STRIVING for a sense of coherent identity remains a desperately elusive concept for many of the current crop of rock hopefuls.

Not so Maximo Park, who have stayed true to their Newcastle roots through the angst-ridden tones of their sharp-suited frontman Paul Smith.

He’s taken a few style tips from Geordie clothes-horse Bryan Ferry, who has clearly been a vocal influence.

Casting a seriously edgy demeanour, their emotive guitar-driven sound bursts full of frustration, confusion and a feeling of loss.

Yet there’s more-than a hint of youthful hope typified by the euphoric chorus of chart-bothering single Going Missing.

As their drummer Tom English explained, their background has worked in their favour.

"Being up here was a problem for us getting started at first but not any more. We’re still a Newcastle band and a cut away from most other acts. Paul’s voice is a regional accent which gives it character."

The pair met at university studying art history where Paul had originally been in another band supporting Tom, whose girlfriend recognised the frontman’s potential and was asked to lead Maximo Park.

Last summer saw the release of their gold-selling album A Certain Trigger which propelled them firmly into the limelight.

The record’s success has seen them taken on the Reading Festival and manage several tours, including the latest which takes in dates at Brighton and London.

There’s clearly a sense of relief in their camp that their grafting in the studio has paid off.

"It’s a great feeling that the album’s done well, we have put a lot of work into it and people have repaid us by getting into it. We’re really happy that so many people understand us and what we are about.

"We felt vindicated by the Mercury Award nomination as it gave us the attention we needed - we had been happy with the music and shows but critically we had slipped under the radar until then."

There’s no such fear of that now as they have gained a strong foothold on the charts.

As for Tom’s own route into music, he recalled that he had been a rock fan from his earliest days.

Though a proud northerner, he spent a year in Kent as a youngster when his family moved to Dover.

"My dad was in the army and he was based at the barracks there. I went to St.Mary’s primary school there if anyone remembers me! I don’t have too many memories of the place, but it was 1986 - the year they banned caning so it was the last time I saw anyone getting whacked!"

It wasn’t until he had returned to his native north-east as a teenager that his parents would be troubled by the thud of drum kits being struck in anger.

Twelve years on, at 26, his dream has been very much fulfilled with Maximo’s rise. He acknowledges they have been given the space to develop as a group and feels they are far stronger for it.

Though touring is "not too good for your health" as he puts it and despite having to spend much of their time away from friends and family they are enjoying the momentum they’ve built up.

"We’re very excited about the next album and already have a couple of tracks done. We’ll be writing as the tour goes on and have a great base to work from.

"We’ve had a few weeks break which is the longest for about three years- so we are more up for these latest dates than ever."

Maximo Park play Brighton Dome on Thursday, February 16 and Carling Academy, Brixton on Friday, February 17. For more information see www.maximopark.com.