Review: Xander and the Peace Pirates 'Order Out Of Chaos'

Xander and the Peace Pirates

By Chris Wheatley

There’s a lot to like about Xander And The Peace Pirates, the British rock band who are beginning to enjoy the commercial success that they very much deserve. Their new album, Order Out Of Chaos, marks their long-overdue second release following 2016s debut, 11:11 and is set to release on May 6, 2022. The group were first ‘discovered’ by Henry Juszkiewicz, the former CEO of Gibson, via a YouTube clip, and have subsequently performed from L.A. to Dubai, growing in reputation, catching the ear of some heavyweight names and supporting Joe Bonamassa, Joe Satriani and Bon Jovi along the way. With a five-year stint as house band at Liverpool’s legendary Cavern Club under their belt, together with the acclaim lavished upon 11:11, expectations for this new set are understandably high.

Opener “We Cry” sets the tone – muscular, flowing blues rock with a country edge. The band sounds tight and switched on. You’ll certainly hear echoes of the classic era of 70s rock, but The Peace Pirates also manage to sound bang up to date. Alongside vibes of Neil Young, Creedence Clearwater Revival and Gram Parsons, the group throw in post-rock, prog-rock and smooth, radio-friendly elements. It all sounds remarkable likeable, not least because of the incorporated news audio clips of significant political events. This is a band with something to say, and that is always to be admired.

“Leave The Light On” hits somewhere between the captivating, dreamy sound of Kate Bush and the sparkling, emotional rock of Joshua Tree-era U2. Yet again, though, this is no mere copy, and it is greatly to the Peace Pirates’ credit that they are forging a distinctive style of their own. This is another ‘easy’ rock track with more than enough depth to keep you coming back. “Soul Sailing,” like all the tracks in this set, contains enough variety and nuance to hook the ear as well as the heart. Nothing feels rushed or overdone. These are a group of players who don’t rely on fireworks or flashiness, which is not to say that they are not fine musicians.

A bit more on the band – brothers Keith and Stu Xander form the heart of the outfit, with Keith understandably capturing most of the headlines. As a lead singer and guitarist, Keith is remarkable not least because he was born without a right arm below the elbow. He plays with a pick held in a prosthetic limb and, despite this disadvantage, is an extraordinary talent. Alongside the Xanders, we have Mike Gay on slide guitar, Joel Goldberg on bass and Adam Goldberg on drums. Together they make for a formidable band, close-knit musically and, you have to imagine, a tight unit off-stage as well.

The songs themselves are lovely compositions, of the sort which gradually grow in your mind. There’s pathos aplenty – these are certainly moving pieces of music, but the listener will never be in doubt that the Peace Pirates are ever anything other than completely honest and sincere. They are also more than capable of switching things up. “Into The Water” rises like a warm bath to envelop you. Title-track “Order Out Of Chaos” thumps along with driving energy. Even on the more commercial-sounding numbers, the group never falls back on cliché. These players have serious talent and no little imagination.

The swaggering “Heart Stop” takes us out in some style – a rocking, swaying track which glides into the night. If you are already a fan of this band, then you’ll find Order Out Of Chaos a fine sequel to 2016s 11:11. Those new to this group will surely be inspired to check out their previous work.

Watch “We Cry”