Alestorm is a multi-national pirate metal band originally from Perth, Scotland. Their music is characterised by a pirate theme, and as a result they have been dubbed a "pirate metal" band by many critics and their fanbase.
After signing to Napalm Records in 2007, their debut album Captain Morgan's Revenge, was released on 25 January 2008. Black Sails at Midnight, the band's second album, was released on 27 May 2009. The band's third album, Back Through Time, was released on 3 June 2011. The fourth album from the band, Sunset on the Golden Age, was released in August 2014. Their fifth and latest album No Grave But the Sea was released on 26 May 2017.
Video Alestorm
Biography
Origins (2004-2007)
The band was founded in 2004 as Battleheart, a studio project by Christopher Bowes and Gavin Harper. Originally intended as a standard power metal band, the success of song "Heavy Metal Pirates" convinced the band to permanently adopt a pirate theme and incorporate folk metal elements into their music. Gavin and Christopher recorded & released two independent demos in 2006, which were received well by the local metal community. The band began to perform live in 2006, with a lineup consisting of Bowes (vocals and keytar), Harper (guitar), Dani Evans (bass guitar) and Doug Swierczek (drums). Doug Swierczek eventually left the band later that year and was replaced by Ian Wilson. After a period of inactivity, in late 2007 Battleheart sent their demos to Napalm Records, and the band was promptly offered a record deal.
Alestorm
After being signed by Napalm Records, the band changed their name from Battleheart to Alestorm. Their debut album, Captain Morgan's Revenge, was released in early 2008.
By September 2008, original guitarist Gavin Harper had left the band. Tim Shaw was Harper's replacement, but after a brief period of touring, was fired from the band. To fill the guitarist position, Dani Evans switched instruments from bass to guitar, and Gareth Murdock of Waylander joined as the replacement bassist. The band's 2nd album Black Sails at Midnight was released in May 2009. In March 2010, Ian Wilson left the band and was replaced with a new drummer named Peter Alcorn. Alestorm's third album, Back Through Time, was Alcorn's first appearance on an Alestorm album. In October 2011, Elliot Vernon joined the band as keyboard player and performing screamed / death metal vocals.
The band released their fourth record entitled "Sunset on the Golden Age" on 1 August 2014, reaching the #1 position in the UK Rock Chart.
Dani Evans retired from the band in April 2015, and was replaced by Hungarian guitarist Máté Bodor of the band Wisdom, who is also a part of Leander Kills.
In October 2016, Christopher Bowes announced during a concert on the Super Smashed Turbo Tour that the band planned to begin recording a fifth studio album in January 2017. The fifth record, entitled "No Grave But The Sea", was released on 26 May 2017.
Maps Alestorm
Tours
- March 2008 - UK Tour supporting Turisas and Norther
- October 2008 - "Ragnarok Aaskereia" European tour with Tyr, Hollenthon, Svartsot and Gwydion
- February - March 2009 - "Pagan Knights" North American tour with Týr (band) and Suidakra
- April - May 2009 - "Black Sails Over Europe" European tour supported by Tyr, Heidevolk and Adorned Brood
- September 2009 - "Paganfest" European tour with Korpiklaani, Moonsorrow, Unleashed, Die Apokalyptischen Reiter, Einherjer, Ex Deo and Swashbuckle
- November 2009 - "Heathenfest" North American tour Eluveitie, Belphegor, Vreid, and Kivimetsan Druidi
- February - March 2010 - "Paganfest" European tour with Finntroll, Eluveitie, Dornenreich, Varg and Arkona (band)
- June 2010 - "Plunder Down Under" Australian Tour supported by Claim the Throne
- August - December 2010 - "World War Tour" European Tour supporting Sabaton (band)
- May 2011 - "Back Through Time" Australian Tour supported by Voyager
- August 2011 - "Pandemonium Over North America" North American tour supporting Kamelot
- September - October 2011 - "Heidenfest" European tour with Turisas, Wintersun, Finntroll, Arkona, and Trollfest
- February 2012 - "Useless Drunken Bastards" UK Tour supported by Claim the Throne and Darkest Era
- April 2012 - "Paganfest" North American tour with Turisas and Arkona
- September 2012 - "The Power Within" UK tour supporting DragonForce with The Defiled
- October 2012 - "The North American Enigma" North American tour with Epica (band) and Insomnium
- January 2013 - "Live at the End of the World" Australia and New Zealand tour
- November - December 2013 - North American tour supported by Trollfest and Gypsyhawk
- September 2014 - "Storming Across Europe" European Tour supported by Brainstorm (German band), Crimson Shadows and Troldhaugen
- October 2014 - "Piratefest" UK tour supported by Lagerstein, Red Rum, and Rainbowdragoneyes
- January 2015 - "Piratefest" North American tour supported by Swashbuckle (band) and The Dread Crew Of Oddwood
- November 2015 - "Piratefest" Australia and New Zealand tour supported by Lagerstein and Troldhaugen
- February - March 2016 - "Heroes on Tour" Europe and UK co-headlining tour with Sabaton
- October 2016 - "Super Smashed Turbo Tour" North American tour supported by Nekrogoblikon and Æther Realm
- June - August 2017 - Vans Warped Tour North American tour
- September - October 2017 - "No Grave But the Sea" headline European tour supported by Æther Realm and Troldhaugen
- February 2018 - "Piratefest 2018" UK and Ireland tour supported by Rumahoy and The Dread Crew Of Oddwood
Musical style
Alestorm play a combination of styles of metal. They are generally classified as power metal and folk metal. The band refer to themselves as "Pirate Metal" and are identifiable by the pirate-themed lyrics in their songs. Alestorm's music utilizes the upbeat epic style of power metal with many orchestrations commonly found in folk metal. Album recordings feature heavy use of real trumpets and trombones, whilst implementing accordion synths, fiddle and tin whistle to convey a pirate sea shanty feel. Alestorm uses factors of absurdity to bring a jocular feel to their music, incorporating irreverent lyrical themes while retaining a tenuous connection to pirates.
They have also been known to experiment with different metal genres, going from songs that are predominantly thrash metal ("Black Sails At Midnight") to a switch to a black metal sonority mid-song ("Death Throes Of The Terrorsquid"). The band's later albums have begun to incorporate more screamed vocals by keyboard player Elliot Vernon, adding hints of metalcore ("Magnetic North") and death metal ("1741 - The Battle of Cartegena") to the band's sound.
Band members
Timeline
Discography
Studio albums
EPs and singles
Live albums
Music videos
References
External links
- Official website
- Alestorm at Napalm Records
- Video Interview with Alestorm from Metal Gods TV
- Interview with Alestorm from Teeth of the Divine
- "ALESTORM Interview with Dani Evans", Xplosive Metal, June 2011, Caroline Restiaux
Source of article : Wikipedia
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