Rockpedia

Compare

Two genres, side by side. The ratings are editorial judgements on a ten-point scale, not measurements. Where they come out level, the difference is in the prose underneath them.

First genre

Pirate metal2006

Second genre

Celtic metal1994

Head to headPirate metal vs Celtic metal
Pirate metal: heaviness 6, melody 10, speed 7. Celtic metal: heaviness 7, melody 8, speed 6.Heaviness6 / 7Melody10 / 8Speed7 / 6
Each corner is a ten-point rating. The further out, the higher.

The difference, by ear

Both use folk instruments over metal. Celtic metal is solemn and historical; this is neither, on purpose.

Both are part sung, part screamed, but Celtic metal is a little slower: 120 to 170 bpm against 150 to 200. To hear the difference, play Alestorm next to Cruachan. Both grew out of folk metal, Celtic metal first and pirate metal twelve years after.

Put together from each genre's vocals, tempo, song length, key acts and place in the tree.

In figures

Heaviness
Pirate metal6
Celtic metal7
+1
Speed
Pirate metal7
Celtic metal6
−1
Melody
Pirate metal10
Celtic metal8
−2

Pirate metal

2006 · Scotland

Where it sits

Heavy metal › Folk metal › Pirate metal

In short

Power metal with accordion and lyrics about rum. A small genre, entirely shameless and very effective live.

How it sounds

  • Accordion, fiddle and hurdy-gurdy-style keyboards over fast power metal.
  • Choruses written as sea shanties, built for singing in unison.
  • Lyrics exclusively about pirates, rum and naval battles - without exception.

Key acts

  • Alestorm
  • Running Wild
  • Swashbuckle

Start here

The pickAlestorm - Captain Morgan's Revenge. Exactly what the title promises.

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Celtic metal

1994 · Ireland

Where it sits

Heavy metal › Folk metal › Celtic metal

In short

Irish melodies and traditional instruments over black or heavy metal.

How it sounds

  • Tin whistle, bodhrán and fiddle woven into black or heavy metal arrangements.
  • Melodies taken from the traditional Irish repertoire, often directly.
  • Epic atmosphere with lyrics from Celtic myth and history.

Key acts

  • Cruachan
  • Primordial
  • Waylander

Start here

The pickPrimordial - The Gathering Wilderness. No tin whistle, and the most Celtic of the lot.

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