Weigh anchor and hoist the mizzen, it’s time to sail with The Privateer – review of “Kingdom of Exile”

Matey, it’s time to batten down the hatches because the German folk metal band The Privateer is making a big comeback next year with their fourth album, “Kingdom of Exiles”! And as soon as the album starts, we’re transported into another realm, where we’re the main characters of the story. The combination between Clara Held’s voice and the male pirate choir is a stroke of genius: they bring out the rawest and most essential essence of sailing with the Jolly Roger’s crew. 

“Queen of Fire and Wind” could be considered almost melodic death because, with its fast-paced rhythm, it will be like the fresh breeze out in the ocean. Then Clara Held’s violin arrives in the second half of the song and creates another successful experiment. This song would be smashing in front of a live audience! The ending with the piano seems like the closing of a chapter consisting of the first three tracks.

“Kingdom of Exiles” continues on this path of epic melodies, grandiose hooks and heavy guitars, with the unique touch that only The Privateer has. The mixing is quite remarkable because, in some moments, even the bass is perfectly audible, which most bands and producers leave behind. It’s too bad because it adds to the structure of the songs. 

I’m not very fond of long songs, but it would be a crime to dislike “Foretold Story”: the acoustic beginning and the following crescendo are just sublime. The melody is catchy yet complex, ancient yet modern, powerful yet delicate. The folk instruments have a longer spotlight in this, while not excluding the guitars, brilliantly executed by Roman Willaredt and Christian Spöri. 

We arrive at the title track, which can easily be considered the anthem for the same-titled record: the choirs are even more glorious and symphonic than ever, and the sea chanty finds its rightful place in here. The bass closes the song and opens the way to “The Realm of the Forest”, with its acoustic set, which has a tribal and esoteric feeling to it while letting the listener rest a bit. 

It’s not long until the metal comes back, stronger than ever in “Ghost Light”, an almost 7-minute suite; it’s similar to “Foretold Story”, but not at the same level, in my opinion. I prefer the folk section in this one, though! The album finishes with “Memory of a Man”, a majestic suite that is truly the best sum of what we’ve listened to so far. 

For fans of death and folk metal, you cannot absolutely miss this album. It defines and reshapes the standard of these subgenres while staying true to its sound. 

Tracklist:

1. Cadence Of Life 
2. Madness Is King 
3. Queen Of Fire And Wind 
4. The Darkest Shadow Of Life 
5. Foretold Story 
6. Kingdom of Exiles 
7. The Realm Of the Forest 
8. Ghost Light 
9. Memory Of Man