Interviews : “Pavlova. It is the dessert of the gods” – An interview with Christopher Bowes

Gloryhammer

The epic power metallers Gloryhammer are fast approaching our shores, mounted high on the backs of unicorns blazing through fields of steel! Sorry, I couldn’t resist. That being said, Metal Obsession recently had the pleasure of speaking with Christopher Bowes; the mastermind behind this project and the forerunner of wizardry in the mystical Scottish lands of Fife. We talked about the inspiration for the band, what the Aussie masses can expect from one of their gigs, and why Chris is so obsessed with pavlova.

For anyone that knows Chris or his previous work in Alestorm, this is a guy who in the best sense doesn’t take himself at all too seriously, and is one of the few people who alongside his fellow Gloryhammer band mates isn’t afraid to have a bit of fun while making a power metal record; no matter how ludicrous the contents or lyrics may seem. Chris had a laugh while contemplating the appeal for dead unicorns and the setting their debut album Tales from the Kingdom of Fifetakes place in. ‘[Unicorns are] probably the most ridiculous animal I could think of, especially when combined with the depressing urban sprawl of Central Scotland. The whole thing becomes deliciously farcical! The thought of a fantasy story playing out in Fife is an utterly ludicrous concept for anyone who is familiar with the area’.

When asked what Australian power metal fans can expect from Gloryhammer’s upcoming shows, with tongue firmly in cheek, Chris enthusiastically responded with, ‘Expect epic battles; expect mighty and glorious sing alongs; expect wizard versus unicorn moshpits!’ before guaranteeing it’s “going to be the best power metal experience of your lives’. He also made mention of how ‘we always manage to find something fun to do to stretch [the gig] out into an epic show. Nobody will go home feeling short changed’.

Well, I don’t know about you, but I’m sold!  You’ve got to admire the man. Chris Bowes is the frontman for one of the metal world’s most renowned pirate metal bands, as well as being known in the community as a humble, friendly, and generally awesome-to-be-around sort of bloke. And now, he’s even at the head – though technically in the back – of a great new power metal project laden full of glorious thick layers of cheesy goodness! Said to be inspired by the early-to-mid years of Italian symphonic power metallers Rhapsody’s career, Bowes wanted with Tales from the Kingdom of Fife to ‘recreate that type of music: complete with awful lyrics, harpsichord solos, and bombastic sing-along choruses.’ As Bowes said himself, I reckon they did an alright job!  He’s also a huge fan of our continent. ‘I love the weather and the babes! But my favourite thing of all has to be the Big Things! It’s my life’s ambition to get a photo of myself dressed as a wizard while standing next to the Big Banana.’

If only more people had this outlook on life, the world would be a much nicer place. Perhaps an almost Fifean place! (minus all the black magic and evilness, of course)  When asked about fans dressing up at their gigs, Bowes happily encouraged – perhaps insisted? – the dressing up of fans for their shows, going on to state cheekily, ‘anyone who isn’t dressed in a suitable medieval costume is a false; don’t enter because you’ll be burned and die!’

But it’s all intended in good fun. As when questioned about whether it’s difficult to separate the “cheesiness” and campy style commonly found in power metal from the seriousness of the record, Bowes was frank in his response. ‘Not at all,’ he began. ‘I’m fully aware that power metal is a stupid genre. So if you work within those confines and don’t try to pretend it is anything otherwise, the music and lyrics write themselves. It only sounds campy and cheesy when you start taking yourself too seriously. Anyone who tries to convey deep artistic meaning through power metal is doing it wrong’.

I think that whole statement summarises best what define what Gloryhammer is all about and equally of their appeal. It is also no doubt one of the reasons they were featured on more than one Best Of 2013 list on Metal Obsession. Gloryhammer are a band who clearly know what they want to achieve, and don’t pretend to ever be anything they’re not. They’re simply enjoying the ride that comes along with being in a power metal band – something sorely lacking in the genre these days.  The writing process between Alestorm and Gloryhammer is quite different apparently. Whereas in Alestorm Chris is responsible for about ‘95% of the music and lyrics’, with Gloryhammer it’s ‘much more of a team effort’ with Bowes mentioning how ‘everyone in the band is a talented songwriter’. It’s ‘definitely a good thing’ he says to avoid turning into a ‘pile of “Christopherbowescore”’. And as Bowes states when asked about power metal’s mass appeal, ‘as much as power metal heads hate to admit, it’s just pop music. Verse – chorus; verse – chorus; shred – solo; chorus – chorus. Simple pop structures that get stuck in your brain and make you want to come back for more!’

When questioned about the potential for a video game crossover, Bowes instead teased an upcoming graphic novel that will delve further into the legends surrounding the land of Fife. Bring it on, I say! It seems thankfully Tales from the Kingdom of Fife won’t be the last we see of Gloryhammer with Chris even noting how a bright and crazy future is on the horizon for the band. ‘We are planning on releasing 3 cycles of 7 albums, for a total of 21, which will have the grand overarching title of “The Septological Triumvirate”. The second album is going to continue the story of the Kingdom of Fife 1000 years into the future, where Angus McFife the 13th is the Prince of the Galaxy. Epic space battles await!’  Space battles, power metal, Sci-Fi, fantasy, and an almost Highlander feel? Could Gloryhammer get any more epic? Well, yes they just did!

And of course, we can’t forget Chris’ penchant for pavlova. ‘It is the dessert of the gods!’ he went on to say, ‘Majestic meringue; tantalizing fruit; decadent cream… what a winning combo!”  It doesn’t get much more metal than that, folks. Scratch that. Have Angus McFife eating pavlova in one of the panels in this upcoming graphic novel of theirs. Now that’d be metal!

Gloryhammer Australian Tour

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