Visions of Atlantis and Warkings have done something rather brilliant. Two bands who could easily be rivals in the power metal arena have instead decided to join forces, and the result is ‘Pirates & Kings’, a collaboration single that feels like a call to arms.
These symphonic pirates and power metal warriors have forged an alliance that actually makes sense sonically. The track opens with an impelling chorus that hits immediately, combining the sweeping vocal force of both bands into something genuinely uplifting.
The visuals deserve special mention here. Both bands have always understood the importance of spectacle, and the accompanying music video delivers exactly what fans want: epic imagery that matches the grandiose sound. There’s a theatrical quality to everything these bands do, and honestly, who doesn’t love a song about pirates and kings?
Visions of Atlantis vocalist Clémentine Delauney speaks passionately about the collaboration’s meaning, framing it as a response to divisive times. It’s a sentiment that resonates beyond the fantasy imagery. “This is no longer a time for division or competition,” she explains. “When threats and tensions rise, the answer is to unite and become allies.”
Warkings echo this philosophy, describing the single as a pact sealed in fire and storm. Grand language, certainly, but it suits the bombastic nature of what they’ve created together.
The collaboration extends beyond the studio. Both bands will embark on the “Pirates & Kings Over Europe” tour starting February 5, 2026, in Pratteln, Switzerland, hitting 21 cities including Manchester Academy 2 on February 10 and London’s O2 Academy Islington on February 11.
‘Pirates & Kings’ is available now via Napalm Records.
