Gypsy Pistoleros – Dark Faerie Tales
In 2025 Flamenco glam ‘n’ punky goth rockers the Gypsy Pistoleros were set to see their album Church Of The Pistoleros make a dent in the Official UK charts – until label audited fate and slap-palm-of-hand-to-forehead circumstances scuppered what would have been a guaranteed chart entry.
The results were an unhappy bunch of Pistolero bunnies who decided to take control of their own destiny (and product), form their own label and be responsible for their own musical actions.
All of which independently leads to Dark Faerie Tales, a sequel, of sorts, to Church Of The Pistoleros.
The new album, however, is a fiercer, defiant and wholly uncompromising proposition from Gypsy Lee Pistolero (lead vocals), Kerry Pistolero White (bass, backing vocals), Shane Pistolero Sparkz (guitars, backing vocals) and, for the recording of the album, drummer Chris Hopton.
Additionally, and like the Church album, Dark Faerie Tales was produced and co-written by long-time collaborator Dave Draper, whose input is such that, in the studio, he is effectively the fifth member of the band.
The title track, which opens the album, is quintessential, definitive Gypsy Pistoleros.
Snappy, punchy and vocally snarly it may be, but it also carries a sharp hooky chorus and a couple of clever changes-ups, where a 70s glam rock and roll part slides into a short middle 8 waltz section, followed by a spiky, power-down finish. It makes for quite the impacting opening.
Following number, 'My One Desire to Burn It Up,' is, as the title suggests, an angry slice of Pistolero punk-metal power sprinkled with a touch of The Cult (never a bad thing).
'King Of Almost Everything,' where Ramones-y riffing and heavy glam-punk verses meet power-pop choruses, musically underlines that, when in tow with Dave Draper, a melding of what would seem to be disparate genres (along with a great sense of dynamics) works extremely well.
The results were an unhappy bunch of Pistolero bunnies who decided to take control of their own destiny (and product), form their own label and be responsible for their own musical actions.
All of which independently leads to Dark Faerie Tales, a sequel, of sorts, to Church Of The Pistoleros.
The new album, however, is a fiercer, defiant and wholly uncompromising proposition from Gypsy Lee Pistolero (lead vocals), Kerry Pistolero White (bass, backing vocals), Shane Pistolero Sparkz (guitars, backing vocals) and, for the recording of the album, drummer Chris Hopton.
Additionally, and like the Church album, Dark Faerie Tales was produced and co-written by long-time collaborator Dave Draper, whose input is such that, in the studio, he is effectively the fifth member of the band.
The title track, which opens the album, is quintessential, definitive Gypsy Pistoleros.
Snappy, punchy and vocally snarly it may be, but it also carries a sharp hooky chorus and a couple of clever changes-ups, where a 70s glam rock and roll part slides into a short middle 8 waltz section, followed by a spiky, power-down finish. It makes for quite the impacting opening.
Following number, 'My One Desire to Burn It Up,' is, as the title suggests, an angry slice of Pistolero punk-metal power sprinkled with a touch of The Cult (never a bad thing).
'King Of Almost Everything,' where Ramones-y riffing and heavy glam-punk verses meet power-pop choruses, musically underlines that, when in tow with Dave Draper, a melding of what would seem to be disparate genres (along with a great sense of dynamics) works extremely well.
'She’s Getting Stranger' is a moodier proposition, where atmospheric verses build to a sharper vocal attack on the choruses.
A bluesy (Gypsy Pistoleros style, natch) breakdown part, complete with some nice backing harmonies, drops the intensity before the song rocks out on the "she’s getting stranger, she’s a danger!" chorus repeats.
'Take My Hand to Nightmare Land' is an eerie rock lullaby Alice Cooper would love to have called his own. There’s also some Coop styled vocality from Gypsy Lee Pistolero on this track, as well as a nice solo from Shane Sparkz, bolstered further by his later, complementary lead lines (Gypsy Pistolero song arrangements don’t usually lend themselves to solo space, but when Sparkz gets a chance to take lead, he does just that).
