I’ve read a few From Autumn to Ashes interviews in my time. They’ve been vulgar and gruesome, and points of discussion have included murdering girlfriends and having sex with couches. Imagine my surprise when I speak to drummer Francis Mark, and the number one thing on his discussion list doesn’t involve sex or girls, it’s actually a hiccup in their recording process; his typewriter is broken.

“I have a really old typewriter from the 1940s,” he drawls out. “It’s really beautiful, and I use it to type all my lyrics, but you can imagine that it’s quite fragile because it’s about 65 years old. I was almost finished, but I have one more song to type, and it’s breaking down on me. I’m frantically trying to get it to co-operate.”

When I enquire if this is the end of his lyric writing quest, Francis almost concedes defeat. “I’ve become quite dependent on it. It’s really become a psychological crutch for my creativity, so to speak. It’s failing me!”

The drama in the recording studio is a minor bump in the road, especially considering the hiatus the band took last year so they could get back in touch with themselves. “I would say that’s very accurate,” Francis agrees. “I do know we’ve gotten back to the point where we’re having a lot of fun playing music. I think our friendships are a lot stronger and a lot of the nonsense of the music industry has been weeded out of our lives.”

In 2001, when From Autumn to Ashes formed, post hardcore wasn’t a mainstream genre, and as they found success at a young age the business-side of things took over their dream. “It’s overwhelming, especially when that’s not what you set out for, you don’t really know what to do with it. A famous saying is that the worst thing that can happen to a young artists is that they have success.”

It’s lucky they’ve come to terms with their success, as it only looks to increase in the future, with the release of their fourth album, and an Australian tour this week. However, fans shouldn’t expect to get a sneak peek of the new album. “You’re going to hear one of the new songs!” Francis declares. “We haven’t been down there since the release of Abandon All Your Friends, which I do have to apologise for. So I figure this tour we should try to get a lot of those songs in. We’re going to have to come back shortly thereafter to support this one though.”

However, when they hit Australia Francis assures us we shouldn’t expect any rowdiness. “I don’t think we get destructive. We haven’t been arrested in quite some time.

“Usually on tour, I bring a bicycle and throw it in the trailer. That way when we get into a city, I can take my bike out and see the city. I don’t know what the policy is on Qantas airways, but perhaps when I get there if someone has a bike I can borrow or rent … If somebody brings me a bicycle to ride, I will go ride bikes with them!”

So what are you waiting for?

From Autumn to Ashes and the Bled National Tour:

Thursday November 23: The Basement, Brisbane (u18, afternoon)
Thursday November 23: The Basement, Brisbane (18+, evening)
Friday November 24: Gaelic Theatre, Sydney (all ages)
Saturday November 25: Soundfest @ UCU, Canberra (all ages)
Sunday November 26: Hifi Bar, Melbourne (u18, afternoon)
Sunday November 26: Hifi Bar, Melbourne (18+, evening)
Wednesday November 29: Fowlers Live,  Adelaide (all ages)
Saturday December 2: Rosemount Hotel, Perth (u18, afternoon)
Saturday December 2: Rosemount Hotel, Perth (18+, evening)