LIKE a calculated sledgehammer strike to the skull, Foreignfox have returned with an in-your-face, yet similarly withdrawn release of self-questioning that knocks you out cold.

Walking sure-footed on the success of their already stacked body of work, the Dunfermline five-piece have once again produced trademark passion and lyricism that cuts deep in the form of both bellows and whispers in equal measure.

Pulling no punches with their second EP, Foreignfox channel authority, fragility and sincerity into I Used To Be A Bellydancer, which was released on June 30 via Scottish Fiction Records and launched in PJ Molloys on Saturday night.

The five-track offers body blows at every turn, stinging the skin on its maiden listen.

It is only after the second playthrough that the obvious intensity of the sound is put to one side briefly and the words take centre stage.

“We wanted the EP to be like a punch to the gut,” frontman Jonny Watt told Press:ON.

“We wanted it to make a statement and we feel it shows our natural evolution as a band.

“The concept for the title track came from this constant stream of articles in the press on the refugee crisis and Britain’s foreign policy. It almost seemed like the media were dehumanising the people who were risking their lives to get here.

“It’s a fabricated viewpoint from one female trying to escape a war-torn country and the sense of despair and hopelessness she endures.

“It turned into this eight-minute odyssey, and the four other songs are built around that theme.

“This is more ambitious in its scale than our first EP, and is definitely darker.”

Jonny’s vocals and guitar are backed by Paul Devine, Nick Hernandez, Lewis Hamilton and Fraser MacIntyre.

They all feature in spectacular fashion in the music video for the powerhouse lead single from their latest release, Lights Off, Carry Me Home.

The anthemic mastery of visuals is another exemplar of their creative freedom as a group, drawing in their collective appreciation for the form.

A real sight for the eyes, Jonny provided a breakdown of the viewing experience that words simply can’t do justice.

“I drown myself in the bathtub. I’d say that’s a rather extreme form of self-destruction!

“Fraser grooms himself until blood starts coming from his head.

“Nick is driving himself crazy as he watches himself manically laughing on all these TV screens in front of him.

“Our bassist, Paul, is lathering on make-up under the guise of vanity but you see all the desperation underneath that.

“And finally, we have Lewis scratching himself out of his own skin in another exercise on how destructive being overly narcissistic can be.

“The bathtub scene was great fun. I got to drown Nick; that’s been building up for a long time! I’ve been in bands with him since I was 15, so it was cathartic to say the least!”

Refusing to be pigeon-holed as ‘simply musicians’, and inspired by the production value of acts like Mogwai, producing visual representations of their sound is always going to be a staple of the band as they progress and better themselves.

“I think the reason why we write the songs we do, and produce the videos we do, is because it’s more of a creative passion than anything else.

“My grand ambition is for every song to have a video.

“You’re always trying to top yourself, and somewhat adopt that Radiohead attitude of everything you’ve done previously you feel is s***.

It’s almost like a disorder that you always believe you can do better and reflect on what you’ve achieved. You never want to go backwards, that’s our constant fear.”

Not keen to soak in the adulation this EP has provided for too long, work has already begun on their next work, according to Jonny. 

“Now the EP is done and dusted, we’ve been back writing heavily. We’ve got over the excitement of the release, and we’re already trying to create something else.”

Their position as one of Dunfermline’s best bands is no surprise, with Saturday’s launch night going down a storm, with Jonny remarking on the progress the local music scene has made in recent times.

“It’s almost as if the door has been kicked open for Dunfermline in the past year and everyone is taking advantage of that and is pouring through into the world of Scottish music.

“The scene had almost grown completely stagnant three or four years ago.”

Performing in their home town is always a treat to savour and always leaves lasting memories, as well as early festival performances when just starting out after their 2013 formation.

“That buzz you get when you’re on stage and everyone is bouncing off each other, it just completely takes over. You could have technical difficulties, a broken guitar string or a few misplaced notes here and there, but the atmosphere in the moment makes you feel like everything is special.

“One of the best experiences we’ve had as a band was in 2014 when playing Wickerman Festival.

“Everyone was crammed into this little tent and we could see the crowd running and jumping and getting into it, and it really felt like the start of something.

“It was a moment where you said to yourself that if this is what it’s going to be like going forward, then I want to do everything I can to make it happen.”