Alestorm

Alestorm are a Scottish metal band from Perth, best known for pioneering the «pirate metal» sound — a mix of folk and power metal built around seafaring, drinking and pirate-themed lyrics, delivered with a large dose of humor. The band was founded in 2004 under the name Battleheart by vocalist and keyboardist Christopher Bowes and guitarist Gavin Harper. After releasing two EPs, they were signed to Napalm Records in 2007 and renamed themselves Alestorm shortly after.

The band's music combines heavy guitar riffs and blast-beat drumming with keyboard melodies, accordion-like synth lines and sea-shanty-inspired hooks, resulting in songs such as «Keelhauled», «Captain Morgan's Revenge» and «You Are a Pirate» that became fan favorites for their combination of aggression and comedic, over-the-top pirate imagery. Later releases, including tracks like «Drink» and «Mexico», leaned further into a party-metal, almost novelty-adjacent sensibility while retaining their folk metal foundations.

Over two decades, Alestorm has built a dedicated international following through relentless touring and a distinctive brand built around pirate mythology, cementing themselves as one of the most recognizable and self-aware acts in the folk/power metal scene.