Mit ihrem kommenden Album „Savages“ meldet sich das britische Punkrock-Trio Templeton Pek eindrucksvoll zurück. Roh, düster und kompromissloser als je zuvor, vereint die Platte druckvolle Songs mit klaren politischen Botschaften – ohne dabei die melodischen Hooks zu verlieren, für die die Band bekannt ist. Wir haben uns mit der Band über die Entstehung des Albums, ihre musikalische Weiterentwicklung und die Bedeutung einer politischen Stimme im Punkrock unterhalten.
Frontstage Magazine: Your new album “Savages” sounds much rawer, darker, and more political than your previous releases. What inspired you as a band to take this step musically and lyrically?
Templeton Pek: Honestly it was an organic process, because this is the longest writing period we’ve ever had. We have always been influenced by things that are happening around us. Our last album “Watching the World Come undone” for instance, was quite prophetic in where we are heading as a species, this one I feel is more observational. We also had a lot more time to experiment in writing styles and techniques, so I think all that contributed.
Frontstage Magazine: Throughout your career you’ve shared stages with bands like Rise Against, Bad Religion, and Sum 41. How did those experiences influence the making of “Savages”?
Templeton Pek: They have all influenced us in some way whether subconsciously or consciously. With every band we have toured with and equally importantly with every record producer we’ve worked with, we’ve taken little things to build on ourselves. I think that’s why it’s so important that bands of stature and size when they can, they absolutely must bring smaller bands along to keep the lifeblood of live music alive. Because the best way to learn is to learn from people you respect.
Frontstage Magazine: Lyrically, the new record deals with themes such as social division, resilience, and humanity in difficult times. How important is it for you that punk rock still carries a political voice today?
Templeton Pek: It is massively important, everyone has the right for their voice to be heard, whether you disagree or not. I think the world has forgotten that it’s OK to disagree, we as a species seem hell bent on being right all the time. And we try to do that with our songs, ask questions, make observations, they are very much unintentional and organic. We have never sat down and discussed a topic we should write about, it’s just what comes out at any given time.
Frontstage Magazine: You’ve described “Savages” as the record you’ve always wanted to make. What makes this release stand out compared to your previous albums?
Templeton Pek: We had the same enforced break as everyone else in the world, and when it came to discussing a new album, we decided that we needed to step back, get more perspective and above all take our time with this. One of the biggest problems on all our records in the past is time, we never had enough money for lots of studio time. So, we cut the recording of “Savages” into several sessions, it allowed us more time to write, live with the songs and work more closely with George Perks the producer, and we didn’t have a deadline so that was liberating. Our last three albums were recorded in the states, great as that was an experience we were always on the clock, so we decided to work close to our hometown of Birmingham to relieve any pressures. Ultimately, we didn’t see the point in “Coming back” if it wasn’t going to be the biggest and best thing we have ever done across the board, in performance, in writing and in production.
Frontstage Magazine: With your upcoming tour you’ll be bringing “Savages” to stages across Europe and the UK. What can fans expect from your live shows, and what are you personally looking forward to the most?
Templeton Pek: I’m looking forward to coming back to places we’ve already been and seeing new places we’ve never seen, we’ve already had a taste for the road with the shows we’ve already done, so we will be building on that but ultimately the thrill is in the live performance so expect to see us playing our hearts out. Then having a few beers with everyone at the merch desk afterwards.
Wir vom Frontstage Magazine präsentieren euch in Zusammenarbeit mit Spider Promotion die Touren im Oktober.
09.10.25 Wermelskirchen AJZ Bahndamm
10.10.25 Clausthal-Zellerfeld Kellerclub im Stuz
11.10.25 Vechta Gulfhaus
12.10.25 Göttingen Exil
14.10.25 München Backstage
16.10.25 Oberhausen Druckluft
17.10.25 Hannover Stumpf
18.10.25 Arnhem (NL) Cafe Bosch
Fotocredit: Albumcover
