MAX Raptor are no shrinking violets.

Ask them their opinion on modern life and you’re likely to get a direct answer in return. Their new mini-album, Portraits, is described as “short, sharp and snappy portrayals of modern existence”.

While some songs “chronicle a plethora of dysfunctions with a colour of inevitability”, others “underscore the decline of our ‘empire’ with a wry nationalist cry”.

Right.

“We have always wanted to veer away from the kind of lyrics involving country walks, picnics, meeting girls on holiday, dew on spiderwebs and sunshine,” says frontman Wil Ray.

“We wanted to get properly gritty and sing about actual things. You could call it opinionated, but everyone can see the problems we all have so it made more sense to sing about things that are more important.

“Our songs are up-tempo and will get you going, but the idea of being able to get involved in the lyrics and the ideas is something we all like when we go to see bands ourselves. It’s not so much a concept. Our songs just have a bit more thought put into them than most of the dirge that is propelled out of our radios these days.”

With talk of strikes, people losing their jobs, inner city stabbings and the like, the band has plenty of ammunition to fire.

“Ammunition is a good word to describe it,”

agrees Ray. “It seems to have come to a head recently, but there have always been issues and problems we have witnessed or faced. Drug abuse, social problems – jeez, this all sounds really serious.

We try and steer clear of becoming preachy.

People can make up their own minds, but we don’t sit on the fence or take a back seat.

“They’re commentaries of actual things that happen, that people can get their teeth into and imagine as they listen to the album, but there are positive messages and ideas in the songs on Portraits.”

Max Raptor’s influences includes the likes of The Clash and modern day heroes, The Foo Fighters, two bands with their own identity, so what makes four Midlands lads stand out from the crowd?

“We always aim to stay true to how we started out and songs that we can believe in,” says Ray.

“I think that when we all go and watch bands, the band has to be believable. What’s the point in writing something you don’t truly get and then taking money from people to come and watch a show? The live show has to be as good as the recordings, but in a way better and memorable.”

Recently, Max Raptor supported The Stranglers, including a gig at the Hammersmith Apollo.

“It was everything we dreamt of and more,”

says Ray. “Playing the Hammersmith Apollo was a huge thing for us. Massive amounts of heritage and big sell out crowds are going to be the best way to carve your way in.

“The Stranglers looked after us, fuelling our dressing rooms with alcohol and food and the crew were like family by the end. It was an incredible month.”

There promises to be more ahead. I ask Ray about Kerrang!’s description of Portraits as “music you could fight to”.

“We love playing our live shows and our fans get more and more mental and involved,” says Ray. “I reckon fight is used in the ‘a vigorous struggle or campaign for or against something’ sense, but then maybe not. Listen to The King is Dead and you can decide for yourselves.”

􀁧 Max Raptor, Spensley’s Emporium, Middlesbrough, May 18. Portraits is released on Naim Edge Records