Alestorm

The band has also released two live albums, "Live at the End of the World", from November 18, 2013, and "Live in Tilburg" from May 28, 2021, recorded at the 013, in the Netherlands. and five EPs, "Battleheart" 2006, "Terror of the High Seas" 2007, "Leviathan" 2009, "Skalstorm" (a split together with Fiking/Folk metal band Skálmöld from Iceland) 2016, "The Treasure Quest" 2020, and "Voyage of the Marauder" in 2024. The lead vocalist, Christopher Bowes provides the announcer voice for the Pirate team in the video game Pirates, Vikings and Knights II.

The band was founded in 2004 in Perth, Scotland as Battleheart, a studio project by Christopher Bowes and Gavin Harper. (Christopher Bowes is also the founding member of Symphonic Power Metal band Gloryhammer, and he is also still active in this band.) Originally intended as a standard Power metal band, the success of the 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 and released two 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 Christopher Bowes (vocals and keytar), Gavin Harper (guitars), Dani Evans (bass) 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 the aforementioned demos to Napalm Records. The band was quickly offered a record deal.

After being signed by Napalm Records, the band changed their name from Battleheart to Alestorm. Their debut studio album, Captain Morgan's Revenge, was released in early 2008. The album featured the drummer of the band Incubator, Migo Wagner as the session drummer. The album was also produced by Incubator guitarist Lasse Lammert.

In April 2008, the band released the single "Heavy Metal Pirates". They also played the UK festival, Bloodstock Open Air, alongside headliners Nightwish and Dimmu Borgir. Drummer Ian Wilson left in June 2008 and later rejoined in August of the same year. By September 2008, original guitarist Gavin Harper had left the band. Tim Shaw was Harper's replacement, but after a brief period of touring, he 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 second studio album Black Sails at Midnight was released in May 2009. The album peaked at #60 on the GfK Entertainment charts. 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.

On June 3, 2011 Alestorm went on a Back Through Time World Tour starting in Australia and New Zealand. The album reached #42 on the German Albums Chart. In October 2011, Elliot Vernon joined the band as keyboard player and also performed screamed/Death metal vocals.

The band released their fourth full album entitled Sunset on the Golden Age on August 1, 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 was 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 May 26, 2017. The album peaked at #1 on Billboard's Top Heatseekers Albums chart.

On January 8, 2020, the band announced the title of their sixth studio album, Curse of the Crystal Coconut. This was released on May 29, 2020. On April 30, the band released an EP titled, "The Treasure Chest EP". Prior to the album's release, Alestorm released the singles "Treasure Chest Party Quest" on April 2, 2020, "Tortuga" (feat. Captain Yarrface of Rumahoy) on April 23, 2020, and "Fannybaws" on May 14, 2020. The fourth single for the album titled, "Pirate Metal Drinking Crew" was released on May 29, 2020.

The album peaked at #68 on the UK Official Albums Chart. A deluxe version of the album includes the normal track listing, along with what is referred to as "16th Century Version" editions of each track was released. On August 6, The Wooden Box was released and it included two bonus tracks on a 7-inch Single which are "Big Ship Little Ship" and "Bassline Junkie". On May 28, 2021, the band released their second live album, "Live in Tilburg". In August 2021, a Twitter account named "GloryhammerC" posted screenshots of what appeared to be an internal chat from 2017 between the members of the band,

Gloryhammer, of whom vocalist Chris Bowes was a keyboardist and founding member, that showed misogynist and racist humour along with several racial slurs. Bassist Vincent Jackson Jones of Æther Realm, who formerly collaborated with Bowes in the band Wizardthrone, released a statement on August 26, 2021, in which he distanced himself professionally from Bowes and urged Bowes to make his own statement; at the time, none of Gloryhammer's members had made public comments on the issue. Subsequently, Æther Realm, who were due to tour with both bands, were replaced with the Bootyard Bandits. On September 5, 2021, Bowes and the rest of the band released statements, admitting the leaked chat was true and apologizing for the remarks.

