Alestorm

Alestorm are a Scottish folk metal group from Perth, United Kingdom, active from 2007. They specialise in pirate-themed songs and describe their music as “True Scottish Pirate Metal”. Their sound sits within folk metal, power metal and metal, and is also commonly associated with pirate metal and hard rock.

Origins and line-up

The band begins as Battleheart, a studio project formed in 2004 by Christopher Bowes and Gavin Harper. It starts out as a standard power metal act, before the success of “Heavy Metal Pirates” leads to a permanent pirate concept and the addition of folk metal elements. The group begins live performances in 2006 with Bowes on vocals and keytar, Harper on guitars, Dani Evans on bass and Doug Swierczek on drums. Swierczek later leaves and Ian Wilson takes over on drums. After Harper departs, Tim Shaw briefly plays guitar, before Evans moves from bass to guitar and Gareth Murdock joins on bass. Wilson leaves in 2010 and Peter Alcorn replaces him on drums. Elliot Vernon joins in 2011 on keyboards and also provides screamed and death metal vocals.

Recordings and label history

After sending demos to Napalm Records in late 2007, the band signs to the label and changes its name from Battleheart to Alestorm. Its debut album, Captain Morgan’s Revenge, follows in 2008, then Black Sails at Midnight in 2009, Back Through Time in 2011, Sunset on the Golden Age in 2014, No Grave But the Sea in 2017 and Curse of the Crystal Coconut in 2020. Sunset on the Golden Age reaches number one in the UK Rock Chart.

Style and musical features

Alestorm’s songs use pirate imagery, irreverent humour and a sea-shanty feel. Their arrangements make use of trumpets, trombones, accordion synths, fiddle and tin whistle, alongside the driving, upbeat structure associated with power metal. The band also shifts into other heavy styles at points, including thrash metal, black metal, metalcore and death metal elements.

Members

The listed members are Ian Wilson, Gavin Harper, Dani Evans, Christopher Bowes, Alexander Tabisz, Tim Shaw, Gareth Murdock, Peter Alcorn, Elliot Vernon and Máté Bodor.