If Black Flag's sea shanties were a revelation, Rogue's collection doubles down on the concept and ventures into colder, more northern waters both literally and musically. These shanties accompany Shay Cormac's Morrigan through the icy North Atlantic, and the track selection reflects that shift -- you'll find more Celtic and Scottish folk influence here, with pieces like "The Bonnie Lass o'Fyvie," "My Bonnie Highland Lassie," and "Ye Jacobytes" drawing from Shay's Irish heritage and the game's connections to British colonial history.
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The performances are wonderfully raw and communal, exactly what you'd want from a crew belting these out while hauling lines. "Shallow Brown" is a gorgeous opener with its mournful melody, while crowd favorites like "Heave Away Me Johnny" and "Donkey Riding" are impossible not to sing along with.
"Pay Me the Money Down" and "Blood Red Roses" are absolute workhorses -- rhythmic, driving shanties that sync perfectly with the rowing and sailing. "Katie Cruel" stands out as an eerily beautiful outlier, its darker tone fitting Rogue's story of an Assassin turned Templar.
What makes this collection special beyond just being fun pub songs is how well it integrates with Rogue's thematic identity. "Don't Forget Your Old Shipmates" takes on genuine pathos when you remember Shay is hunting his former brothers, and "Go to Sea Once More" captures the restless wanderlust of a man who's burned every bridge behind him.
"Henri Martin" adds a welcome French-language entry, and "Little Drummer" brings martial energy to the mix. It's a shanty album that rewards repeated listens well beyond the game itself.