Four years after their third album, the pirates of SWASHBUCKLE are back to begin their plundering anew with the ironically named EP "We Hate The Sea". With a lot to prove since their recent severance with Nuclear Blast Records, SWASHBUCKLE have come back with all canons blazing, albeit with a brevity of 7 minutes. With the change in drummers, many fans are also wondering what this lineup change will mean for SWASHBUCKLE, and "We Hate The Sea" is the band's fiery retort, with the drums taking the fore in many parts.

Laced with the tongue-in-cheek humour that provides the very core of everything SWASHBUCKLE, this EP comes complete with a sound that still careens between Death Metal and more old school Thrash, with some Core elements thrown in for good measure. Starting off by putting their best foot forward, the opening track "Beer Goggles" has a strong dose of Melodic Death Metal that is sure to give a man his sea-legs. Starting off with an auditory onslaught that immediately captures your attention, this song also contains very subtle synthier parts which add to the ominous atmosphere. The next song, "I Hate The Sea" takes the tempo down a notch, but is almost over before it really begins. This launches the listener straight into the more frenetically paced "Poopdeck Toilet Wreck" which is just as dirty as the title suggests. After a relative lull in the storm, "Slaughter Upon International Waters" sears the senses with it ferocious riffage, before finally leaving the listener shipwrecked and slightly bemused at what just happened.

Whilst much of their previous music is catchy, "We Hate The Sea" is a less intricate embodiment of pure venom. Overall, SWASHBUCKLE are back with a maelstrom of maritime marauding, having traded in their more folky sound for heavier artillery that barrages the senses. Gone are also the more melodic interludes, although to be fair, there's not much sense in having an interlude on a release that only lasts 7 minutes. And in such a brief play-time, there is little room for SWASHBUCKLE to truly show their mettle, with the result that the EP can seem a bit repetitive. Nevertheless, this EP is a strong smoke-signal that these buccaneers are alive and still very much kicking, refusing to be consigned to Davy Jones's locker.

So secure your wenches and prepare to be boarded, for the pirates are back, and leave us thirsting for their next full-length album!