On January 16, 2022, the band announced that they entered the studio to record their seventh studio album, Seventh Rum of a Seventh Rum. On January 31, 2022, the band released a music video for the song "Zombies Ate My Pirate Ship", a song from their sixth album, Curse of the Crystal Coconut. On March 13, 2022, the band announced that their seventh studio album will be released on June 24, 2022. On April 6, 2022, the band released the lead single, "Magellan's Expedition". On May 4, 2022, the band released the second single, "P.A.R.T.Y.".

On June 1, 2022, the band released the third single, "The Battle of Cape Fear River". On June 22, 2022, the band released the fourth single, "Seventh Rum of a Seventh Rum". In June 2022, the band was criticised by several sources  for playing a gig in Tel Aviv due to the ongoing  Israeli-Palestinian conflict. After a fan messaged them on social media explaining they could not attend the gig due to Israeli checkpoints, the band responded the fan should, 'come and drink RUM,' [sic]. This led to some  accusing the band of downplaying the seriousness of the situation and white-washing Israeli crimes.

On September 17, 2023, the band announced an upcoming EP titled "Voyage of the Dead Marauder", set to be released in 2024. On November 14, 2023, the band announced the release date for the EP, setting the release for March 22, 2024. On February 14, 2024, the band released a new song, "Voyage of the Dead Marauder", the lead single from the EP. The EP featured two cover versions. On March 21, 2024, the band released a new song, "Uzbekistan", the second single from the EP.

Alestorm is generally classified as Pirate metal, Folk metal, Power metal and Heavy metal. Alestorm has also included elements of Pop, Rap metal, Nu metal, Progressive metal, Thrash metal, Symphonic metal, Death metal, Symphonic black metal, Metalcore, Black metal, Extreme metal, and Finnish folk music in their music.

The band refer to themselves as "True Scottish Pirate Metal" and are identifiable by the pirate-themed lyrics in their songs. Alestorm's music utilizes the upbeat epic style of Scottish folk metal and power metal. Album recordings feature heavy use of real trumpets, trombones, accordions synths, fiddle and  tin whistle, violins, vibraslaps, brass, keytars, and singalong choruses to convey a pirate sea shanty feel. Alestorm's lyrical themes focus on pirates themes including sailing, pillaging, and drinking.

The band's later albums incorporate screaming and death growls performed by keyboard player Elliot Vernon, as well from guest vocalists such as Ken Sorceron and Mathias Lillmåns.

Battleheart (2006) ep

Terror on the High Seas (2007) ep

Captain Morgan's Revenge (2008)

Leviathan (2009) ep

Black Sails at Midnight (2009)

Back Through Time (2011)

Live at the End of the World (2013)

Sunset on the Golden Age (2014)

Skalstorm (2016) (split 7-inch with Skálmöld)

No Grave But the Sea (2017)

The Treasure Chest (2020) ep

Curse of the Crystal Coconut (2020)

Live in Tilburg (2021)

Seventh Rum of a Seventh Rum (2022)

Voyage of the Dead Marauder (2024) ep

Gavin Harper – guitars, drums, percussion, backing vocals (2004–2008)

Dani Evans – bass (2006–2008), guitars (2008–2015), backing vocals (2006–2015)

Doug Swierczek – drums (2006)

Ian Wilson – drums, percussion, backing vocals (2007–2008, 2008–2010)

Alex Tabisz – drums (2008)

Tim Shaw – guitars, backing vocals (2008)

Brendan Casey – bass (2008), backing vocals (2008–present)

Migo "Oger Mampf" Wagner – drums, backing vocals (2008–2009)

Chris Mummelthey – backing vocals (2008)

Gordon Krei – programming, brass and orchestral arrangements (2009–present)

Tobias Hain – trumpet (2009–present)

Bee Bloodpunch – backing vocals (2009)

Austus Twele – great highland bagpipes (2009)

Heinrich Gimpel – bass trombone (2009)

Carsten Petersen – trumpet, cornet (2009)

Mirjam Beyer – violin (2009)

Florian Frambach – trumpet (2011)

Derek Fobaire – trombone (2011)

Hans-Jørgen Martinus Hansen – whistles (2011)

Maria Odvody – violin (2011)

Chris Jones (II) – accordion (2011)

Hildegard Niebuhr– violin (2014)

Jan Philipp Jacobs – trombone (2017–present)

Ally Storch – violin, viola (2020 – present)