Gloryhammer, the new power metal project featured Alestorm’s Christopher Bowes, have announced their first headlining tour of the UK for September and October. The tour which is in support of the band’s debut album Tales from the Kingdom of Fife, will start off in the historic kingdom of Fife before the band make their way gradually down south. Tour dates are as follow:
Sept. 25th DUNDEE – Reading Rooms
Sept. 26th GLASGOW – Classic Grand
Sept. 27th SHEFFIELD – Academy
Sept. 28th MANCHESTER – Sound Control
Sept. 29th BRISTOL – The Fleece
Sept. 30th LEICESTER – 02 Academy
Oct. 1st LONDON – The Garage
Oct. 2nd BILSTON – The Robin 2
Gloryhammer will also be appearing at this year’s MetalDays Festival in Slovenia, alongside acts such as Benediction, Arkona, Nya, Bloodshot Dawn, Alestorm, Powerwolf, Ensiferum and many more. Kingdoms from the Tale of Fife was release on 29th March 2013 via Napalm Records and is available from all the usual retail outlets.
Thomas Winkler is the vocalist of Gloryhammer, the Power Metal side project of Alestorm‘sChristopher Bowes. The band have just released their debut album Tales From The Kingdom Of Fife and Ian caught Thomas for a quick chat about the album amongst other things.
Ian: How did you decide on the name Gloryhammer ?
Thomas: The name Gloryhammer expresses in an emotional way the fundamental essence of our band – Heroic Fantasy Power Metal. A hammer is heavy and able to smash the heads of goblins and trolls. So it brings glory to those who use it for the good fight. And besides, Gloryhammer is easy to find on Google.
Ian: Which bands would you say are Gloryhammer‘s biggest influences ?
Thomas: All the cheesy Epic Power Metal bands of the early millennium. Plus Elvis Presley. Because he was an extra-terrestrial. You will find out what I mean when we release our second album.
Ian: The band have just released their debut album Tales From The Kingdom Of Fife, how has the album been received by fans and the media alike ?
Thomas: I read a lot of reviews and reactions of fans which was pretty entertaining. I also do like the very negative ones. At least as long as they are only a small part of the overall reactions. Some media did’nt realize the idea behind Gloryhammer though, and we were expecting that. Because it needs a certain sensitivity to understand the complex meaning of the lyrics and the story.
Ian: What is the main concept of the album ?
Thomas: It’s about unicorns. Undead unicorns of war. But they once were good and just went mad because of some evil sorcerer dude, called Zargothrax. He hates the citizens of Dundee, which once was a Kingdom in Fife, Scotland. So we tell about Scotland. And we’ll also go into space with the next album so there is certainly something for everyone in this mighty concept.
Ian: With the members of Gloryhammer been from different bands and in different countries, how did you find the whole recording process for the album ?
Thomas: I only met the other guys once before in London for a photo shoot so it was kind of an experiment how it would work in Luebeck/Germany when I had to sleep in a small and (at least after some nights) smelly room with some constantly horny young men. But luckily with Lasse Lammert we had a great host and also very capable producer so I forgot about these circumstances with time. And to say the truth, we had a superb time and I’m happy that Zargothrax didn’t assault me at night !
Ian: Have Gloryhammer got any plans to go on tour in support of the album, if so, where can fans expect to catch the band live ?
Thomas: Yeah, we’ll be on tour by the end of the summer. The first ever show will be on a very well-known festival which takes place in July in Tolmin/Slovenia. I am not supposed to tell you which one yet. But it’s said to be beautiful, especially because of a lake and the woods. A propos: the woods are a good thing. I will be able to hide by wearing my armour. That’s really cool, I think.
Ian: A question I’m sure fans must have. Is Gloryhammer and the Tales From The Kingdom Of Fife album a one off or can fans expect to hear more from the band ?
Thomas: As mentioned above, there will be another album and the story will be settled in space in the year 1992. According to Chris there will be a total of 21 albums until Gloryhammer is history.
