Ye Banished Privateers drop new song “The Cranker” and official music video

Swedish sea marauders Ye Banished Privateers are ready to set sail with the third single “The Cranker” taken from their sixth full-length “´Til the Sea Shall Give Up Her Dead”, out this Friday, April 11, 2025 via Napalm Records. Kicking off the sonic journey, “The Cranker” is a darkly captivating tale, inspired by the Swedish folk song Hårgalåten. It tells the story of an unfortunate crew lured by the devil, disguised as a handsome fiddler, and thrown into an endless, frenzied dance to the ocean’s depths. Hypnotic fiddles, pounding drums, and raw harmonies bring this chilling tale to life.
 
Following their monumental performance at Wacken Open Air 2023 and blockbuster tour in 2024, the beloved renegades invite fans on a thrilling journey through the lives of 18th-century sailors on “´Til the Sea Shall Give Up Her Dead”. The album masterfully blends poignant ballads and raucous anthems, weaving tales of camaraderie, loss, and fleeting joy against the relentless backdrop of the open sea. Ye Banished Privateers will be on tour throughout the year, heading out with pagan folk band Faun in the fall – more info can be found on the band’s website.

’The Cranker’ is inspired by a traditional Swedish folk song, Hårgalåten, following a common Scandinavian folklore theme where the Devil lures the youth to immoral acts which finally leads to their death. In our narrative, the Devil is a handsome fiddler whose alluring tunes tricks the crew into an endless dance to the bottom of the ocean.