ALBUM REVIEW: Pirates II – Armada – Visions Of Atlantis
Pirates are metal, that goes without saying. The likes of Edward ‘Blackbeard’ Teach, Anne Bonny and Jack Rackham terrorising the seas of the 18th century have spawned legends, fantasy films, innuendo-filled cartoon series and, as is well known, a group of bands under the power metal banner dedicated to regaling listeners with tales of the ocean, battles with mythical beasts and down time in the tavern with copious amounts of grog. Austrian/Dutch band VISIONS OF ATLANTIS are also committed to telling swashbuckling stories of yore, but unlike certain acts that have popularised ‘pirate metal’, they take their voyages much more seriously, with a darker, more symphonic tone. It’s working, too – 2022’s Pirates ended up being one of their highest charting releases to date, so in classic AC/DC fashion, the quintet haven’t fixed what isn’t broken and brought out a sequel: Pirates II – Armada, out now via Napalm Records.
To set the tone on such a nautical venture, Those Who Choose To Fight is a perfect introduction. Solemn flutes and the distant sounds of wind are a fitting welcome, while main vocalist Clementine Delauny exudes a mystical quality to her voice, as if she’s slightly far away and narrating the opening to a musical, albeit one that’s about to get very bombastic in no time at all. The Land Of The Free‘s arrival is heralded by strings and electric guitars as VISIONS OF ATLANTIS lay down a statement to their genre peers that they continue to mean business and will stake a huge claim to NIGHTWISH‘s crown as and when the time comes.
This is also the first song with one of the record’s most endearing highlights: a guitar solo that isn’t self-indulgent and, importantly, elevates the song to another level of impact. Huge kudos must be given to axeman Christian Douscha for a career-defining performance that sees him turn out other brilliant compositions on the bouncy Monsters and catchy Magic Of The Night. However, it’s the segment in the stompy and hidden jewel of Collide that takes home the gold medal, a cracking late record track that also features some expert choral melodies between Delauny and fellow male vocalist Michele Guaitoli.
All that said, Pirates II – Armada could have done with being certainly one, maybe two tracks shorter. It’s not a record that massively outstays its welcome by any means, but by the time closer Where The Sky And Ocean Blend comes to an end, you’d be forgiven for being a tad worn out by what’s come before. Certainly, the mid-point of The Dead Of The Sea grows slightly ploddy as it reaches its seven-minute climax and whilst Underwater isn’t helped out by having to follow not just Magic Of The Night and Collide, but also the punchy Hellfire, it’s definitely more forgettable than what’s come before. There’s the occasional misstep in the tracks with more presence too, like the gang vocal cries about the Jolly Roger in the title track; sure, they don’t do enough to derail the track as a whole, but they’re dripping in so much cheese that there’s more than a little concern they’ll take the song too far down a direction that isn’t in line with VISIONS OF ATLANTIS‘ ethos; thank goodness, therefore, for another excellent Douscha solo to bring the number back round.
If you fancy a trip on the waters of old and to be enchanted by those who ruled them, Pirates II – Armada is easily the strongest release about that topic since VISIONS OF ATLANTIS’ previous album on the same matter. It’s highly enjoyable despite the little faults here and there and a big flag in the ground of symphonic metal for 2024. Their competition will want to tread the boards carefully, else they’ll be plundered with ease.
Rating: 8/10
Pirates II – Armada is out now via Napalm Records.
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