THE Sherlocks are going back to the future as they prepare to release a third album which drummer Brandon Crook firmly believes is the Bolton-upon-Dearne band’s best yet.

The year 2020 has certainly produced some unexpected twists for the four-piece and not just because of the pandemic.

Brandon and his singer/songwriter brother Kiaran are now playing alongside Alex Procter (guitar) and Trent Jackson (bass), following the departure of Josh and Andy Davidson after ten years.

Meanwhile, Covid quashed a tour of the USA and a big night on the same bill as indie heavyweights Catfish and the Bottlemen at the Tramlines festival in Sheffield.

But on the plus side, Brandon, Kiaran, Alex and Trent have been able to spend three weeks at the legendary Rockfield Studios in Wales, recording the follow-up to 2019’s ‘Under Your Sky’.

The producer was Dave Eringa, who is known for his long association with the Manic Street Preachers and has also worked with the likes of Idlewild, The Proclaimers and Roger Daltrey.

And the result is a collection of songs which Brandon says have some similarities to those on 2017’s debut album ‘Live for the Moment’, but with a ‘rockier edge’.

“I’m really pleased with it, and hopefully our fans will be too,” he told the Chronicle. “For me, it’s like album one on steroids.

“We were going into the unknown a little bit, because myself and Kiaran were still getting to know Alex and Trent, but we’ve become quite tight quite quickly.”

The Davidson brothers’ departure was amicable, with Brandon explaining: “I think they’d achieved everything they’d wanted to, and needed a change from the music business.

“We’ve had two top 20 albums and had the chance to support people like Liam Gallagher and The Libertines and play in places like the USA, Japan and South Korea, stuff you dream of.

“Myself and Kiaran supported them all the way, but we’re not ready to stop, so getting Alex and Trent on board through our sound engineer Nick has been great.

“Alex is from Blackburn and is a bit of a guitar wizard, while Alex is a music student at Huddersfield and is well into the technical side of things, so there’s a nice mix.

“We haven’t strayed miles away from where we were, but they have added something a bit different, and I think that’s reflected in how we are sounding now.”

Both the title and release date of the new album are yet to be confirmed, and Brandon added: “We’re the kind of band who like to get out there to promote it, so we need to see what happens.

“Covid has obviously changed things, and this year has certainly been different. Missing out on going to the States and playing Tramlines was a big disappointment.

“We were touring when the pandemic took hold and we had just come off stage in Southampton when my dad (Mick Crook is The Sherlocks’ manager) told us the US trip was off.

“The hope was that things might have settled down in time for Tramlines, but that obviously didn’t happen.

“We were gutted, because we would have been playing alongside DMA’s as well as Catfish just down the road from home, and with loads of our fans there, it would have been amazing.

“I suppose it might happen in the future, but there is still a lot of uncertainty over exactly when live music can start again, and what chance is there of those stars aligning like they would have done?

“But we’re pretty philosophical about the situation and the key thing is The Sherlocks are still around and still going strong, with a new album on the way and live appearances as soon as possible.”