A timely reminder in these dark days that we all really do need a little Therapy? in our lives, the September 2018 released Cleave was one of the finest (and most ferocious) rock records of the year.

An opus that well and truly rages against the machine, the trio’s 15th album bristles with a confidence that only comes from a near three-decade-long career spent metaphorically taking people’s craniums’ off with their axes. It reaffirms their reputation as one of the most consistently innovative, interesting and arresting bands to ever hail from this isle.

When we recently caught up with the band’s Ballyclare-bred, Cambridge-based singer/guitarist Andy Cairns, he tells us Cleave is, in part, a reaction to our increasingly draconian times.

“Cleave is not as blatantly political as it could be for some bands. But this era of Brexit, Trump and everything else has definitely influenced the album. There aren’t any lyrics about politics in Northern Ireland as we’ve always wanted to highlight its positive side. But there are some about what’s currently going on around the globe.

“The world is in a strange place right now,” he continues. “I’ve lived in Cambridge since 2002 and I was at a very middle-class house party one night and the discussion moved onto Brexit. I was polite and I said, to be honest, I think it’s a terrible idea and this extremely middle-class Englishman said if you don’t like it you can always go home. So I said I live four doors up the road and that’s my home and he said you can always go back to Ireland if you don’t like it here. I thought to myself, this guy is well educated. Is this what Brexit has made people become? Are they really pulling up the drawbridge? Do they really want to live in their crumbling old mansions surrounded by bits of tat? Sadly, it seems some do!”

This month, Therapy? embark on a five-date Irish tour, taking fellow firebrands the Wood Burning Savages for support. “We’re all excited about playing Derry, Galway, Limerick, Cork and Dundalk. We’ve got some very special memories of all of those places from over the years and it’ll be great to make some more. We’ll be playing most of Cleave as well as fan favourites from over the decades. Those wondering about Belfast and Dublin shows...we’ve something special planned for the band’s 30th birthday next year….”

Before we let Andy get back to his preparation for his latest tour, we feel duty bound to bring up those online rumours about his band being added to the bill at Slane this June (which started pretty much as soon as this year’s bash was confirmed). Metallica and Therapy? go together like Jack and Coke, so is there any truth to the story, we ask?

“I’ve nothing to report so far,” says the singer. “As far as we know that’s Metallica’s and MCD’s call. I can say that Therapy? would be up for it. We’ve played with Metallica in the past and hung out with Lars and stuff. He’s a lovely guy. Our set would definitely suit the Slane crowd.”

Lord Henry, if you’re reading this, you know what to do!

Cleave is out now on Marshall Records.