect this to a certain degree. Tortuga, on the other hand, couldn’t even hide it’s influences if it wanted to! With a guest appearance by Captain Yarrface (Once again...that’s his name) from Rumahoy, the lyrics come across like typical Alestorm, but with an exceptionally rap-focused approach. Much like the previously mentioned tune, the instrumentation reflects this also, but there’s a more metal feel to them. The band chose wisely what the first two tracks for the public were, and dammit if they’re a lot of fun!

Treasure Chest Party Quest

Tortuga

Worst Track
As I said above, Curse of the Crystal Coconut has a lot of lighthearted trolling, and it’s pretty fun for the most part. That being said, there are points where maybe Alestorm is trying a touch too hard in the trolling department. Shit Boat (No Fans) for example tries maybe a little too hard to push buttons, and this mild tryhard vibe weighs the album down just a touch. Apart from that, nothing on here sucks in any way!

Shit Boat (No Fans)

Other
If you’re curious about listening to this album, then click on the link below:

Curse of the Crystal Coconut

Overall Impression & Rating
Curse of the Crystal Coconut was an album we needed this year. With things going to hell in a handbasket, the world needed a couple of silly Scottish pirates and their equally silly exploits. It may come across as a little too troll-ish in a spot or two, but at the same time Alestorm knew that people needed something to laugh at, and they delivered said laughter. If you’re feeling down, why not try to pry a crystal coconut open? You’ll never know what you’ll find!

Curse of the Crystal Coconut gets a 9 out of 10.

And that was Curse of the Crystal Coconut! A considerably more silly affair than their first release, Alestorm genuinely show off their musical talent as well as their skill at humor. If they eased up on the trolling a sliver, then it might be a genuinely perfect release. Well, just like last time, we got one final post before the good times end. So join me at the end of the month, when I’ll talk about 5 more Power Metal albums that need to be in your collection. See you then!

Album Review: Alestorm's Captain Morgan's Revenge

Ahoy fellow Otaku & Metalheads! This month, we’re talking about Pirate Metal!

Sometimes, it’s not all about castles & princesses. Sometimes it’s all about rum, treasure, and the high seas! If I’m being honest, Pirate Metal isn’t fully birthed from Power Metal’s womb. It’s also taken inspiration from Speed Metal, Thrash Metal, and even Folk Metal. This combination of metal styles creates a singular flavor that’s pretty unique, and it’s easily recognizable to any fan of the subgenre. Though Running Wild is credited with being the progenitors of Pirate Metal, I wanted to take a look at a band that takes things in a more comical/lighthearted direction, and a group of scallywags from Perth easily fit this bill. So, get your sword & cutlass, down the strongest bottle of rum you can find, and enjoy my review of Alestorm’s first album, Captain Morgan’s Revenge. Let’s begin!

Background
Taken from Wikipedia:

“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.”

Basic Description
Piratey goodness.

At first, people who are new to Alestorm might laugh at what they hear. Pirates? Really!? I would totally understand, and if I’m honest I sorta had the same reaction. However, as with my first time listening to Everfrost, Captain Morgan’s Revenge is shockingly deceptive. Sure, the usage of Pirates & nautical imagery may seem silly, but it does lead to some epic stories and music. There’s folk-like storytelling, Speed & Thrash-style instrumentation, and then there’s the upbeat nature that only Power Metal can provide. It all combines into a package that seems odd at first, but when you give it a chance it’s actually something worthwhile.

Best Track
It’s actually kinda hard to pick just one song as the best when the whole thing is fantastic. From beginning to end you’re treated to quite the epic piratey adventure, and even two of the songs are shorter than the rest, it’s still a beefy package. If I had to pick my favorite song, I’d probably go for the title track. The longest at nearly 7 minutes (6 minutes & 43 seconds to be exact), the tune shows off how upbeat and brutal the album is going to be. The whole thing plays out like a genuine sea shanty, but with plenty of metallic backing behind it’s running time, and you just can’t help but headbang with a bottle of rum by your side. Definitely a great way to show off what Alestorm was all about.

Captain Morgan’s Revenge

Worst Track
While every song on Captain Morgan’s Revenge is worth your time, I find that this record takes itself seriously. Maybe not massively or all the time, but there’s places where the band isn’t quite as comical. This is a bit of a surprise, considering how silly the band would be in recent years. I can’t knock them too much, as it’s their first album, and they’re getting their footing. Still, it’s weird that Alestorm take a more serious approach for their first release.....doesn’t ruin the music in any way though.

Other
If you’re curious about listening to this album, then click on the link below:

Captain Morgan’s Revenge

Overall Impression & Rating
Captain Morgan’s Revenge is a fun twist on the Power Metal formula. It may be a touch more serious at times, but it’s still a hell of a lot of fun. If you want to journey through the Caribbean, and blast away at some redcoats, then you’ll want to put this on your ship’s stereo system (How your ship has one.....I don’t know). Your enemies will be walking the plank by the time this album is done!

Captain Morgan’s Revenge gets a 8 out of 10

And so begins the final month of the return of Power Metal Pandemonium, and we’re coming in with cannons blasting! Now that we’re on Alestorm’s ship, we’re off on quite the adventure! See you all towards the middle of the month, when we’ll land on an island that’s filled with.....coconuts? See you then!