POWER trio the Subways trusted their gut for their new record.

And the threesome reckon it inspired them to make their best album yet.

The self-titled record is the group's fourth, and contains plenty of high-energy rock, with singer Billy Lunn stepping into the producer's chair for the first time.

"We've always preferred the idea of going with our gut instincts, as we find music a very emotive and primal expression," he explains, before the band hit Oran Mor on Thursday night.

"There's something oddly ritualistic about the way we play our live shows, and for me, as well as being honest and true in all of my songs, I just wanted to capture that energy and life inside us and turn it into music."

Despite it being the first time Billy has produced the band as well as fronting it, the singer found it a comfortable enough transition to make.

"Before we recorded our first album, Young For Eternity, I recorded all our demos in my parents' kitchen, and recorded the demos for all the albums from then on, so taking the step to recording the album proper was quite natural," he explains.

"The most important thing was that we get the songs formed and flowing - after that, it was merely a process of making sure Josh and Charlotte were comfortable with their parts."

It's been over a decade since Young For Eternity was released, a snappy collection of tunes that had a punkish swagger, some pop smarts and heavy, full-throated screaming.

Since then the Subways have been through a lot and kept going, from Billy breaking up with bassist Charlotte Cooper to the popularity of guitar music in general ebbing and flowing over the years.

Earlier this year they had a setback when drummer Josh Morgan had to take time away from the band to cope with his Aspergers Syndrome, although he's expected back on the drum stool for this week's Glasgow gig.

It's a show that Billy is looking forward to - even if an early trip to the city saw him take drastic measures to shake a gig-goer into a reaction.

"I remember our first ever show in Glasgow, at King Tut's, probably in about 2004 or 2005," he says.

"When a guy had his back turned to us for about two songs.

"I screamed at him, telling him to turn round or get out.

"He turned round, and actually turned into a fan, I believe."

Although the band have now on the go for over 10 years, they've all still to reach their 30s.

There's no sign of the trio falling out of love with music, or being burned out either, despite the various difficulties they've faced along the way.

"So many times I've met people in bands, big bands, small bands, whatever, who won't stop complaining," says Billy.

"They'll say 'Ah, we're on a six month tour, we're so tired, blah blah blah ...' I just always want to shake them and say "you're in the greatest job in the world - relish every second you're on tour - this is amazing.

"We also respect each other, as people and musicians, and that's important too."

That appreciation for being in a band also explains why the group love hitting the road.

They've got a strong fanbase in Europe, and have found themselves playing some unusual shows over the years.

"The odd places end up becoming some of the most enjoyable shows," explains Billy.

"We played a gig in a water tower once, and we also performed up in the mountains of Austria during a snowfall, which was magical.

"Oh, and we performed in the centre of Schalke stadium during a NASCAR style race - that was pretty fun."

And the band recently had another strange experience - after the cover of their new album depicted them as comic book characters.

"Both Charlotte and I noticed a really impressive poster a fan called Zash Ore posted up on our Facebook wall, and so we contacted her to see if we could use the artwork for the next tour," says the frontman.

"She proved so great to work with, that we asked her to come up with artwork for the album, and she presented the idea of a comic.

"We met up, discussed possible ideas for a plot, she went away and conjured up the superb display you see in the album sleeve."

The Subways, Oran Mor, Thursday, £13.50, 7pm