Sunset on the Golden Age

Perhaps I could start by state that I certainly didn't expect to be this happy with an Alestorm album this year. Additionally, if you don't like Alestorm's particular schtick, stop right now. Go buy something else; I'm sure there's some extremely self-important, totally serious album you can buy instead.So, to the confused and uninitiated, Alestorm have, in the past, been hailed as the "True Kings of Scottish Pirate Metal!" What that means, in layman's terms, is that they're pretty unabashedly silly. It's sort of a corny inside joke, that works pretty well when it's played deadpan, or with a little wink and a nod. It doesn't work particularly well when it guffaws at you while repeating itself. Fortunately, this album doesn't do that nearly as much as their previous effort, Back Through Time. On the other hand, it doesn't play quite as deadpan as Captain Morgan's Revenge or Black Sails at Midnight did.With that aside, here's a brief track-by-track.We start with Walk the Plank, which opens with a brassy fanfare, and follows through with a somewhat hardcorey riff. It's an okay song, and wouldn't be much more, if that chorus didn't latch onto you so intently. At any rate, it starts off the album in a sort of middle ground, not leaving you expecting to be blown away, or disappointed too badly.Next is Drink, which is exactly the sort of track I had in mind when I mentioned the joke working less well when the teller lears and pokes at you while waiting for laughter. Despite that, it works pretty well. It's got a simple structure that could sound tired, but they mold it more into what I imagine becoming a good mosh pit anthem. The verses are stripped down to mostly lead vox and drums, while chorus and bridge bring in the whole band, gang vocals, and strings. I think there might be an according in there somewhere, as well.Then comes Magnetic North. It's a very signature Alestorm song, chronicling a doomed quest of ship's crew. It's simultaneously a little slower and heavier than the previous two tracks. It's a pretty pronounced use of a hard/soft dichotomy in the song. More gang vocals, which are always fun, if you like gang vocals. The main melody feels very nautical to me, as well, which is a plus for their subject matter.Now for my personal favorite, 1741 (The Battle of Cartagena). It's (kind of) about a historical battle. (Search wiki for Battle of Cartagena de Indias for more on that) The song starts out with a little chiptune, then moves on to a disturbingly infectious melody line based around it. What more to say about this one? I think it might actually be regular song, and not part of some ongoing joke. It's also the second longest track on the album, at 7:17, but I haven't yet found myself wanting to cut it short. I think you could call it "epic," and not be too far wrong.After that, it almost seems a shame to follow up with Mead from Hell. On the plus side, the music here reminds me quite a bit of Finntroll. On the minus side, though, it's another one of their sillier numbers, and I have a hard time adjusting my mood after 1741. There's not anything particularly with this song; it's just seems a bit odd in context. Then again, Alestorm's themes could be summarized as Pirates, Booze, Quests, and Quests for Booze, and Evil Squids, and this song hits 4 of them, so it can stay.Surf Squid Warfare follows. It's a little bit different, in that it has a bit of a surf flare. Brings to mind a sort of piratey Agent Orange. Did I mention Evil Squids as a driving theme above? Well, you can't have an Alestorm album without fighting some sort of tentacled monstrosity. The style makes for a nice change of pace.Now we come to Quest for Ships. This song is okay, but it feels a bit longer than the 4:33 it runs. The verses and instrumental bits are pretty decent, but the chorus really loses me here.The album almost loses me with Wooden Leg. I really, really don't like this song. It starts off with a nice chunky baseline, then starts moving pretty frantically and chaotically. I think it would probably be a fun one to see them play live, but on the album I don't get much out of it. Thankfully, it doesn't hang around too long to spoil my fun.Another common thread for Alestorm, which I forgot to mention above and now don't care to edit in anywhere, is cover songs. They seem to delight in picking totally awful, absurd songs to cover, and making them quite enjoyable. This album's obligatory cover is Hangover, by Taio Cruz. It's quite a genre hop, but the subject matter is Alestorm as Alestorm is Alestorm. It's a fun song about a non-fun event, which presumably follows all the boozy questing for quest booze. Also, we get to hear someone (it doesn't really sound like lead man Christoper Bowes) rap, which is simultaneously funny and endearing.And now, dear readers, we find ourselves at the zenith of the album, the long as hell title track, Sunset on the Golden Age. The track is pretty solid. It makes fairly heavy use of looping keyboard part, reminding one pleasantly of their first full length, Captain Morgan's Revenge. The lyrical content seems remarkably introspective, to the point where I wonder if I accidentally switched the album, or I'm missing the joke the here. At any rate, they seem to be singing about facing the inevitability of death, or the end of an era, or something. As you listen to the lyrics throughout, that repeating melody seems to take on a more ominous tone. Maybe mournful might be a better word. Either way, the track actually shows a little bit of what seems like emotional range, and it's welcome, though unexpected. It makes for an excellent, if somewhat final feeling, album closer.Overall, if amazon would let me give half stars, I would probably give this album 3.5. Since I can't, I'll round up to 4, because I'm feeling magnanimous. That was way longer than I intended it to be; thanks for hanging about if you read the entire thing!

some good music, the bonus CD gives a sea shanty vibe.

