ALESTORM

INTERVIEW WITH SINGER AND KEYBOARDIST CHRISTOPHER BOWES BY ANNETTE HANSEN

In a world full of dark and “I think people try for this onstage stuff would Alestorm write?’ and we writing the best record. Making brooding metal music, there image of being tough metal just write kind of a bland song. But fun music is just what’s necessary is a bright spot full of rum, warriors, and then when they get then, when we think ‘ah fuck it, who to put on a fun show. As a band yo-ho-hos and pirate-y good off stage they have to either hide cares, write anything,’ this amazing that’s built their presence on their times. Scotland’s Alestorm never from people so people don’t find stuff always seems to happen.” engaging live show, it’s all about meant to be the fun guys of pirate out that they’re not really like that, bringing the tunes that will have metal, but their own lively spirit or they have to, when they talk to The loud and unashamed sillifans chanting and dancing along. made it clear that a more serious fans or whatever, they have to ness that Alestorm embraces That’s the main ingredient that tone would never be an honest porpretend to be this guy,” Bowes says. has brought out the party spirit makes Alestorm the band they are. trayal of who they were as a band. “I like to think we’re kind of more in audiences all over the world. relatable than your average band, There’s no vying for praise from “It’s definitely about the live arena “It sort of very quickly became because we’re not pretending.” the musical elites, it’s just about for us,” Bowes relays. “That’s where apparent to us that it’s hard work crafting the sort of music fans we do our best work. We write these pretending to be serious, and piIn writing their upcoming sixth can let go and throw a few drinks songs to be played live, so we just rate-y, and stoic, and all that stuff, album Curse of the Crystal Coconut, back to. The band have no qualms wanted to write a lot of fun things so we just wanted to write dumb out in May on Napalm Records, about filling this musical role for that would come across really well songs instead,” vocalist and keythe band maintained their devilthe people who get it. live, you know, lots of big choruses, boardist Christopher Bowes says. may-care mindset, knowing that it’s and lots of big sing-alongs, lots of “We’re a bunch of dorks. We like probably their greatest ally when “It’s all well and good writing a good head-banging moments.” dorky stuff. It’s easier on our mencrafting new tunes. Alestorm had no good album that people say ‘oh, tal health to just write whatever.” great master scheme when penning that’s a good album,’ critically acAnd according to Bowes, Curse the album other than to take listenclaimed,” Bowes explains. “Then, of the Crystal Coconut doesn’t fall

The light-hearted, jovial essence ers on a wild musical ride. in a year from now, everyone’s short in that aspect. of Alestorm isn’t a gimmick, and forgotten it. What’s the point? As it isn’t the band’s attempt at “On this new album we’ve got comlong as a couple of songs stick in “It’s not the sort of album you sit achieving novelty, it’s an extening out, there’s a lot of nonsense, people’s consciousness, these just and go through and say, ‘ha yes, sion of the care-free nature that absolute, complete nonsense. It’s perennial songs, that would make interesting key change.’ That’s the members bring to the group. terrifying,” Bowes says. “Sometimes me very, very happy.” not the album. That was just it, we

Alestorm isn’t trying to seem fun, we do get caught in a trap of ‘what wanted to make cool, fun songs.” they are fun. would Alestorm do, what kind of For Alestorm, it truly isn’t about �� �� ��