Ελληνικά
Genre: Heavy Metal
Label: Napalm Records
Country: U.K.
Year: 2025
If you’ve forgotten what fun and metal truly mean, Alestorm’s pirate ship has arrived this year to remind you. The new album by the British crew, The Thunderfist Chronicles, bursts with positive energy and addictive choruses, ready to fill our cargo holds with good vibes and humor!
Anyone who has listened to these infamous pirates before knows exactly what to expect. For everyone else, what we have here is hyper-energetic heavy/power metal sprinkled with Bal-Sagoth glitter, and perhaps a few notes reminiscent of a folk version of Running Wild. Overall, it’s a delightful, loudmouthed mishmash flirting with parody, though the ball lands firmly on the side of lighthearted entertainment! No matter which category you fall into, dear reader, the band’s 8th album hits the mark squarely with eight tracks crafted for infinite fun.
Completely at ease within their familiar style—one they’ve now perfected—Alestorm take very few risks and deliver their best selves from the very first second. Hyperion Omniriff serves as the ideal introduction to this new pirate tale, which even seems to have a certain degree of narrative cohesion. All the usual elements are here: the sticky melody that drives the track, Christopher Bowes’ comedic vocals, the “plastic” production that makes everything sound smooth and predictable, and of course the infectious chorus. Alestorm truly have a remarkable ability to craft catchy songs that stick instantly in your mind and bring a wide smile to your face!
Anyone who listens to Killed to Death by Piracy and doesn’t end up laughing while singing it in front of the mirror either has no soul or simply never saw metal as lighthearted entertainment. The clichés fly left and right with full conviction on Banana and… Frozen Piss 2, which effortlessly continue the barrage of live-ready compositions. You can easily imagine the crowd having the time of their lives with The Storm and its almost epic, repetitive chorus. You can feel the goblins running frantically through the caves and chasing you in Goblins Ahoy!, and suddenly everything feels like an Irish pub during Mountains of the Deep… and you find yourself looking for your beer as your foot taps uncontrollably to the rhythm.
Naturally, the highlight is the 17-minute Mega-Supreme Treasure of the Eternal Thunderfist, which even features the renowned Russell Allen—that “nightingale” of Symphony X! Surprisingly, Alestorm manage to keep our interest high throughout the entire massive track, a far-from-insignificant achievement for any band. If you’re going to give The Thunderfist Chronicles a chance, start with this playful epic; it’s one of their genuinely strong moments.
Will you forget everything about this album a few days after listening? Yes! Will these songs move you deeply? Certainly not! But will you have a great time while listening to The Thunderfist Chronicles? I guarantee you will: you’ll laugh, you’ll make faces, you’ll drift away from your worries—and who knows, you may someday return to this truly, authentically cheerful album. Fully aware and knowing exactly what awaits us on the journey ahead, let Alestorm sweep you away!
