With songs of misery and heartache, whether about a couple forever entombed in the ashes of Pompeii, the awfulness of politics, the last night on earth or realising that the only way of making your lover truly happy is to leave them, all set against uplifting beats and jolly riffs, the band are like a modern-day Smiths.

Their latest album is cheerily called Doom Days and they bring the tour to Carlisle this weekend.

Bassist and guitarist Will Farquarson is surprised at being likened to The Smiths, then says: “That is a really flattering comparison.

“I have no problem being compared to the Smiths.

“We do try and juxtapose the music with the lyrics.

“A lot of the music around is love songs or autobiographical about relationships and Dan always wanted to avoid being to obvious about his lyrics and use metaphors and leave them open to people’s interpretation.

“The first album, Bad Blood, was an angsty, coming of age album. When we met we were in our early 20s. When you are leaving university and moving into the real world, it’s not the most positive time.

“It is tough being young, especially nowadays.

“The second album, Wild World, was written in the run-up to Brexit and there was a lot happening around Trump.

“This album is more about the human condition and a celebration of intimacy and love and seeing a way through the darkness and angst in human relations.

There is some positivity on there - Joy is about waking up with a hangover and being glad to hear from someone you care about.

“Creativity flourishes when there is some kind of angst.

“It is one thing people connect with - a shared experience of suffering and overcoming problems.””

Will still recalls the bad press the band received in their early days, even after the major success of Pompeii and admits that they never read any reviews as a result.

The success of their breakthrough song still amazes him: “Now, looking back, I have moments of reflection and it is actually quite insane because the odds are stacked against you.

“It was pretty meteoric to go from pub gigs to playing the 02 Arena two years later.”

Bastille, The Sands Centre, Carlisle, Saturday. Sold out.