Rob caught up with Kris Coombs-Roberts from FFAF backstage at Birmingham Academy 2, to talk about their new album, Steve Jobs and much more.

You have just released your fifth studio album ‘Welcome Home Armageddon’ how has the album gone down with your fans and the press?
Kris Coombs-Roberts : The reviews of the record so far have been positive across the board, I haven't read anything that has been particularly negative, most of the stuff, ive seen have been good, I haven't look on the net though. The response from the fans has been super positive, there happy we've bought riffs back to our music and stopped scrubbing chords.

How did you find writing and recording this album compared to your previous album releases?
Its different, obviously, now that were a different band, some people might not realise that Gav has been in the band for 2 years, he hasn't had much of an opportunity to write songs with us, Its different that on our last record, we forced our selves into a room to write songs, and it sort of became a conveyor belt or factory system in writing songs, we had to have at least one song by the end of the week, this time it felt more organic, we got together in each others houses, it wouldn't be all of us at the same time, show each other the ideas we got, pull em apart, put em back together and send them off to everyone, and once we felt we had a song, we got together and completed it. It was different but good.

Can you talk us through some of the themes and stories covered within the album?
Its a bit difficult to be honest with you, Matt writes all the lyrics, so you'd have to ask him really, he's not very forth coming in what his songs are about, he likes to leave them open to interpretation, so the listener can make up their own mind. I think it covers, the political and climate issues that are going on at the moment.
What would you say your favourite track from the album is and why?
Its a bit hard that is, its like having to pick a favourite child, Its difficult because each song shows different aspects In which I love about music, but one I've been listening to a lot is the title track, Welcome Home Armageddon

The album features some of the best artwork I have seen in a long time, who came up with the ideas and final designs?
We met Rianne Roland who did the art work through Gav a friend of his, his girlfriend, we saw her work, thought it was excellent, sat down threw some ideas back and forth about what we wanted to do, she did some rough sketches which were really cool, and she started to get seriously into the artwork and finishing it, we were blown away with what she had done, its the best art work we've had on an album

You are currently on a massive headline tour how does it feel to be back on the road and how have the shows been so far?
Its been nice to come back out, we've been cooped up in each others houses and studio for the past couple of months, and its good to come and play these songs to people, the tour so far has been good, we've pretty much hit our stride now.

You are playing some venues that you haven’t played in a long time, are you looking forward to some shows more than others?
I don't know to be honest, there are venues we haven't played in while like King Tuts, its been a good few years since we played there last, It was a great show there the other night. I liked the old Birmingham academy, but this place is cool too., were pretty looking forward to playing everywhere really, were playing some strange places, not that there strange, but strange to go and play shows, we played in Buckley, which is apparently in Wales which we didn't know, but we do now.

Rise To Remain are supporting you on the tour how did this come about and how have they been going down with the crowd?
We toured with them on the Bullet for my Valentine tour last year, we did a bus share with Rise to remain, so we got to know them, in small confined space, and there on the same management with us, they were an obvious choice really, there very good musicians.

You have been announced to headline the third stage at Download Festival on the Saturday, are you looking forward to headlining quite an intimate sized tent?
Yeah defiantly, when ever we play festivals, we were talking about this the other day, its cool to play the main stage, but its sometimes nicer playing in a tent, it feels more controlled and the sound tends to be better as well because it doesn't get lost in the wind, were looking forward to it.

Are there any bands that you are hoping to check out at the festival?
To be honest with you, I haven't looked at the bill, I'm terrible with things like that, I never check them out till I get there but I'm looking forward to getting there and hanging out.

You have been together for ten years now what would you say your biggest high and biggest low as a band has been so far?
Erm its quite hard to pick, there's a couple, The first time we played reading festival was a good experience for me, opening the concrete jungle stage, that was amazing, getting a gold disc for Casually Dressed & Deep in conversation, it was one thing you don't expect to achieve in your life time and you do it at the age of 21! It was quite a crazy thing. I don't think there are any lows.

What bands and albums have you been listening to recently?
I'm a really big fan of the new Bring me the Horizon record. Which has an unbelievably long title, There Is a Hell, Believe Me I've Seen It. There Is a Heaven, Let's Keep It a Secret, that records very good, its probably the first time I've been into a heavier record in a long time. Also Tiger Please, I'm listening to there EP at the moment, there a very good band.

Bon Jovi recently stated that Apples Steve Jobs is killing off the music business with the digital revelation, what is your take on this?
I don't think its Steve jobs fault, its the internet really, It nots even that really, its people own conscience, people wouldn't walk into a store and steal an album off the shelf, but its amazing what people are capable of when no ones looking, but the internet is a double edged sword, its good to get your music out there to listen to you, but also there so that people can just take your record, if people want check out a band a download there music, they should go to shows and buy there records, if they don't then that and wont be making records for much longer, there's a perception that musicians are multi millionaires, I think this came from the boom of the 80s rock scene, I can tell you were defiantly not.

Where do you hope to see Funeral For A Friend in a year’s time?
Touring, In a years time I like to think that we'll still be touring this record, in 18 months hopefully sitting down to start making the next album.

One last random question that we ask every band, if you could be an animal out of a zebra or Giraffe which one would you be and why?
I would much rather be a zebra, because its the punch line to my favourite joke, What's black,white and eats like a horse? A zebra.

Thanks for your time is there a message for your fans reading this?
Thank you for supporting us over the last 10 years, and thank you for coming to our shows and letting us do what we do, its very much appreciated.

Interview By Robert Lawrence