Pirate Queen – ‘Travelling Around The World’

(Despotz Records)

There are some bands where you can pretty much tell what you're getting before you've even pressed play. Pirate Queen are certainly one of those bands, but thankfully that's not necessarily a bad thing. If the words Pirate Metal, Power Metal, nautical adventure and fantastical storytelling get your attention, then Travelling Around The World is an album that should certainly be on your radar.

Pirate Queen have embraced the whole pirate concept with both hands and have clearly decided that subtlety is something best left on dry land. This is music designed to transport you away from everyday life and onto the high seas, where the wind is blowing through your hair, the sails are billowing and somewhere over the horizon there is almost certainly buried treasure waiting to be discovered.

Musically, the band combine melodic Power Metal with a generous helping of nautical flavour. There are plenty of grandiose moments, soaring melodies, pounding drums and epic guitar work, while the arrangements frequently lean into the theatrical and cinematic side of the genre. It's a combination that gives the album a strong sense of identity. You don't simply listen to Pirate Queen, you enter their particular fantasy world.

And that's one of the album's biggest strengths. There is a real sense of fun here.

Heavy Metal doesn't always have to take itself incredibly seriously, and Pirate Queen understand that perfectly. Travelling Around The World is unapologetically theatrical and adventurous. It has that larger-than-life quality that makes Power Metal such an enjoyable genre in the first place, while the pirate theme gives everything an extra layer of personality.

The nautical touches are particularly important. Rather than simply being a collection of Power Metal songs with a pirate logo slapped on the front, the band have made the maritime theme part of the overall musical experience. You can almost imagine the creaking of wooden decks, crashing waves and distant calls from the crow's nest as the music carries you across the ocean.

Vocally, there is plenty to enjoy too. Her Majesty Elizabeth Noir Nuit brings a distinctive presence to the album, combining a melodic approach with enough strength and attitude to fit the band's adventurous material. Her voice suits the theatrical nature of the music extremely well, and there is a certain dramatic quality to the performances that helps reinforce the fantasy atmosphere.

The production is suitably polished, allowing the guitars, drums and vocals to come through with plenty of clarity. The album doesn't sound raw or particularly old-fashioned, instead presenting Pirate Queen's vision with a modern Metal sheen. That said, the band haven't sacrificed the traditional ingredients that make this style of music so appealing. The emphasis remains firmly on melody, riffs, big arrangements and memorable vocal passages.

If there is one thing that stands out about Travelling Around The World, it's just how committed Pirate Queen are to their chosen identity. Everything revolves around adventure, fantasy, freedom and the open ocean. Even the band's fictional mythology feeds into this sense of escapism, with Pirate Queen presenting themselves as descendants of legendary pirate families from the mythical island of Lyxion in the Bermuda Triangle.

It might all sound wonderfully bonkers, but that's exactly the point.

This is fantasy Metal designed to make you smile.

Fans of the more theatrical side of Power and Symphonic Metal should find plenty to enjoy here, particularly those who appreciate bands that build an entire universe around their music. There are obvious comparisons to the wider European Power Metal scene, while the pirate elements naturally put Pirate Queen into the same broad conversation as the likes of Running Wild and Alestorm, albeit with their own distinctly feminine identity and fantasy-driven presentation.

The album does occasionally feel more interested in maintaining its established formula than pushing the boundaries of the genre. There aren't huge amounts of experimentation here, but frankly, that's not why most people are going to press play. You're here for the adventure, the melodies, the pirate atmosphere and the Power Metal bombast, and Pirate Queen deliver all four.

At just over half an hour, the album also avoids overstaying its welcome. Eight songs give it a nice, concise feel, making this the sort of release you can throw on and enjoy from beginning to end without finding yourself reaching for the skip button simply because the running time has become excessive.

Ultimately, Travelling Around The World is exactly the sort of album that knows what it wants to be. It doesn't pretend to reinvent Power Metal. Instead, Pirate Queen take the familiar ingredients, throw a huge bucket of nautical adventure over them and sail merrily into the sunset.

And do you know what?

Sometimes that's more than enough.

There is something wonderfully refreshing about a band that simply embraces its concept and has fun with it. Pirate Queen have created an album packed with fantasy, melody and maritime atmosphere, and while it might not be the most revolutionary Power Metal record you'll hear this year, it certainly has personality.

