It isn’t often that I get to talk about Alestorm at length, and in all fairness I really should make more time for them. See, the thing is, Alestorm is pirate metal that focuses heavily on drinking. Which really is something I can get on board with (pun intended? sure). Fortunately, after a weekend at the New Hampshire Highland Games, I had just the inspiration needed to cover their true classic in “Rum.”

Ok, let me backtrack. I just mentioned I went to this thing called the New Hampshire Highland Games this past weekend. That would be correct. This past Sunday (after Reach the Beach), I enjoyed the excitement of large men lifting large rocks for the sake of competition (duh), large quantities of beer (duh), and just an overall celebration of the Scottish heritage. Something I have next to nothing to do with… aside from the aforementioned drinking, of course. Anyway, since we were on the topic of Scotland and beer, Alestorm immediately crawled into my brain as a topic of conversation. Even better? One of their more popular live tracks, “Rum”, debuted on this date in 2010 in Karlstad, Sweden. So we’ve gotta a Scottish metal band releasing a track called “Rum” exactly five years ago today… four days after I attended the Highland Games. Freaking perfect. Let’s all join in wishing “Rum” a fifth birthday.

“Rum” was featured on Back Through Time, which dropped the following June. The third studio album in the alcoholic’s discography was an important one, as it was met with positive reviews and allowed them to further establish their pirate metal association. Something we all appreciate. “Rum” itself brings no surprises. It’s a song about pirates on a quest for rum, which is apparently the best alcohol of them all. Full disclosure, this is something I completely disagree with thanks to a couple horrendous nights back in high school, but I still respect their stance. So I encourage you all to get swashbuckled drunk, enjoy the chosen passage below, and check out the live clip of “Rum” being performed at Wacken Open Air 2013.

Questing the oceans and questing the seas
Searching for ultimate booze
On our mission to get totally drunk
We have got nothing to lose

Rum is the power
Rum is the key
Rum is the thing that will set us free!

“Ein Bier… bitte.”
– Corey