We sent Cormac Neeson from The Answer some questions via e-mail and this is what he had to say.

You are due to release your new studio album ‘Revival’ at the start of October, how long have you been working on the album for and how have you found the whole writing and recording process this time around?
-We’ve been off the road now for over a year. In that time we spent about 8 months writing, a month in pre-production and 2 months in Texas recording the album. I found the whole process to be the most productive in the bands history. We actually had to agree to stop writing songs at one point so that we could put all our energy into the select group of songs that we would take into the studio and turn into an album.

What themes and stories do you cover within the album?
The albums mood is predominantly positive and forward thinking. It deals with our experiences on the road during the previous two years in which we really got to see the world in all its glory. Its a statement of intent by a band with a new found confidence in their own identity. Theres a lot of good honest life experience in there which hopefully the listener can tune into and identify with.

How would you say the album compares to your previous albums?
I think its the next natural step that combines the naked passion of Rise with the ever developing songwriting processes of Everyday Demons. Its definitely the biggest sounding album so far and I’d have to say our best as well. It draws quite heavily on the blues and theres a bit of metal in there too. But its an unmistakably rock n roll album.

What would you say your favourite songs from the album are and why?
“Caught On the Riverbed” sums up what The Answer are about for me. Its an uptempo rocker that will take your head off when the chorus kicks in and melt your face when the solo rips out of your speaker system. Our new single “Vida (I Want You)” is probably our hookiest song with a few melodies in there that really get lodged in your brain. But I love them all!!

You spent a massive amount of time support AC/DC over the past couple of yours would you say that has helped you grow as a band and influenced you with ‘Revival’?
Absolutely. I’ve mentioned that i believe our songwriting is an ever developing art but theres no crash course in the world like watching ACDC play hit after hit every night..118 times in total to be precise. We learnt how to connect with an insane amount of people..how the simplest gestures can go such a long way. We had the time of our lives on that tour and those good times and the crazy pace that we were living our lives during that time serve as the major inspiration for “Revival” both lyrically and musically.

What inspires you when it comes to writing the lyrics to your songs?
Love, life, fear of the unknown and the random wild passions of day to day life...in a nutshell

You kick off a massive 20 date headline tour across the UK 2 days after ‘Revival’ is released, what can we expect from the tour and what kind of set list do you think you will be going for?
Its gonna be great...apart from a few festivals over the Summer we haven’t toured in a while so we are hungrier than ever. We’re intentionally starting off in much more intimate venues than what we’re used to. We wanted to go back to some of those venues where it all began for us. We’re looking forward to getting up close and personal with our audience again. There’s gonna be a nice spread of music two spanning across all three albums. All in all it should make for a unique and energetic live experience.

Are you looking forward to certain shows on the tour more than others?
I just want to get our there!!

How much are you looking forward to getting back on the road touring properly again? And overall do you expect to be touring as much as you did when you released ‘Everyday Demon’?
Absolutely..for the next year and a half The Answer are on a mission to revive rock n roll from the grassroots up. We’re taking this album round the world so you guys had betterbe ready for the revival!!

How did you find the whole AC/DC experience? And if you could tour with another high profile band for the same amount of time who would it be and why?
The ACDC tour was like every rock n roll dream I had ever had was suddenly made into a reality and I loved every minute of it. However right now I’m entirely focused on The Answer stepping up and doing everything in our power to some day get to those levels of popularity and success that ACDC currently enjoy. So for that reason I’m really not looking beyond our own headline shows. But you never do know whats around the corner.

What’s your take on the digital revelation killing off the music business?
I think the music industry and ourselves included just have to deal with it and adapt. Arguably the digital age opens as many doors as it slams shut. I console myself in the knowledge that the world is always gonna want to listen to music and rock out.

Social network sites seem to be a big tool in the music industry these days, with artists communicating with their fans over it and some even ditching their own website and having just a social network page, what are your opinions on social networks as tools in the music industry?
This is what I’m talking about. It gives some young guy or girl sitting in his/her bedroom playing like a motherfucker and writing some kick ass tunes a real opportunity to be heard. Its great. I’ve just spent 2 hours hosting a band q and a facebook chat and it was great. So yes its there to be embraced.

Where do you hope to see The Answer in a year’s time?
Playing in front of a massive crowd that are losing their minds to our new songs

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?
A giraffe...With that extra height I reckon they’d have more fun than zebras any day of the week

Thanks for your time is there a message for your fans reading this?
Check out our new album..its great. And keep in touch...I’m on facebook you know

Interview by Trigger