Alestorm are more than just a novelty act. Sure, their music is fun, but it's also pretty good music. A large part of their style is silly pirate lyrics about getting drunk and such, but they also deliver pretty good metal riffage, epic pirate-movie-soundtrack and metal elements, and colorful Celtic-folk/sea-shanty influences, making their music pretty good MUSIC as well as being goofy fun. Admittedly, the "pirate vocals" aren't great singing in a purely musical sense, but overall it works (on disc one - see below). Like their previous album, this one contains a few more epic sections with a bit of death-metal growl amongst all the folky fun. I put this on my headphones at work, and found the high-energy music lifted me out of the tired boredom of my workday. There's a cover song here ("Hangover") that sounds more like a mainstream rock/pop-punk song, and isn't nearly as good as the rest of the album - it's not bad, but it really shows how good Alestorm actually (normally) are by comparison! If you're a jewel-case fan like myself, order the one-disc edition direct from Amazon and you'll get the 2-disc version as a free download (with Amazon's "autorip"). The second disc is actually pretty nonessential, in my opinion. Most of it is acoustic versions of songs from previous albums - and the vocals don't quite pull through in the more intimate acoustic setting, so I don't think I'll listen to them much. The one new song, "Questing Upon the Poop Deck", is a rather silly ode to anal sex (although the lyrics explicitly deny this!), which is kind of weak vocally/musically, though, so (like the acoustic songs) doesn't really rate frequent listens. Going by just the first disc, though, this is a great album for anyone who likes metal, pirates, and has a sense of humor.

Sunset on the Golden Age is a little bit of a mixed bag for me but of the good songs, THEY ARE FREAKING AWESOME. Classics! I do love Alestorm and have seen them several times in Concert. Well worth it to see the live. If you like songs about Pirates and you like Metal, then definitely purchase this. Out of the 10 original tracks I really like half of them. The others are throwaway to me. But still, Alestorm has crafted some great shanty/drinking songs. On the deluxe edition there are some acoustic covers of older titles. Those are nice to hear but overall, just like they say... a "bonus" track.Of the new songs Magnetic North, War of 1741 (I love this song!!!) and Drink are all classic Alestorm! I will be listening to these for years to come. Sunset on the Golden Age is a decent song but...just not as good as it could have been. Does not have the same epic feel as Death Throes of the Terrorsquid.The Hangover (which is a cover) is just an odd choice musically for them, but thematically it's right up their alley. I do like it though, Great song to tap your toes to. Wooden Leg is awesome, fast thrash song with their humor thrown in. Production values are great also, Alestorm is continuing to expand as a band and as musicians.Now if they would only cover "Nord Mead" the ultimate Skyrim Drinking song. Then all will be right with the world!

One of the best albums ..an ilucion that helps disipado todas mis sombras

If you're a fan of Alestorm's unique brand of pirate folk metal that they've established themselves to be the leaders and best at, then you'll surely enjoy this latest album of theirs. Do they break any walls they haven't already torn down? No. Is it their best effort? In my opinion, also no. I personally enjoyed Back Through Time more. But is it a solid, entertaining album? Absolutely. Simply put, if you're an Alestorm fan, you won't be disappointed.

Probably because these guys made it cool.I LOVE this band. I don't even drink and I'm not even a real pirate! In fact I would probably be keelhauled by the crew as a filthy, teetotal, non-pirate, educated and clean landlubber but don't let that put you off. They managed to scrape out the barrel once more to produce their 4th album and it still manages to rock hard. If you like serious bands and serious material with serious meanings, don't buy this. Or do. Whatever, But really... don't take these guys seriously - they'll pillage your village worse than a Viking ever could. That is not an innuendo. Or maybe it is. Who cares.Buy this album or walk the plank.Arr!

It seems Alestorm can't produce an album that's anything short of excellent - my favourite band since I bought Black Sails at Midnight. Sunset is as good as anything they've done in the past, and they continue to stretch their boundaries while still delivering the solid pirate metal that you expect. The tracks might benefit from some re-ordering, as I agree with another reviewer that tracks 5-8 are a little too similar in tempo to go well together. Small quibble aside, one of the best albums available with some knockout tracks.

I love Alestorm and this album is awesome, after buying their previous albums and seeing them at Sonisphere 2014 I had to buy this album and I wasn't dissapointed :) some really catchy songs such as Drink, Wooden Leg and of course Quest for Ships.

Absolutely fantastic! These guys always bring out brilliant albums but this one just goes leaps and bounds further. Drink and Magnetic North are incredible, very much looking forward to hearing them live on tour soon.

Scots Pirates Arrrrrr me hearties! This latest album would be something even Jack Sparrow would dance a jig to,so splice the Mainbrace and hoist all sails while these Sailors take ye on a voyage of Booze and adventure Arrrrrr!