So hoist the Jolly Roger, grab yourself a tankard of something suitably refreshing and prepare to set sail.

Avast, me hearties – Pirate Queen have arrived, and they're bringing Heavy Metal with them.

‘Arrival Of The Queen’, what better way to begin a Pirate Metal adventure than with the arrival of the Queen herself? This atmospheric introduction immediately establishes the theatrical, fantasy-driven world that Pirate Queen inhabit. It feels like the curtain rising before the main performance begins, setting the scene for the voyage ahead. There is a suitably grand sense of occasion here, creating anticipation before the band properly unleash their Power Metal attack. Short, dramatic and effective, it does exactly what an introduction should do.

‘Sailing Around The World’, now we're properly underway and the sails are raised! This is Pirate Queen at their most instantly accessible, combining driving Power Metal with plenty of nautical atmosphere. Melodic guitar work, pounding drums and a big, memorable chorus give this a genuine sense of adventure. There's an irresistible feeling of movement throughout, as though we're actually travelling across the world's oceans alongside the crew. A wonderfully upbeat slice of Pirate Metal that gets the album's main voyage off to a flying start.

‘William Kidd’, time for some genuine pirate history, albeit presented through the band's flamboyant fantasy-metal lens. This is one of the more energetic moments on the album, with the pace picking up and the guitars really driving the song forward. There is a cinematic quality to the arrangement that makes the story feel larger than life, while the vocal performance adds plenty of character. A strong combination of storytelling and traditional Power Metal bombast.

‘Ciudad De Tacoronte’, things take a slightly different flavour here, with Spanish influences adding another interesting colour to the album. The Mediterranean/Canarian atmosphere works beautifully alongside the band's established nautical identity, giving the song a warmer and more exotic feel. There's still plenty of Metal muscle underneath it all, but the change of scenery is welcome. Pirate Queen prove that their musical voyage isn't restricted to one particular sound or location.

‘Her Majesty Captain Destiny Grieflord’, there's certainly no shortage of personality here! This is another highly theatrical number, built around the larger-than-life character mythology that is such an important part of Pirate Queen's identity. The Power Metal foundations remain firmly in place, but the dramatic presentation gives it an almost stage-show quality. It feels like one of those songs designed specifically to get a live audience involved, with plenty of opportunity for crowd participation and pirate-themed fun.

‘Lyxion’, welcome to the mythical home of Pirate Queen. This one feels particularly important within the band's fantasy universe, taking us away from historical pirate tales and deeper into their own mythology. Musically it combines melodic Metal with atmospheric touches, creating a sense of mystery and discovery. There's a feeling that we're entering forbidden waters here, with the band successfully turning their fictional homeland into another character within the album's overall story.

‘Shanty’, well, you can't make a Pirate Metal album without a proper shanty, can you? This is where the album relaxes its grip on the Power Metal throttle and allows the maritime atmosphere to take centre stage. It's wonderfully theatrical and feels designed for a group of pirates gathered around the deck after a long day at sea. There's a simple, communal quality that makes it particularly enjoyable, providing a nice change of pace before the final voyage.

‘On The Sea’, and so our journey reaches its conclusion. This one brings the album to a suitably atmospheric close, retaining the melodic and theatrical qualities that have characterised the voyage while delivering a more reflective feeling. After all the adventure, battles and exploration, we're finally left drifting across the open water. It's an appropriate ending to an album built around escapism, fantasy and the romance of the ocean.

Pirate Queen have certainly flown the Jolly Roger high with Travelling Around The World, delivering a hugely entertaining mix of Pirate Metal, Power Metal and nautical adventure. This is unapologetically theatrical stuff, packed with melody, bombast, fantasy and plenty of swashbuckling character. It won't win any prizes for reinventing the genre, but that's completely beside the point. Pirate Queen are here to entertain, and they succeed admirably. The combination of soaring vocals, driving guitars and maritime atmosphere makes this an easy album to get swept up in. If you're a fan of Pirate Metal, Power Metal or simply enjoy your Heavy Metal served with a healthy dose of escapism, then climb aboard, hoist the sails and prepare for a thoroughly enjoyable voyage. A fun-filled Metal adventure from start to finish!

8/10

Essential Track – ‘Sailing Around The World’

Review by Woody