A new direction for Band of Skulls as they bring tour to Brighton

So to hear that their latest album Love Is All You Love was produced by Richard X, who has worked with the likes of Liberty X, Kelis and Sugababes, is intriguing to say the least.

Emma Richardson, who plays bass, said: “The album has been described as tough and tender.

“Songs have a real punch with those big guitar riffs but you can still dance to them.”

The move into a more electronic sound came after drummer Matt Hayward left in 2017.

“We were a drummer down,” Emma said, “so we started to experiment with electric drums and acoustic drums.

“It meant we could have a play with what we were doing so when we came to meet Richard X he has more of a dance vibe that we wanted to look at.

“It is very much that rock and roll element with a dance beat.”

Richard X encouraged this new spirit of experimentation, pushing the combination of live and electronic as mixing the two was creating interesting dynamics.

Once the writing of the album was complete the band decamped to Nashville to record the live element of the record with Eagles Of Death Metal’s Julian Dorio on drums.

“We started writing it when we were on tour in 2016.

“When Matt left we spent a lot of 2017 writing the album. We used to write as a trio, so it was a bit odd at first when it was the two of us. We had to get used to this new dynamic, but it was more effective just running things between ourselves we made decisions a lot quicker.”

The Southampton bands fifth album is out on April 12.

It features the short sharp shock of ‘That’s My Trouble’, while ‘We’re Alive’ has a heavy dance pulse with a touch of melancholy.

“It is a positive record,” said Emma.

“It looks to what is possible and how a little love and human kindness can help bring about positive change.

“We drew on personal experiences, changes in our situation, and couldn’t help but be affected by what has been going on in the world politically, culturally and environmentally.

“Attempting to overcome that sometimes powerless feeling by creating and connecting with people and making something new.”

Band of Skull’s first album Baby Darling Doll Face Honey was released in 2009, followed by Sweet Sour in 2012, Himalayan in 2014 and By Default in 2016.

The band now consists of Russell Marsden on guitar and vocals and Emma on bass and vocals.

She said: “With each album we do we want it to be a progression we don’t want to do the same thing each time and this meant we could.

“This album is a natural progression for us following on from By Default.”

To coincide with the release of the album they are touring the UK starting in their hometown of Southampton on April 11 before heading to Brighton on April 12.

“We love playing Brighton,” Emma said.

“We have played Green Door Store back in the day and the Concorde 2 a few times but St George’s Church is a new venue for us and a really beautiful one.”

For more information on Band Of Skulls visit their website