OneMetal.com LIVE REVIEW:
Alestorm – Nottingham Rock City

If you accidentally strolled into the basement of Nottingham’s Rock City you could be forgiven for thinking you’d stumbled upon an amateur production of Pirates of the Caribbean. Swords and feathery hats aplenty, it was a dedicated fanbase that tonight’s headliners have amassed. Before the innovators of “True Scottish Pirate Metal” took to the stage, melodic metallers Eden’s Curse had the job of warming up the surly seadogs.

Despite only 50% of the crowd actually knowing who Eden’s Curse are they definitely put on a great show. The Bloodstock faithfuls however were out in force screaming back all the lyrics as the band ploughed through a half hour of hits. Fan favourites Raven’s Revenge and Angels & Demons provided the right mood for the evenings first mosh pits to open up. There’s nothing quite like seeing a sword fight in the middle of lots of angry teens pushing each other. A cover of We All Die Young from the film Rock Star was a welcome addition to the set, although it seemed only two people had actually seen the film or heard the song.

The mood suddenly switches from nice and cheesy metal to brutal death metal from London’s The Rotted. Vocalist Ben McCrow takes to the stage and immediately lets the crowd know what they’re in for by shouting the lyrics “20 Bensons and a bottle of White Lightning, I’m gonna get dead or I’m gonna die trying” as they lunge head first into an onslaught of extreme metal. The pits for Eden’s Curse pale in comparison to The Rotted’s influence, taking up half of the venue. The band smash and snarl their way through tracks such as Angel of Meth and Kissing You With My Fists, whilst The Body Tree provides perfect dancing music to the ‘death metal conga’ that erupted in the middle of the floor. The Rotted definitely warmed up the crowd, and look delighted in doing so.

The chants have already begun for the headline band to take the stage, and they do not disappoint. Since their debut release in 2008 Alestorm have gone from strength to strength promoting pirate metal wherever they go. Opening on The Quest everyone goes crazy. Bodies are being flung around and the crowdsurfers are littering the airspace. Their set is jam-packed with great singalong drinking songs like Wenches And Mead, Keelhauled and Nancy The Tavern Wench. Everyone is singing and drinking along with the band and those who aren’t singing are smiling and slowly being converted.

The pits are never ending and the whole venue is dancing along with vocalist Chris Bowes, complete with pirate hat and Kanye West glasses. Alestorm are born to party, they’re the Scottish Municipal Waste. As the hour-long set progresses the crowd get hotter and sweatier but never let up, as soon as the hugely crowd pleasing Captain Morgan’s Revenge comes crashing in the pits once again open and the pirates begin their one last dance as closer Wolves Of The Sea gets the whole place singing. Not one person leaving Rock City this evening isn’t smiling, certainly a job well done by Alestorm. Yarr!!

Bottom Line

I only really knew two Alestorm tracks before going to see this show and now I am a true convert. If you ever get a chance to see them live, you literally have to. It'll be the best drinkathon you've ever had.

Date : 10 December 2009

Location : Nottingham Rock City Basement