Pure Love

Now based between London and Brooklyn, the pair are embarking on their debut UK headline tour in support of their first album, Anthems, which was released earlier this month.

Frank Carter talks about the new project.

Was calling your debut album Anthems a statement of intent?

“We always wanted to write big rock songs. We weren’t just doing this to get some tunes off our chest, we wanted it to be the best it could be. So we wrote, well, anthems.”

People might have previously associated you with angry, hardcore punk but Pure Love sounds a lot more fun.

“A lot of rock music today is a bit grim and we were keen to get across this idea that you can have a good time, all the time.”

At least three quarters of the record is made up of songs around the three-minute mark. Was brevity important?

“It became quite apparent when we started writing the record that Jimmy has the classic rock song format in his blood. For him, it’s all about finding the right riff for the right part of the song.

“We knew we weren’t trying to reinvent the wheel but write some really good rock songs. The three-minute format is perfect for a reason – it’s tried and tested.”

What is your favourite song on the record right now?

“I really love Anthem. It’s one of the first songs we wrote and it’s about slogging your guts away at something that might never get anywhere.

“It’s one of the songs where I’m most exposed in a way, and it was quite scary for me to start with, in terms of making sure I could sing it properly. It was like, ‘This is all I’ve got, here I am.’ So it was a difficult song but one I’ve really come to love.”

The fact you’re singing was a big deal for people who knew you from Gallows. Was it a big deal for you too?

“Jim had a lot of faith in me, so I owe a lot to his constant encouragement that the voice was sounding good.

“When we started writing the songs, I could sing but I was finding my feet and it was all brand new. Then I met my wife [tattoo artist Sarah Schor, who will be at this weekend’s Tattoo Convention at Brighton Hilton Metropole – see page 32] and she had a singing instructor. So I got in touch with her and that’s when the massive change came.

“I could command my voice and it made me want to explore where I could take it. I’m still nervous about it but it’s made me really confident performance-wise. I feel really good and a lot of it comes from that song, Anthem. It’s life-affirming, you know.”

• The Haunt, Pool Valley, Brighton, Monday, February 18. Doors 7pm, tickets £10. Call 01273 606312