The
Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell are one of the rising stars of the UK
Hard Rock Scene. Signed to Rise Above Records they have just released
their excellent 2nd
album - Check 'em Before You Wreck 'em – which is an insane blast
of great hard rocking riffs.
They
released their début album - Don't Hear It... Fear It! - to critical
acclaim back in 2012. These guys have a wicked sense of humour but
they know how to write a great tune steeped in 70's Classic Hard Rock
territory.
The
band have just finished supporting Uncle Acid And The Deadbeats on
their recent UK tour and I was given the chance to speak to the guys
face-to-face at Glasgow Garage 2 on Wednesday 23rd
April 2014. And this is what went down with The Admiral Sir
Cloudesley Shovell.
SL
– Hi guys. Thanks for doing this interview. How did the first date
of the tour go in Birmingham last night.
Yeah.
It was a mixed bag. Sound wasn't tremendously good to us. I think
that every band struggles with their sound at the moment.
SL
– Was that at Asylum or O2 Academy
It
was at O2 Academy. Yeah. Strange place to play as the sound was
pretty shit up front as well. I must admit it was really very boomy,
slappy and horrible. The audience were non-reactive but at the end we
done a good show. It was a mixed night. We had a good night
afterwards.
Hopefully
tonight will be a lot better and I think it will be a belter. As we
supported Orange Goblin at Kings Tut and that was amazing. And it
sold out as a result of us supporting them.
SL
– You have just released your new album last week. Which we will be
reviewing soon.
Yeah.
Just been released. You heard it.
SL
– Yeah I have. It's a great album and very different to the first
album.
Thanks.
You have to listen to it a few times as it's not as immediate as the
début album. The first album no-one was meant to heat it. That was
the instruction. People have to listen to the new album more than
once to get the feel of it. We are really pleased with the new album
as the sound on this one beats the first record hands down.
First
one sounds good but nowhere near as good as this. As it's got a
warmer sound. It sounds like a record we would choose to listen to.
We used a different studio as we weren't comfortable wit the studio
where we recorded the first album. It was in Wales and it's a long
fucking drive.
We
recorded the album in 3 days. If you listen to Sabbath's first
couple of albums they did it all in 2 days and belted it out. They
were obviously a touring and recording band. We don't have that
luxury but at the same time we just thought – FUCK IT!!!. That's
what you're supposed to do.
I
think the 70s and the excess of having the opportunity to fart for
half a day and playing the Kazoo for the whole afternoon. I think it
ruins the whole vibe a bit. Just fucking get on with it. Knock it out
and mix it as well as you can.
SL
– You're signed to Rise Above Records. How did that came about.
We
just hassled Lee. We said - “If you don't sign us then you're a
fucking cunt.”. - I sent him an email saying if you don't sign us
then you're missing a trick as we are into the the same shit you're
into.
SL
– What's the song-writing process in the band. Is it a group
process or is it down to one individual.
John
tens to do most of the lyrics and we and as a band come up with a few
riffs and piece it together in the rehearsal room. We don't know what
we are doing. We point at the microphone and look at the lights. It's
probably a lot more technical than that.
The
engineer is probably thinking - “What the fuck is this!!!”
But
we don't care. It's sounds good. It's heavy rock. It's not Michael
Buble. That's why we are playing bottom of the bill with Uncle Acid
in a 300 capacity venue. And Michael Buble is at the O2 Arena eating
caviar burgers and having it off with 5 women at the same time.
SL
– Did you feel under pressure when making the new album.
No.
We had a bunch of songs and put another bunch of songs together. And
we thought 10 songs put them all together and that is the album. We
didn't feel any pressure as we found a studio that was local to where
we live about 6 or 7 miles down the road.
We
were wondering where to go and I googled - “Old Fashioned Analogue
Studio near Hastings” - I spotted one and was thinking what's that.
It's been there 20 odd years and I didn't know it existed. Went down
there to check it out. Owner was pretty friendly and he said yeah I
can do that. Nice bloke and he was the same age as us. He turned out
top. We highly recommend – BroadOak Studios. If you need an album
or anything else recorded then go down there. Great place.
SL
– Have you got any more tours lined up in the year.
We
got nothing in the pipeline. We have got a couple of stray gig here
and there. Leeds in October. We might be going to Spain for a couple
of headlining shows. Going to Portugal with Kadavar as their mains
support for a few days.
Plus
we have the Freak Valley Festival in Germany as well. Though we are
happy to do more gigs as we are very cheap.
SL
– How would you describe your sound. Hard Rock, Rock and Roll or
Proto Metal.
Hard
Rock. Definitely. Hard Rock as we listen to a lot of classic US Hard
Rock Bands. But we also dig Quo, Slade and their classic hard rock
sound.
SL
– Where did the name came from and why that choice.
Basically
we were coming home from the pub one night and near where Johnny used
to live, there is this old beam house in Hastings Old Town. It's got
a big plaque outside saying - “This is where Sir Admiral Cloudesley
Shovell mother used to live.”
He
didn't live there but his mother did. He lived in Rochester. We
thought. HA – The Sir Admiral Cloudesley Shovell. Lets call
ourselves Cloudseley Shovell as that's a great name. But we said –
FUCK IT. Lets go the whole hog.
Since
then we were asked what's the name of your band and people are
expecting – THE FUCKS or THE CUNTS. You tell them the name and they
look at each other and go - “OH!!!”.
Then
you know why no-one is going to find your album as they are spelling
it wrong or try googling it.
SL
– Well guys thanks to talking to us here at Sludgelord. All the
best with the show. Really looking forward to it.
Cheers.
After
that I saw The Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell
play
a blistering set to a truly appreciative Glasgow audience.
I
want to thank Aaron Pickford, Rise Above and The Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell
for
arranging this interview.
Check
'em Before You Wreck 'em is now available to buy from all good
stockists now on Rise Above Records.
Check the band from links below
Written by Steve Howe
