Band:	Alestorm
Album:	Sunset On The Golden Age
Style:	Folk metal, Power metal
Release date:	August 01, 2014
Guest review by:	swatata

Disc I
01. Walk The Plank
02. Drink
03. Magnetic North
04. 1741 (The Battle Of Cartagena)
05. Mead From Hell
06. Surf Squid Warfare
07. Quest For Ships
08. Wooden Leg!
09. Hangover [Taio Cruz cover]
10. Sunset On The Golden Age

Disc II [Rumplugged] [mediabook bonus]
01. Over The Seas [acoustic version]
02. Nancy The Tavern Wench [acoustic version]
03. Keelhauled [acoustic version]
04. The Sunk'n Norwegian [acoustic version]
05. Shipwrecked [acoustic version]
06. Questing Upon The Poop Deck [bonus]

Alestorm - the band that sings about booze a bit more than Korpiklaani, and probably drinks a bit more than them, too. Their last album stormed in during summer 2014 with a big anticipation from their fans. The work is the last one with their now ex-guitarist Dani Evans, who had been a part of the band since their first album.

Sunset On The Golden Age's strongest point is the musicality of every song. All the guitar riffs and solos, drums, keyboards and bass tracks sound very well composed and give this sense of satisfaction to the listener when they give it a shot. The added orchestrations and final production of the album are quality, and won't make you cringe after buying. Maybe, just maybe, Christopher Bowes could have worked a bit better on his vocals on some songs, but then again, he has that very specific voice and accent that makes their songs say, "This is Alestorm." The songs display the most complexity that Alestorm have ever shown throughout their career. This fourth album by the band marks their peak in a way, because they are including everything they can do on the record. The album's title song is a long epos taking us on a journey very different from any other Alestorm song that you might have heard. And speaking of different, they even made a Taio Cruz cover, which sounds amazing.

Overall, this album has an amazing vibe to it. Even the personal thanks from each band member are hilarious to read on the album. Top songs for me include "Drink," "Magnetic North," "Battle Of Cartagena," and the very weird and fun "Wooden Leg" (which was the nail in the coffin when it came to me buying the album on its premiere date). Personally, I think that this is the best Alestorm work so far and I will be happy to see what they deliver with a new guitarist and new ideas. Of course, I doubt those will not include any booze, ships, pirates and possibly some mythical creature as always, but if not Alestorm ?who else.