FUNERAL For A Friend vocalist Matt Davies-Kreye has never been more content with the Welsh band’s line-up as they take to the road to promote their sixth album, Conduit.

“I guess when you’re making your sixth record, the biggest challenge is to make sure you enjoy what you’re doing and we’re at that point in our career where we can be increasingly selfish in what we do, so this album was all about pushing our influences as hard as possible,” said Matt, whose band emerged from the hardcore metal scene in South Wales.

On Monday and Tuesday they play The Duchess in York and the Leeds Cockpit respectively with a line-up of Davies-Kreye on vocals, Kris Coombs-Roberts and Gav Burrough on guitar and vocals, Richard Boucher on bass and new recruit Pat Lundy on drums.

Burrough and Boucher joined for 2011’s Welcome Home Armageddon album and former Rise To Remain sticksman Lundy took over from long-time drummer/vocalist Ryan Richards during last year, prompting Matt to say: “I think Pat’s been the missing piece of the puzzle for us. His attitude and love of playing really brought a new level of excitement to the band.

“His playing live and on this record really adds a sense of power that we’ve never had.

‘‘It became apparent that our relationship with each other was the strongest we’ve had in this band since the very first few releases and we knew that was special.

‘‘We were all pulling for the same thing and we didn’t care what anyone else felt outside of the five of us.”

Matt has used the change in line-up as an opportunity to explore his vocal style.

“I didn’t want us to hold back and I really didn’t want to hold myself back in terms of the vocals,” he said.

“I knew I had to just go for it and try to go for something that was as pure as possible without trying to pretend that I’m filling in for Ryan’s screaming parts.

‘‘I had to do these songs my own way. That was a big deal to me.”

The album clocks in at not much longer than 30 minutes, a typically smash-and-grab musical raid by Funeral For A Friend.

“It wears its heart on its sleeve in terms of it representing the scene of music that spawned us.

‘‘It’s not trying to be a rebirth or anything cheesy like that,” he said.

“It’s just honest and I hope that’s evident from those who listen to it.

‘‘In my heart it would be great for people to take these songs and love them as much as the others they love and come to a show on a tour and sing them as hard to us as we do to them. That would be beautiful.”

The band’s early 2013 tour finds them playing intimate venues such as The Duchess. “I think we last played in York, at Fibbers, about nine or ten years ago and it’s great to be back,” says Matt.

• Funeral For A Friend also will play The Welly in Hull on April 19.