A DUNFERMLINE band is showing no signs of fading away as they prepare for the release of their sophomore album.

The Fade are counting down the days ahead of their next record, an 11-track showcase that is "night and day" from their debut album three years ago.

Ironically, the band's lead vocalist Raymond Donnelly told the Press this week that they should have waited longer before releasing Worth Waiting For, admitting that it felt "rushed".

"Looking back on it, we had set a target for when we wanted it to be out by and I wish I could go back in time and tweak a few of them," Donnelly said.

"We're still very proud of that album, but we've taken our time on the new album and I think it shows."

The Fade's second album Twenty – 27 – Seven will be out on September 3.

The title pays homage to the iconic musicians lost at that age: Brian Jones, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Kurt Cobain and Amy Winehouse.

"I initially came up with the name of Great Stories, as I felt we had 11 great stories on the album," Donnelly recalled.

"I put that to the band but they weren't that keen. However, it was the 10-year anniversary of Amy Winehouse's death recently and that's when 27 came to me; I started to think of the icons we've lost over the years at that age. That idea for the album name was immediately approved by the guys."

The album retains the commercial sound heard on Worth Waiting For, with Donnelly's vocals distinctive and at the forefront of the six-piece, which now features rhythm guitar within its ranks.

"The songs are exactly how we want them to sound," Donnelly stated.

"You hear about bands talking about that difficult second album but that wasn't the case for us.

"Some songs weren't finished but we knew we wanted them to be on the album and, as a whole, this album easily eclipses our first album.

"We did rush the first one – maybe we were too excited? – but lockdown has helped us massively with Twenty – 27 – Seven.

"We had started talking about this album at Christmas time in 2019, and then the pandemic hit and forced us to go online.

"We were working on ideas at home and connecting online. It meant we were really learning the songs and taking our time to get them right.

"The album sounds different to the first and the new rhythm guitarist has given us a heavier sound in places."

The Fade had signed previously with Californian-based Rock Avenue Records USA in September 2019, with a distribution deal with Sony and Universal.

However, both sides agreed to tear up the deal due to the pandemic's impact on the music business.

"It was better for everyone involved to move on," Donnelly said.

He added that the decision had allowed the band more freedom and that the deal's end hasn't set them back.

"Listen, we know we'll never be famous and when people ask why are we doing this at our age, I just think, 'Why not?'

"We're still learning and having fun."

l Twenty – 27 – Seven will be released on September 3 with pre-order details to be announced on The Fade's Facebook page in the coming weeks.