'Behind The Mask' is all darker shades (of Killing Joke) and driving rhythm, fuelled further by Gypsy Lee Pistolero’s snarly and, at times, harsh vocal approach (which suits the narrative of the album, and its songs).
It’s also one of the heaviest songs on the album, albeit a melodic and atmospheric middle 8 part breaks up the intensity in impressively arranged fashion.
'I’m The Prince Of The Damned' is a brooding, swaggering, punk-sleazy number led by the rhythmic power of Kerry White and Chris Hopton.
With another huge hook chorus, and a powerful, full throttle mid-section, this number is both the focal point of the album, and a highlight.
Another highlight is 'Rattling,' best described as Pistolero country-punk.
Opening like it has been created in an alternative Nashville, the song develops into a punky rocker that’s simple in arrangement but highly effective. Closing with the same countrified "I want to go home" stanza that opened the song is a nice, bookending touch.
Further musical facets of the band come to the fore courtesy of penultimate number 'I Whisper Goodbye' (a radio friendly slice of melodic goth 'n' roll) and final song, the ballad 'The Ghost of Baby Strange,' which brings light to the darker faerie tales.
Fuelled by the passion of their go-it-alone stance, and bolstered by what is a genuine camaraderie (between both the band members and their fans), Dark Faerie Tales points to a new found and very promising future for the band, under their own terms.
More Pistolero power to them.
Ross Muir
FabricationsHQ
Dark Faerie Tales will be released on April 17th.
Purchase (CD & Coloured Vinyl) here: https://www.plastichead.com/artist/gypsy-pistoleros
A bluesy (Gypsy Pistoleros style, natch) breakdown part, complete with some nice backing harmonies, drops the intensity before the song rocks out on the "she’s getting stranger, she’s a danger!" chorus repeats.
'Take My Hand to Nightmare Land' is an eerie rock lullaby Alice Cooper would love to have called his own. There’s also some Coop styled vocality from Gypsy Lee Pistolero on this track, as well as a nice solo from Shane Sparkz, bolstered further by his later, complementary lead lines (Gypsy Pistolero song arrangements don’t usually lend themselves to solo space, but when Sparkz gets a chance to take lead, he does just that).
'Behind The Mask' is all darker shades (of Killing Joke) and driving rhythm, fuelled further by Gypsy Lee Pistolero’s snarly and, at times, harsh vocal approach (which suits the narrative of the album, and its songs).
It’s also one of the heaviest songs on the album, albeit a melodic and atmospheric middle 8 part breaks up the intensity in impressively arranged fashion.
'I’m The Prince Of The Damned' is a brooding, swaggering, punk-sleazy number led by the rhythmic power of Kerry White and Chris Hopton.
With another huge hook chorus, and a powerful, full throttle mid-section, this number is both the focal point of the album, and a highlight.
Another highlight is 'Rattling,' best described as Pistolero country-punk.
Opening like it has been created in an alternative Nashville, the song develops into a punky rocker that’s simple in arrangement but highly effective. Closing with the same countrified "I want to go home" stanza that opened the song is a nice, bookending touch.
Further musical facets of the band come to the fore courtesy of penultimate number 'I Whisper Goodbye' (a radio friendly slice of melodic goth 'n' roll) and final song, the ballad 'The Ghost of Baby Strange,' which brings light to the darker faerie tales.
Fuelled by the passion of their go-it-alone stance, and bolstered by what is a genuine camaraderie (between both the band members and their fans), Dark Faerie Tales points to a new found and very promising future for the band, under their own terms.
More Pistolero power to them.
Ross Muir
FabricationsHQ
Dark Faerie Tales will be released on April 17th.
Purchase (CD & Coloured Vinyl) here: https://www.plastichead.com/artist/gypsy-pistoleros