Bradford’s cult rock stalwarts New Model Army, named after the English revolutionary army of Oliver Cromwell, release their latest album today.

Formed by frontman Justin Sullivan, bassist Stuart Morrow and drummer Phil Tompkins, the band played their first gig on October 23, 1980, inspired by the punk movement, Northern Soul and the incendiary atmosphere of the times.

Since then, they have enjoyed a long, creative and eventful journey. A breakthrough appearance on classic music TV show The Tube was followed by a No 1 independent album, two major record deals, top 40 singles, a controversial live performance on Top Of The Pops, countless festival appearances and thousands of enthralling live performances.

Nowadays, the band are seen as leaders of independence in the music industry, having shunned the trappings of major labels for the comfort and control of a staunch DIY ethic and their own label, Attack Attack Records to great success.

They have carved out an impressive carreer spanning nearly 30 years, and there seems to be no signs of the momentum slowing down as the band, currently on tour in America, unleash their 11th album, Today Is A Good Day.

Mostly written last autumn in the wake of the Wall Street collapse (an event celebrated in the opening title track), the recording was postponed when Tommy Tee, the band's manager, died just before last Christmas.

After taking stock of the unexpected loss of their long-time friend, the band continued working with Chris Kimsey (notable for his work with the Rolling Stones, Jimmy Cliff and Killing Joke), at the controls and completed the album.

As the current economic and political climate echoes the world which New Model Army first sang out against, their fiercely-defiant message remains which is filled with unclassifiable music and challenging lyrical ideas.

In June, the band joined forces with The Almighty, who reformed specially for a poignant show called Tommystock, a fundraising event in memory of Tommy Tee. After the American tour, the band head to Europe before returning to the UK for a number of dates, the nearest to their home town being Manchester Academy on Saturday, November 28.

There are more live dates being arranged for next spring, and hopefully a huge homecoming show will be included...

For more information and to sample the album with a free download of the title track, visit the band’s website at newmodelarmy.org