Punk Habits

“Dude, what time is it? I forgot this interview was on. In fact I don't even know what's going on.”

These aren't the words we're hoping to hear after placing the interview call. But, as it turns out, our stereotype of weed-smoking punk-rock slackers is misplaced. “I've been drumming all afternoon,” says Pour Habit drummer Colin Walsh – the band's hectic touring schedule means it pays to stay sharp. “We're coming down to see you guys in Australia soon and we don't want to let you down, so we've been practicing a heap.”

Not surprisingly Pour Habit consider Australia as something of a second home. “We've [been] down there a few times now and we always have amazing experiences. I know all the punk bands from our neck of the woods love coming to Australia because of all the similarities it has to back home. Any country you go where you can end up having a beer with just about anyone is a good place in my book. We love you guys so much we're putting out an Australian-only single with a different version of Matter Of Opinion called Punisher Mansion and an old demo track called Survive.”

Walsh admits that an extensive touring schedule has meant that Pour Habit haven't got to the studio as often as they like. But he also points to other factors. “Drugs, alcohol and money, that's what's stopped us recording more songs,” he laughs. “In all honesty we're a touring band who likes to have fun. We get out and play around the world because we enjoy the hell out of it and because we have to if we want to survive financially. We don't have lots of money lying around – so the road is where we make a living.

“Do I wish we'd managed to record more? Yeah I guess – but things have turned out the way they have and that's that. I think it comes down to the fact that we're not one of those punk bands that are really into themselves. We just come together, make music and do our thing. We don't really plan too far ahead.”

While Pour Habit albums come around very rarely, when they do arrive people inevitably like what they hear. “We got a great response to last year's record [Got Your Back],” Walsh admits. “Some of our long-standing fans were a little surprised because we did some different things but overall we kept the fans we had and brought in some new ones. So all in all it was a very successful record.”

Walsh also reveals that the band are getting ready to up the pace when it comes to recorded product – a new Pour Habit album is already around the corner. “I can't tell you too much but right now we have nine or ten new songs and hope to put together another five or six songs before we go into the studio. It looks like we'll be recording in early 2013 and hopefully we'll have the album out by February or March. Everything's up in the air at the moment, I doubt we'll even be playing these tunes when we come down to Australia because we haven't practiced them enough. But I want everyone to know that a new album is happening.”

And should we expect any surprises? Leftfield excursions; wacky covers; a disco number? “We're not really that kind of band,” laughs Walsh. “Pour Habit fans know what they're going to get from us. That's not to say it's going to sound the same as Suiticide but we're not going to completely change what we do just to try and be different. It sounds like a cliché but all we want to do is play good punk rock for people who appreciate it. If we can do that we're happy."

Pour Habit play the following shows.