Die-hard fans of St Albans band Enter Shikari have swamped YouTube in their thousands to hear their latest single, released ahead of next month’s launch of a new album.

Within six days of putting Never Let Go of The Microscope on the video sharing website last Wednesday (26), the song had been listened to about 62,000 times.

But that is small fry compared to the statistics usually enjoyed by the post-hardcore band, whose videos normally attract millions of views.

Drummer Rob Rolfe remains down-to-earth about Enter Shikari’s popularity, telling the Herts Advertiser the band thrives on heading in new directions – and taking risks along the way.

He said: “You can’t write the same music twice in a row. We try to push ourselves forward all the time. You can’t do that by regurgitating the same subjects.”

Never Let Go of The Microscope is the second single to be released following debut song The Last Garrison from their fourth album, The Mindsweep, which is being released on January 19.

Asked about having the new single on YouTube, Rob said: “We thought ‘why the hell not’ and decided to put it out there.”

With lyrics referring to changing seasons, Socrates and Hippocrates, Rob said that the song is “all about never stopping, and questions in life”.

Rob and fellow band members Rou Reynolds, Rory Clewlow and Chris Batten took time out in their hometown last year after a heavy touring schedule.

He explained: “We spent time here relaxing with friends and family, to get our heads clear after touring before starting work on the album.”

The band then spent time recording at Chapel Studios in Lincolnshire.

Rob described the studios as a source of inspiration thanks to the “fresh air and no phone signal – it was quite liberating.

“And it was great to bounce ideas as we had an arsenal of rifts and songs that we had worked on.”

The band will embark on another round of promotional visits and touring from January – tickets for their show at London’s Camden Roundhouse sold out within 12 hours of going on sale.