Ian: If you could replace the soundtrack to any film with your own music, which one would it be and why ?
Thomas: I wouldn’t replace a film soundtrack but the soundtrack of a video game. Since I am a big fan of The Legend of Zelda and its music, I wouldn’t replace that one. Rather I would replace the original Tetris soundtrack. I can’t stand this one because it’s so catchy.
Ian: Have you got any words for our readers ?
Thomas: May the Force be with you, for the Glory of Dundee !
Gloryhammer‘s debut album Tales From The Kingdom Of Fife is available now via Napalm Records.
For more info on Gloryhammer visit the following pages …
Gloryhammer
Tales From The Kingdom Of Fife
Released 1st April (UK)
Power Metal
Released via Napalm Records
Gloryhammer, a five piece power metal band, is the side project and brainchild of Alestorm‘s Christopher Bowes who swaps his pirate outfit and dons a suit of armor to tell us the story of a battle between good and evil on the bands debut concept album Tales From The Kingdom Of Fife. The story tells of how our hero Angus McFife fights the evil wizzard Zargothrax to free the oppressed people of Dundee, Scotland in a fantasy battle with unicorns, dragons, thunderbolts and lightening galore.
The album opens with an instrumental, a symphonic orchestral piece called Anstruther’s Dark Prophecy before blasting into track The Unicorn Invasion Of Dundee , the title alone brought a smile to my face I have to say. All the usual power metal attributes are here, big chugging guitar riffs and face melting solos (Paul Templing), thunderous double kick power drumming (Ben Turk), galloping bass runs (James Cartwright) and an added symphonic edge courtesy of the keyboards supplied by Christopher Bowes. The vocals are majestic, the voice of Thomas Winkler suits this genre of metal music perfectly.
Into the fray comes Angus McFife in the next track, a similar composition to the previous song, but more mid-paced with an anthemic chorus. The pace eases a bit on track four Quest For The Hammer Of Glory, McFife’s weapon of choice, a slower song that brings the quality of Thomas Winkler’s vocals to the fore. Next up is Magic Dragon a fast paced stormer which is probably the cheesiest track on the album lyric wise, but this is pure power metal heaven with a chorus that will have you punching the air and singing along with delight. Silent Tears Of Frozen Princess is the album’s obligatory power ballad, slow paced but none the less epic before normal service is resumed with the tracks Amulet Of Justice and the Sabatonesque war cry Hail To Crail.
Another instrumental follows in the form Beneath Cowdenbeath, a track which cries out for lyrics as I would like to know what goes on down there. The last track The Epic Rage Of Furious Thunder is by far the longest on the album, at over ten minutes, and it brings the curtain down perfectly in true power metal style with time changes, the addition of female vocals in the slower passages, awesome guitar work, great vocals and thunderous voices from above. Epic stuff.
If you are a fan of power metal, you’ll love this album. If not, you’ll overlook it as the normal cheesy and over the top music that, unfortunately, this genre of metal music has been tagged with but if you give it a listen with an open mind, which I suggest you do, you’ll hear that this is a very solid Metal album both musically and lyrically, even if a bit tongue in cheek at times, with a production and mix that is first class.
Hails to Gloryhammer, a power metal album of pure quality.
Gloryhammer, the new epic power metal band formed by Alestorm’s Chris Bowes, have released their first ever video for Angus McFife which is taken from their upcoming debut album; Tales from the Kingdom of Fife. The video can be viewed below.
Tales from the Kingdom of Fife is a concept album and tells the story of an alternate -history medieval Scotland, a realm of dragons, wizards, magic and dark sorcery. It is the legend of the glorious hero Angus McFife, who wages a long war against the evil wizard Zargothrax, in order to free the people of Dundee. The album will be released through Napalm Records on 29th March 2013. The album can be pre-ordered at this location.
Valkyrian Music 