STORM SEEKER - Pirate Folk Metal from Düsseldorf/Neuss Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, releases a second full length recording entitled "Guns Don't Cry".  Previous productions include full length recording released in May of 2019 entitled "Beneath In The Cold", and a debut E.P. recording entitled "Pirate Scum" released in April of 2016.  "How To Be A Pirate" - the first album track opens with a thirty second introduction. Shortly after the both tempo & the tonic key are established Tim adds a cutting set of accents on the accordion by playing the tonic root chord with a divided pattern of successive eighth notes. Later in a  subsequent chorus, Olaf hints that he'll resume this pattern, but adds a rhythmically similar single harmonic.

"Naval Hitchhike" - the second album track is replete with near thrash style guitars during the chorus–and occasional near thrash style of eighth note snare patterns, but rhythmically, Jul does much more; the song proceeds with a Nyckelharpa solo by Sandra that Fabi develops on the hurdy gurdy for Tim to further ornament with the accordion. "Shoot This Ship Down" - the third album track is an absolute melodic delight–and an "enharmonic treasure" for lovers of musical pirates (ear candy for music lovers). Beginning on the high note of the octave - with the tonicized fifth, the song descends with the harmonic minor scale replete with the minor third - as though the STORM SEEKER ship scales the oceanic depth - Genius - when compared with the song title

"Guns Don't Cry" - the fourth album track (the album title track) opens as though with a thrash beat (eighth notes on the snare drum) for four measures at four four time. Jul then slows to a standard snare on beats two and four - slowing the pulse immensely. Additional tempo changes recur throughout the song; for motivic presentation & development by harmononic tonicization. While this and every other album song encourages listeners to sing along; the "sing song / sing along" vibe is superficial–albeit pleasant:  this is real music:  melodies are formally harmonized musically developed – and with dramatic tempo changes, in rhythmic perfection,  never seem superficial or pretentiously technical - Beautiful!  While I am uncertain whether this song is my album favorite, musical notions within the description for this song are prevalent throughout the album.

"One More Day" - the fifth album track opens with Sandra's Cello–the low c - and we feel the pulsation–as Fabi sings the lead vocals: "Last night in an unknown sea / My ship crashed on this rock / Drunk and always wise like me / I waited in my shock / As the sun rose from its bed / I saw the mess my ship had made / But in between these planks and ropes / A bunch of hungry sharks awaits  For the second verse, guitars and drums as much as thrash out to convey the intensity. "How long will these creatures be circling this rock? / Is my death already near, rushing through the fog? / When the sun burns head and chest I wish so fast to swim / But I'm a lousy plunderer, this fight I cannot win!".

"Row Row Row" - the seventh album track opens with near thirty seconds of Fabi's hurdy gurdy, ornamented by Sandra's cello, in a wonderful melody that spans the octave–which also divides it - resting on the fourth amidst this melodic phrase - with mild use of percussion - merely to lay a pulse.  At thirty seconds, Tim begins a vocal phrase–which Fabi shortly after begins to accentuate the melody via recorder. Drums begin a subtle beat - until a regular drum beat begins that Olaf accompanies on rhythm guitar at about one minute twenty seconds into the song. Following a thematic & melodic Nyckelharpa solo by Sandra, at two minutes thirty seconds into the tune, lyrics proceed with "Who wants to live, live, live, live a life that's long 'n old / Has to quit the smoke and the drink / But my li- li- liver's seeming not at all amused / And is crying for the next absinthe" - under which Olaf lays a perfectly muted, yet speedy chunk along the lower string–while Fabi accompanies the thematic vocal melody with the recorder. Numerous harmonic modulations occur before the song ends.

"Maelstrom" - the ninth album track has a beautifully elongated melodic phrase structure that tonicises the dominant for the "dying fall" resolution. Sandra's lighter voice sings the first  verses–with harmonic ornamentation on her cello. Sandra's Nyckelharpa & Fabi's hurdy gurdy play solos while the band moves to a near, albeit controlled, thrash. Timothy resumes vocals–and further solos resume first with Olaf's guitars then with Tim's accordion / keyboards. "Sextant" - the tenth album track opens with Fabi's hurdy gurdy–with a nearly mesmerizing phase. As an incredibly low bass, Olaf begins the first verse that Fabi resumes–and at about one minute thirty seconds. Olaf enters with both chugging rhythm guitars and with stylistic melodic leads. The band resumes group vocals "we go where the storms may take us / Our ways are written in stars / we travel along to the islands unknown / till we find our luck at last. "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Honolulu Strand Bikini" - the eleventh album track is a fun medley–much of which is based on accentuated off beat eighth note patterns–adeptly conveyed with musical rhythmic accentuation. Listeners may recognize a few of the melodies within this medley.

Vocally, I hear a soprano, an alto, a tenor, and a bass. I enjoy hearing the various band members sing. STORM SEEKER seems to continuously deliver the appropriate voice for the occasion, and this is equally true through the musical instrumentation. I want more of this–because I've thoroughly enjoyed it. While the album may be played at parties for "sing-along" carousing, or played in the car to listen or sing along while driving–there is innovative depth amidst these compositions;  the musical performances are flawless - and the instrumentation–which includes the vocal diversity, brings freshness to our listening ears.