Interview What’s Going On With… Demob Happy?

Demob Happy have a theory. “We’re a legacy band,” muses singer and bassist Matt Marcantonio – a lithe, towering figure with a strong line in Lennon-esque specs. “Six albums deep, someone will finally be like, ‘They’re amazing’ and we’ll be like, ‘Yes we know, we’ve been saying that for 15 years…’”

It’s not an insane thought. With debut LP ‘Dream Soda’ – a hot and sweaty tangle of Queens of the Stone Age-esque melodic filth – the Brighton band should by rights have become a lot bigger than the underground favourites that they currently stand as. But now the group – completed by guitarist Adam Godfrey and streamlined down to three following the departure of former guitarist Matthew Renforth – are readying a superlative second offering that should kick proceedings off a little sooner.

The route to album two started off rocky, the band admit. Recording sessions for a planned transitional EP ended up being scrapped after Renforth left (“We were just pulling in different directions in terms of involvement,” suggests Matt, tactfully) and the trio were at a crossroads. Rather than sit and mope, however, Demob found themselves imbued with a renewed gusto. “There was a cloud hanging over us, but having a bit of breathing room at the end of 2016 made us regain balance and the focus became about the three of us in a room together, just jamming and having fun,” begins Tom. “Suddenly it felt like we were back like kids again, fucking around,” continues Matt. “It was exciting again. We had ideas again.”