France definitely has good water pressure, this morning I’ve been experimenting with the various settings on the shower in my hotel room and I’m happy to confirm it was a victory all round. I’m slowly and somewhat purposefully getting a reputation as a flooder of hotel bathrooms. Maybe its the Merman in me but  I just dont feel complete in the morning unless I know that the once dry floor is submerged and that I alone caused the carnage.

Since the first show in Tilburg, Netherlands we have been having the best time, mainland Europe proves once again to be the most beautiful and receptive of places. I definitely feel we have begun a love affair with France, these past two shows have been amongst the greatest ever for us, combine that with the quality of water pressure and its a dream combination.That’s not to say I’ve not loved every city on this tour -I just think having not played a show for a YEAR, before this tour, we are just hitting our true form. Like Apollo 11 blasting away from its earthly restraints its a truly turbulent trip as it races to escape the atmosphere but then once you clear the Van Allen radiation belt you’re clear and cruising. Cant wait to revisit every single city we have played on this tour.

Before last nights show we had a little play around with one of my personal favorite songs – Numb by Marina & the Diamonds. Its a song we will pursue and may turn up on something in the future, I hope so. You can watch the clip here

Barcelona next

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Uk and Ireland shows with MCR and The Blackout have been amazing, we’re having the best tour ever! Really excited to carry on for another three weeks in Europe now starting Saturday In the Netherlands.
Last night while we were on stage in Newcastle Zane Lowe gave Paradox On Earth its first radio one play, check it ” ! Which makes this excellent for us!
Thanks to Zane for this!

Jumping the shark and landing it

Hey everyone I’m sat on a ship watching the waves and listening to MEW – its literally too perfect. Alan is in the on board cinema specifically to sleep! Mark is playing table football (badly) with my guitar tech James and our TM and FOH are in various states of “in isle floor sleeping” much to the continued annoyance of the fellow passengers. Glasgow was amazing last night, really cant wait to get back to Scotland with our own shows and take in a few more cities. Really excited for Dublin 02 arena tonight.

I’ve been loving all the feedback on Paradox On Earth – I’m looking forward to you being able to hear it in its true context, as a part of the full album, news on that is forthcoming.

Steven
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Steven will be interviewed this evening around 8pm on Kerrang! radio
Tune in to K! Radio between either on DAB digital radio, online at www.kerrangradio.co.uk and on 105.2 FM in the West Midlands.

I wrote this song just before we flew out to Los Angeles to record the new album, it wasn’t quite ready for those sessions but really felt like it belonged within the concept of the album.

When we came home we decided to record the song and so booked into Snug Studios right here in our hometown. We have demoed songs here for years and always have the best time – excessive fast food consumption and the formation of “BeefGrape” our side project featuring Rob and Rich, the studio owners and co producers of this song.

We spontaneously made a video a few nights ago with the help of our backline tech James with a budget of zero and just my little camcorder. Both the video and the lyrics have deep meaning for me – its part of an overall piece, which encompasses the new album and the other 80 songs I wrote during late 2009 and the first four months of 2010 under the umbrella title of – WE EXIST AS SHADOWS.

I hope to release more songs from this mountain alongside the upcoming new album, so you will be getting A LOT of new music from us this year.

Fall On Your Sword is just the start and remember this is NOT ON THE ALBUM and will only be available as a free download here.

I know you guys have all been so patient in waiting for our new record, believe me the three of us cant wait for you to hear what we made.

The guys are out in the hills over the village of Eyam in Derbyshire learning about the Bubonic plague that forced the villagers to self quarantine in 1665.
According to the guys this is the way they felt would best prepare them for the upcoming album release and touring.