The Smoking Hearts Will Beat You at Soccer, Sing ‘Off With Your Head’

Mention the name The Smoking Hearts to club promoters across the UK and you're likely to hear a gasp on the other end of the line. That's because the band is equally known for destroying venues as they are for their balls-to-the-wall take on punk rock. It's not uncommon to find The Smoking Hearts smashing their guitars and throwing their drum set across the stage, during one of their raucous performances. They've played with everyone from Bring Me the Horizon and The Used to Gallows and Andrew WK, proving that they write the kinds of songs that have the dexterity to resonate with metal, punk and rock, crowds.

The Smoking Hearts recently recorded an album entitled 'Victory!' and are close to inking a deal in the States. Recorded with Dan Weller and Justin Hill (Sikth, Enter Shikari), and recorded over a period of four weeks in Fortress Studios, London, 'Victory!' is an irresistible collection of razor-wire guitars, sing-along choruses and adrenalized arrangements.

The album won't hit stores till early 2012, but the band gave Noisecreep its blessing to premiere 'Off With Your Head,' a track from it. Check it below along with a quick interview with bassist Calvin Roffey. As you'll read, he doesn't have much love for American football.

Listen to 'Off With Your Head' From The Smoking Hearts

You guys have a reputation for being one of the most exciting live bands in the UK right now. How did you hone your live chops? Have you all played in bands before?

Thank you, it's taken us a while to gain the reputation, but I'm glad that word is spreading. We have all been in bands before The Smoking Hearts, but nothing of much note. I was in bands at school with Nobba and Sime (the two guitarists), so we've been playing music together for a long time which i think helps with our live chemistry on stage. But as they say, practice makes perfect. We've had plenty of opportunity to get better at playing live just by doing so, constantly playing shows, realizing what works well live, and changing the things that don't. We've also realized that the more energy you give, the better the shows and the responses are.

We also understand that you've been known to smash an instrument or two during your live sets.

How the hell can you afford that in this day and age?!

Yeah, one or two! It's normally my fault. Once at a show in Cardiff, my left-handed bass had a collision with Nobba's right-handed Les Paul and the headstock smashed clean off. He looked at me, laughed, then grabbed his spare guitar. Luckily, I know a thing or two about fixing guitars.

You've played with everyone from the Supersuckers to Bring Me the Horizon. What kinds of crowds have been more receptive to you – the rock or metal ones?

We've been lucky and we've played great shows with some cool bands. I'm not sure we go down best with any particular type of crowd. Quite often we've had the best shows when we've been the odd band out, when no one has expected us. The rock fans seem to like us because we're so much more raucous than the type of bands they're used to, but then the metal kids seem to like us because we're much catchier.

Why do people love soccer so much in England? Do you really think it's better than American football?

Absolutely – no question. How can you even call American football football? No one uses their feet (How about punting and field goals?, ed.), and it's not even round, so you can't really call it a ball. As a band, we aren't as football obsessed as other bands, but Matty is pretty good at it. We all played it at school, and everyone has a favorite team. We bought Sime a Manchester City shirt for his birthday last year too.