"CROWDS SING THE RIFFS BACK AT US. IT'S ADAN GREAT FEELING!"

How to write a pop punk anthem - and how to make a solo sing. For Neck Deep guitarists Sam Bowden and Matt West, it's all about finding that one great hook...

Before a certain two American millionaires came along to revive the local football team, pop punk protagonists Neck Deep were the biggest thing to happen in Wrexham in a long time.

From 2017's The Peace And The Panic peaking at number four in the US Billboard top 200, to touring with Blink-182, headlining Slam Dunk 2022 and boasting 3.6m monthly listeners on Spotify, the band's adrenalised anthems have proven a great success on both sides of the channel.

Then, with 2020's All Distortions Are Intentional, they threw caution to the wind, and with it, all their influences into their sonic melting pot. While this album proved a hit with fans, the band have returned to their roots with their new, self-titled release. A record stripped of its predecessor's leftfield adventures, what it serves up is a no-nonsense collection of three-minute songs which confidently showcase what the band does best.

Guitarists Sam Bowden and Matt West discuss why they shrugged off big-name producers to record DIY, how they personalize the tried-and-tested pop-punk formula, and provide top tips for writing killer pop-punk guitar solos.

You're back with a new album, which was self-recorded at your warehouse space. What inspired that decision?