IT'S the beginning of a new era for the Futureheads," singer and guitarist Barry Hyde merrily proclaims by phone from Britain. Last month, the four-piece band released its third album This Is Not The World and Hyde is decidedly jubilant.
"It's a huge time for us," he says. "We definitely feel we have accomplished what we hoped for with this album."
The title is a triumphant statement for a band on shaky ground after being dropped by its record label following poor sales of 2006's News And Tributes.
Hyde admits the band had a problem. The first two albums -- the 2004 self-titled debut and its follow-up -- sounded as if they were by different bands.
Audio: Listen to This is Not the World
Audio: Listen to Radio Heart
Audio: Listen to The Beginning of the Twist
Futureheads was aiming to create an album somewhere between energetic punk rock and angst-ridden intensity, but the band soon realised trying to create a link between those albums was no way to create a third.
"It was time for a complete rethink," he says. "We all agreed we needed an album that worked incredibly well live, an album that was very vibrant, with unstoppable hooks and choruses. We wanted it to be a really big-sounding, energetic album."
Hyde says when the band took News and Tributes on the road it realised the contrast in style and pace between the two albums was not going down well.
"It was very difficult to play shows including songs from both albums, because one song would be all energetic and fun, like Le Garage or Stupid and Shallow, and then we would play Burnt or Thursday from the second album.
"You could almost hear the audience saying, 'Excuse me, where have the Futureheads gone? I came here to sweat, not cry'."
With This Is Not The World the band has recaptured the energy of the debut while honing songwriting skills that came to the fore on News and Tributes.
Despite good reviews for News and Tributes, poor sales meant the record label didn't give the record the support the band felt it deserved. Hyde says it was a dark time for the band, but out of it he managed to write the song that has spearheaded a triumphant return, The Beginning of the Twist.
"I wrote that song when I was very, very depressed," he says. "We were signed to Warner Bros, but I really wanted out. I was reluctant to show them that song because I knew it was good and if they knew I had a good song they probably wouldn't have let us go."
Eventually the band was released. While there were offers from other majors, Hyde says the band was shy of signing to another label. So they teamed with their management to start the label Nul Records.
"I think we have been quite lucky because, when we got dropped, the major label business was, and still is, in an absolute state of chaos," he says.
"Now with our own label we feel we are in complete control of our destiny. Now no one can mess up our good efforts by being lethargic."
The band, Hyde, brother and drummer Dave Hyde, guitarist and singer Ross Millard and bassist David "Jaff" Craig, went to Spain to record with producer Youth (the Verve, Primal Scream). Hyde admits he was anxious that the band only had a fortnight to complete the album.
While Hyde admits he is a natural-born "stresshead", he says even he found it hard to get too anxious while chilling out on the Mediterranean coast.
It helped that the band had ultimate faith in Youth.
"He is a brilliant producer and a very charismatic character. We allowed him to use all his skills and tricks on us."
Hyde confirms Australia is on the tour schedule: "I can promise we will be down there by the end of the year."
This Is Not The World is out now.
