Lagerstein has released their new album, 25/7, through Kegstand Productions on August 23. Known as Australia’s own Pirate Metal Band, these guys like singing and making music about drinking. 25/7 is the band’s third album and was recorded in Studio Fredman in Sweden with world-famous producer Fredrik Nordström.
The album follows their previous two albums, Drink ‘Till We Die released in 2012 and All For Rum & Rum For All released in 2016. Listening to this album conjures up visions of Johnny Depp as Jack Sparrow and his pack of pirates staggering around a metal festival bar swinging their brews side to side. Everything’s going to be just fine. Midnight Moonshine is a great introduction to the album and sets the tone lyrically and musically. Dig, Bury, Drink is a good follow up and has good hooks. The Wild West is a rollicking adventure that keeps the album ticking along nicely. Musically a lot of the songs are very similar timing to an Irish / Scottish jig. Most songs are up-tempo and have that jig feel to it but with a bit more growl through the guitars.
Lyrically every song is about imbibing infrequent amounts and the types of drinks one can have. There are songs about Rum being the Drink of the Pirates, to Shoey Song, Midnight Moonshine and the reggae-inspired Pina Colada Paradise. There’s a very Robert Palmer sounding Wench My Thirst to finishing off with a Pirate version of Men At Work’s Down Under. It is a fun affair, but unfortunately on this listener, it starts to wear thin after a couple of listens. The best song is Off The Map that kicks off with the lyrics, “Holy Shit, we’re off the map!” This song has a much heavier sound to it than the rest of the album and solos (even keys) and has several hooks that draw me in much more than the rest of the album.
So my final verdict is 25/7 is worth a listen and is a lot of fun. For me, unfortunately, it isn’t something I could listen to for a longer period.
Release Year: 2019
Label: Kegstand Productions
Category: Album
Country: Australia
Reviewed by Paul Kerr
