Back Through Time

Back Through Time is the third studio album by the Scottish 'Pirate Metal' outfit Alestorm, marking a pivotal moment where the band fully embraced their role as metal's premier satirists and entertainers. Released in 2011, it introduced drummer Peter Alcorn, whose technical speed helped push the band toward a more aggressive, power-metal-leaning sound compared to their earlier, more traditional folk-metal efforts. The album is notable for its lyrical expansion beyond simple nautical themes, incorporating elements of time travel and anachronistic humor (as heard on 'Buckfast Powersmash'). Sonically, the record is dominated by Christopher Bowes' keytar, which serves as the primary melodic engine, often mimicking accordions, fiddles, and trumpets. The album's structure balances short, high-intensity 'party' tracks with a massive, multi-part closing epic, 'Death Throes of the Terrorsquid,' which features unexpected black metal influences and symphonic arrangements, proving the band's versatility beyond the tavern-rock aesthetic.