Maximo Park have so far had a successful run during their 12 years in the music industry, producing six studio albums and performing sell-out shows across the globe.

With album number six recently released they show no signs of slowing down in 2017.

The group are currently readying for an 11-date UK tour which includes a show at London's Royal Festival Hall on May 12.

Maximo Park's Lukas Wooller tells us: "We've been playing these songs for a year but without anyone actually hearing them.

"We are champing at the bit to finally get up on a stage and perform them for people!"

After performing on the live circuit for over a decade the thought of putting together a fresh new show could seem daunting.

Maximo Park at Times Square, Newcastle
Maximo Park at Times Square, Newcastle

There's seemingly a pressure for bands who reach this point to not be repetitive to their devoted fans.

On what to expect Lukas quips: "Something old, something new, nothing borrowed, something blue - both in the musical and Peter Kay sense."

They'll be showcasing their recently released sixth studio album 'Risk to Exist', quite a feat to achieve for bands in today's ever changing music industry.

On the longevity of Maximo Park, Lukas says: "We feel proud that we've managed to weather the various storms over the years."

"We've been lucky in that we've had nothing occur within the band that we haven’t been able to deal with.

"It can be intense as a group of 5 people trying to see a project to fruition, whether that be a song, an album, a video or a tour.

"Everyone has their own ideas and that can create something really great that no one individual would’ve been able to come up with on their own - but it can also create tension and sometimes someone can feel that their ideas are not being used."

'We feel proud that we've managed to weather the various storms over the years'

The solo projects outside of Maximo Park helped the group express their personal interests and come back as a five-piece ready to produce new material as a collective again.

As Lukas puts it: "It has allowed us to have alternative outlets for our ideas which takes the pressure off the band being the one and only container for all our ideas."

However projects such as frontman Paul Smith's solo record didn't come without criticism. As Lukas says: "It's not easy to go and do outside projects and at first the people around us, like our management tried to discourage it, but it's been a key factor to our longevity.

Although there is the difficulty of consistent creativity within a group there is the added pressure of the ever-changing music industry.

At a time when Spotify streams and social media statistics are billed as important how do group's like Maximo Park who started during the pre-streaming era survive?

Maximo Park during their sell out gig at the City Hall in Newcastle.

Lukas says: "In some ways we still feel that we're viewed the same as when we first appeared. We've sometimes felt somewhat misunderstood and too often dismissed. The combination of unfettered emotion and unembarrassed intelligence in the lyrics seems to really divide people.

"Also our music is a lot more varied than people give us credit for - if we were ‘indie landfill’ we wouldn't be about to embark on a world tour for our sixth record in 12 years."

"But being the underdog allows us to keep focused on what we want to do without too much intervention."

Maximo Park also credit their label Warp Records for allowing free reign on their creative process and how they present themselves within the industry.

As Lukas says: "We do the creative side and build a vision and then we work with people to help us present that to the wider world - it's not the other way round.

"We've never worked with a record label that has any say on what we write and record. I think that's more rare than ever, as the music industry - still - struggles to survive in the post-Napster world and is taking less risks than ever before and placing less trust in artists."

The artwork to 'Risk to Exist' replicates their move to a more pop infused sound

This time round Maximo Park definitely take risks and don't hold back with their overtly politicial lyrics and tone on tracks including 'Risk to Exist' and 'What Did We Do To You To Deserve This?'

As Lukas says: "With a general election now in the offing, the songs seem more relevant than ever."

The full record which was crafted in their hometown of Newcastle sees politics take at the forefront of the lyrical content, combining a mix of anger at the establishment alongside messages of solidarity.

On the theme of the album Lukas says: "As the new songs took shape we noticed that more overt political lyrics were emerging, with words like government and right-wing.

"In some ways it felt a natural progression and a reflection of our feelings, but we were also aware that having obviously political themes in the songs might be off putting for the listener."

However with a nation divided they group wanted to be sure that they wouldn't alienate any listeners as well as creating a piece of work that embodies the mood of the past two years and can be looked back on by future generations.

Lukas says: "We've always tried to allow the interpretations of our songs to be as open as possible and not exclude anybody.

"It's been a challenge to keep the political and personal in balance in the songs and to communicate our feelings about current events without preaching.

"Whether we have succeeded or not only time will tell - we always write our songs to be relevant to any future listeners and not just for the present ones."

Tickets for Maximo Park's UK tour are available here .

The Royal Festival Hall show is priced between £22-£33, plus booking fees.

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