EP REVIEW: To War – Red Rum

Pirate metallers RED RUM have been busy in the recording studio and have released their second EP To War. It comes five years on from their only full-length record to date, Booze and Glory, as the band continue their voyage in the heavy metal world.

The EP begins with Prologue, which sets the scene for what the record is about. A voice-over intro provides the listener with all the details of the upcoming songs and tales they will be about to hear, accompanied with the keys to whisk you away to the Caribbean. Towards the end captain Davey Silver’s strong vocals command you to prepare for war, leading straight into the titular track.

From the opening second you can hear the folk metal elements come into play, though the keys do give more of a fantasy feel than pirate theme to begin with. Once the guitars are introduced though the tone becomes much darker and heavier almost straight away. As a result the pirate theme returns and for those who know the band the RED RUM sound returns, with Silver showcasing his vocal talents as he switches from a powerful chorus to darker passages and metal growls, and it truly is a fantastic title track.

The next track Under Iron Skies takes the metal side of the band to another level, the riffs sending a shiver down your spine, and with all the band contributing on the vocal front it creates a real atmosphere of a naval battle. The song changes as the story progresses, the tempo increasing and slowing numerous times, and there are also parts of the song where the keys are more prominent than others, as it takes you on a journey in the heart of the battle.

There are five full length tracks on this EP, each one standing out from the other, but one that is a real highlight is Hangman’s Rest, which concludes the record. This one, like the previous two mentioned, starts off hard and fast from the opening second with all the elements coming together. There are certainly more traditional pirate themes in this track, and you certainly feel as if you are inside a tavern bustling with activity, and it certainly gets your head moving and is a great way to wrap up the EP.

It has been five years in the making, but RED RUM have certainly made their presence known that they are back; To War is a brilliant EP and could certainly be the key to the band’s future projects and success.

Rating 8/10

To War is out now via self release. 

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