THAT Southend post punk-pop band Asylums are doing well aren't they, especially considering they've only been together a couple of years.

Over that course of several single releases, they've played some amazing gigs, (Village Green, Glastonbury, to name but a few), playing the length and breadth of Britain and supporting the likes of the Vaseline’s, Killing Joke, Ash, and Nothing But Thieves. The lads - Luke Branch, Jazz Miell, Henry Tyler and Michael Webster - have also had excellent media and radio coverage, including from Clash Magazine, NME, Q, BBC Radio 1 with airplay from Annie Mac, Huw Stephens, Zane Lowe and Phil Taggart, Steve Lamacq on BBC 6 Music who has played every single release so far and Amazing Radio where they were A-List Playlist and Audition Poll winners.

It perhaps almost comes as a surprise to think that a band which has done so much already, is just getting around to releasing a debut album. But they are, and they are doing it in typical Asylums style with a pink limited edition vinyl release! Also included in a bundle, is a book containing Asylums artwork, created by an anonymous certain family member of Luke's, who works under the pseudonym The Iron Brain, photos of the band's regular photographer, Kana Waiwaiku, and various other cool treats, depending on the bundle package.

"I felt like that was the best thing that has ever happened to me apart from getting married" said Luke Branch, front man of the band, commenting about the band's excitement over the pink issue.

The debut album - Killer Brain Waves - is out on July 29.

"It has been hard work to get to the point where we have released an album" said Luke. "We released a single every three months before getting to this point, and each with a DIY video on a new theme. We finance everything ourselves and I think everything we have put out so far, posters or anything, we always try to make it the best it can be. We have now managed to get a distribution deal with with Brighton’s Republic Of Music."

Of course Asylums also run their own record label - Cool Thing Records - out of a spare bedroom in Southend. The distribution deal is actually with the label, not just Asylums, meaning the band can share their good fortune with others on their label which they constantly push.

This Friday in fact, sees a Cool Thing Club night taking place upstairs at the Railway Hotel, Clifftown Road, Southend.

Cool Thing have invited bands from out of town to play at the night, with the idea of creating a support network, for bands either on their own label, or just local people who want to make contacts.

Tickets are £5 available at seetickets.com or via the band's Facebook page at facebook.com/asylumsuk.

"It starts at 8pm and there is a really, very special guest on at 8:30pm" said Luke. "I really wish I could tell you who it is, but we are just not allowed... I can tell you it is someone very special, someone very up and coming."

Further local gigs in the pipeline include Village Green on July 9 and Brownstock on July 10.