Vicky
You’ve probably heard about Alestorm before. As a long-time fan of these pirate Metal titans, I had to listen the moment I heard they were about to release a new album. Your average Alestorm listener knows the band has evolved from a Running Wild-esque Heavy/Power Metal act with lyrics about pirates, alcohol, and battles to a more Power Metal-oriented sound—while keeping the same lyrical themes. Over time, the band has embraced humor too (who can forget the deluxe edition of 2017’s No Grave But the Sea, which included “dog versions” of all the songs?). That’s why one wouldn’t be too wrong in saying Alestorm is to Running Wild what NanowaR of Steel is to Rhapsody of Fire: initially a parody that eventually gained worldwide recognition and became a cult favorite.
Now that we’ve clarified the group’s overall approach to Metal, it’s time to dig into The Thunderfist Chronicles. Don’t worry—Alestorm hasn’t gotten serious. Just take a look at the lyrics from “Killed to Death by Piracy”: “Some men are killed by robots / Some men are killed by cars / Some men will die asleep in bed / But that’s not very yarr.” While The Thunderfist Chronicles is a logical continuation of their previous album, The Curse of the Crystal Coconut, there are some significant differences: more swearing, catchier songwriting (yes, really), and for once, no tracks under two minutes. There’s even a 17-minute epic titled “Mega-Supreme Treasure of the Eternal Thunderfist.” Also worth noting: the band’s growler, Elliot Vernon, now contributes clean vocals—check the chorus of “Banana” for proof.
Clocking in at around 45 minutes, the album could almost be seen as a tribute to Alestorm’s entire career, borrowing elements from every album they’ve released up to 2025. It even includes a cover, in the way we’ve come to expect from them. This time, the lucky band is American Melodic Death/Folk Metal act Nekrogoblikon, with a rendition of their track “Goblins Ahoy!” If you haven’t heard of Nekrogoblikon before, you may still know their vocalist Richard “Dickie” Allen from his primary band, Infant Annihilator.
To sum up The Thunderfist Chronicles, it’s an oasis of Alestorm goodness and unfiltered pirate Metal. The album is absolutely worth checking out—especially during the warm season. Some tracks here have genuine potential to become summer anthems.
Label: Napalm Records
Release date: June 20, 2025
Website (this time, a legit website): https://www.alestorm.net/
Country: The UK (Scotland, England, you name it!)
Score: 3.8/5.0
Metal Eclipse Reviews 