SOUTHAMPTON’S lauded Band of Skulls release their third long-player today, an album moulded from years of polishing and perfecting their skills into Himalayan, which packs an immediate and inimitable punch.

“We’re really excited about playing it to people now, having to wait to get out on the road with it has been hard,”

guitarist and vocalist Russell Marsden tells me.

“The general vibe about it has been great and we’re hoping for a really positive reaction, indifference would be the worst thing.

“Every record is about a particular moment in time to any band. Two years is a long time in anyone’s life and we’re different people than when we released the last record.

“We have done a lot of gigs and touring since then and got a sense of what kind of songs we wanted to write next.”

Breaking out of the blocks as Band of Skulls in 2008, having initially played together under a different guise for the previous four years, the trio, formed of Russell, Emma Richardson (bass, vocals) and Matt Hayward (drums), first began to pique interest with early single I Know What I Am.

A debut, 2009’s Baby Darling Doll Face Honey, was met with a host of glowing reviews praising the record’s dangerous, dusky charms and glam sensibilities and drawing comparisons to The Kills and The Duke Spirit.

Sweet Spirit, released in 2012, took the blues-ridden imprint of the first album and ramped it up a few gears with the likes of The Devil Takes Care Of His Own and Bruises filling ever bigger venues, including selling out Brixton Academy and supporting Muse and Red Hot Chili Peppers.

The band’s scale continues to grow, particularly in the US, but they have never forgotten their roots.

“The last gig we did at the Guildhall was just massive. We had been all around the world, but nothing was like that.

“It’s always a special show in Southampton and everyone has a great time.

“It pumps us up and we’re hoping to come home to perform at the end of this tour once we’ve honed this record live.

“Until then, we’ll be representing Southampton around the world until we can come home!”