From port we can see a new ship sailing with a strong tailwind pushing them along. With cutlasses drawn, you will find no fear in their eyes as they lift their pirate flag high and say their good byes. By the sword of the Lord, they have come to lay low the evil that abounds. Even though the gale blows like some monstrous beastie, they take no quarter as they do their rounds, it is in Truth that these pirates are found. Wherever they roam they hoist their flag as another soul is claimed for the Captain of Light. Not worried for their plight even if the clock should toll midnight.
Cat O' Nine Tails is a Pirate Power Metal band that hails from the the coasts of Finland. The maiden voyage, for these Finnish sea dogs, began back in 2012 when bassist Tuomas Kannisto(also known for the band HB) and guitarist Samuel Savander started to write music with a unique twist. “It started with a joke and then we saw the potential”, says Tuomas. Shortly thereafter, frontman Janne Heiskanen and Lauri Tuomenoksa(Drums) joined and the crew started demoing the songs for the future release. The recordings for the epic debut album ”Under Captain's Flag”, began in the late summer of 2013 at Kiipu Studios under Antti Niskala's protection. Last notes and soundscapes were added in early 2015. The self-published debut album was released in 25-4-2015 at the bands first live-show at Immortal Metal Fest.
Cat O' Nine Tails now have their sights on international waters while continuing to create new music with open-minded experimentation.
Cat O' Nine Tails now have their sights on international waters while continuing to create new music with open-minded experimentation.
2015
In 2015 Cat O' Nine Tails released their self-published full-length debut album titled 'Under Captain's Flag'. This 2015 release sails in on some fresh Finnish air and is not recommended for landlubbers who are faint of heart. This album comes out port side with all cannons firing with everything from orchestrated Metal to Folk Metal to Neo-Classic Metal to Power Metal to Death Metal. These swashbucklers even include Accordions & Violins to give more depth to their arrangements. There's a little something here for everyone but the band takes it to an even higher level because at times you will fill like you are in an epic movie or even a Broadway pirate production. Yarr, these Finnish Pirates have delivered up a heavy slab of Metal that hits as hard as a cannon ball slamming you into the post of the crow's nest.
Yo ho this album is a blast to listen to as lead crewman Janne Heiskanen takes you on board for an intense journey. Janne's Vocals will hook you and draw you into this adventure by means of his piratesque clean Vocal delivery while occasionally taking you into the dark stormy waves with his death Vocals. We should note that there are more clean Vocals throughout this disc than Death Vocals.
Samuel Savander is the only crew member that, in place of a cutlass, wields an axe while chopping through his chords one riff at a time. Samuel delivers up some heavy shredn' as he tackles every style from Thrash to Power Metal to general Heavy Metal riffs.
The anchors for Cat O' Nine Tails is comprised of Bassist-Tuomas Kannisto & Drummer-Lauri Tuomenoksa who both deliver up a percussion feast of pure heaviness throughout this voyage.
The band's lyrics are openly Christ centered but often use pirate allegoric references to convey stories or ideas of the bible. The following is a track by track general Idea of the meanings behind each tune. Track 1 "Inside The Chest" is the story of the dry bones as found in the bible in Ezekiel 37. Track 2 "The Long Lost Ruby" is based off the passage in Mathew 6:19-21 19 “Don’t collect for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But collect for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don’t break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
Track 3 "Under Captain's Flag" we find that the "Captain" is Jesus and the ships attacking represent a spiritual battle. The lyrics are based off of Romans 8:31, 32 31 "What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?"
Track 4 "Wind Of Change" is a testimony of the story of a pirate's life before knowing God and how he found Jesus and His peace through faith. Track 5 "The Cataclysm" is the story of Noah and the flood as found in Genesis 6-8. Track 6 "Ocean Rose" is an empty ghost ship because those who sailed it before thought only of the abundance of things in this world as spoken in Lucas 12:15 15 "And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth." Track 7 "Symphony Of Ending Time" is a call to all to talk to others about Jesus so that they will be born again and not go to hell. Track 8 "Temptations" has a message about dealing with temptation as spoken about in Mathew 18:7,8 "7 Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh! 8 Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire."
Track 9 "Promised Land" is an allegorical story of how the Israelites were led out of Egypt into the desert where they began to grumble and complain. It's about putting your faith in God and letting His light guide us to the promised land. Track 10 "Splicing The Mainbrace" is a call to Wake Up! and see that the time is near for His return so be ready as we see in the scripture reference Mathew 24:42-44 42 "Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. 43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. 44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh."
The following are some pirate lyrics from a shanty sung by crew on their voyage called "Inside The Chest":
Track 3 "Under Captain's Flag" we find that the "Captain" is Jesus and the ships attacking represent a spiritual battle. The lyrics are based off of Romans 8:31, 32 31 "What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?"
Track 4 "Wind Of Change" is a testimony of the story of a pirate's life before knowing God and how he found Jesus and His peace through faith. Track 5 "The Cataclysm" is the story of Noah and the flood as found in Genesis 6-8. Track 6 "Ocean Rose" is an empty ghost ship because those who sailed it before thought only of the abundance of things in this world as spoken in Lucas 12:15 15 "And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth." Track 7 "Symphony Of Ending Time" is a call to all to talk to others about Jesus so that they will be born again and not go to hell. Track 8 "Temptations" has a message about dealing with temptation as spoken about in Mathew 18:7,8 "7 Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh! 8 Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire."
Track 9 "Promised Land" is an allegorical story of how the Israelites were led out of Egypt into the desert where they began to grumble and complain. It's about putting your faith in God and letting His light guide us to the promised land. Track 10 "Splicing The Mainbrace" is a call to Wake Up! and see that the time is near for His return so be ready as we see in the scripture reference Mathew 24:42-44 42 "Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. 43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. 44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh."
The following are some pirate lyrics from a shanty sung by crew on their voyage called "Inside The Chest":
(See Site Info for Sword Scale meaning)
If I had to make a comparison then I would say that if you like the arrangements of Ancient Prophecy then you will probably like Cat O' Nine Tails as well.
Not everyone is going to like this band especially in a world where a lot of bands come across as stamped out copies of other Metal bands. However, those who are open to new ideas and are looking for some Metal that's different from the run of the mill, then you will find that this album by Cat O' Nine Tails will fill that need. Do yourself a favor and give 'Under Captain's Flag' a listen and a purchase or you will be immediately forced to walk the plank - Captains orders.
Not everyone is going to like this band especially in a world where a lot of bands come across as stamped out copies of other Metal bands. However, those who are open to new ideas and are looking for some Metal that's different from the run of the mill, then you will find that this album by Cat O' Nine Tails will fill that need. Do yourself a favor and give 'Under Captain's Flag' a listen and a purchase or you will be immediately forced to walk the plank - Captains orders.
Hands:
Janne Heiskanen-Vocals
Samuel Savander-Guitars
Tuomas Kannisto-Bass
Lauri Tuomenoksa-Drums
Janne Heiskanen-Vocals
Samuel Savander-Guitars
Tuomas Kannisto-Bass
Lauri Tuomenoksa-Drums
