FANS of Southampton’s Band of Skulls, pictured, have been given a sneak preview of their hotlyanticipated new material.

New single The Devil Takes Care of His Own, out this week, is the first release from second album Sweet Sour, which is due for release in February.

A kung-fu themed video accompanies the single.

Russell Marsden (guitar/vocals), Emma Richardson (bass/vocals) and Matt Hayward (drums) will perform some of the new tracks on their UK tour in February and March 2012. Many of the shows have already sold out.

The band’s second album was recorded at Rockfield studios in Wales with producer Ian Davenport and mixed in Los Angeles by Nick Launey (Nick Cave/PIL/Yeah Yeah Yeahs).

Frontman Russell told Scene South: “It’s not too different from the first record, I think if people heard and liked that they will find something they recognise in this one. But it’s definitely more extreme in the sense that if it’s a loud track, it’s louder and if it’s the opposite, it’s more beautiful and quieter.

We’re pushing that confusing element of ourselves.

“We chose Sweet Sour as a name because it’s the first song on the album, but also because it sums us up – the two sides of us.

“Rather than any particular local lyrics, there’s definitely a homesick feeling about the whole thing. We don’t want to start writing about the lonely road, but being away so much there’s definitely a sense that we’ve been in Southampton all our lives and we’ve missed it.

“We were touring for two years for the first album so we’ve loved being able to spend more time at home. But we’re also really excited about playing live with this record.

It’s the difficult second album and, whereas the first time we wanted as many people as possible to hear our music, we hope they love it even more this time.”

Band of Skulls’ success in the US continues following a high-profile appearance on the Twilight New Moon soundtrack with their song Friends.

This summer saw the band play the Bonnaroo Festival in Tennessee as well as two sold-out shows in Los Angeles and New York.

Their music has been used in both the new Hugo Boss advert and on the trailer for the film Hangover Pt II.