Back in the 1990s, rock hacks struggling to describe the sound of a rising new band called The Wildhearts would often use ‘The Beatles meets Metallica’ as a convenient shorthand.

Their frontman, Ginger, was, of course, drawing on a far wider range of influences – everyone from Bowie, Sparks and The Sex Pistols, to Sepultura, Slayer and The Ramones.

But for a band whose enormous riffs were only matched by their gargantuan choruses and harpoon-like hooks it was as near as dammit.

In the 26 years since The Wildhearts first EP, Mondo Akimbo A-Go-Go, the Geordie songwriter has rarely rested on his laurels – recording a huge range of music, across a range of bands and solo projects.

And he will be returning to Bolton next month, as he tours his latest album Ghost in The Tanglewood.

Never one to repeat himself, it’s his first county and folk-based album, which finds him at his most melodic and personal.

It’s in some contrast to the last studio album he put his name to – last year’s Dark Black, by his experimental thrash/punk outfit Mutation.

The two releases may seem to occupy opposite ends of the sonic spectrum, But Ginger, who has been open about his ongoing battle with depression, says they represent two sides of the same coin.

He said: “They’re both coming from the place, they’re just doing it in different ways.

“Obviously Dark Black was the angry side and Ghost in the Tanglewood is the more thoughtful, pensive side. But they’re both coming from the same place of pathological honesty.”

And without doubt the songs on the record are unflinchingly candid an effect only exacerbated by its, melodic nature.

The Daylight Hotel covers a spell recovering from mental health problems, The Reaper takes on depression and suicide, while The Words Are Gonna Have to Wait touches on the loss of musical heroes such as David Bowie and Lemmy.

And tracks such as Minus You and Don’t Say Goodbye – a song about leaving his young son while he heads off on tour - particularly pull at the heart strings.

But Ginger says he doesn’t find it difficult to perform such emotive material in the live environment.

“The main part of being on the road is missing people. The songs have an extra resonance, if anything, it’s good to have a reason behind a song and to actually feel the lyrics when you’re singing them. Everyone who goes on the road is missing someone.

“When I toured with (Hanoi Rocks singer) Michael Monroe I was away all the time andTaylor was getting big enough to miss me. Before I was just this person who came and went. Before I was just this person who came and went.”

“There are so many dads on the road and I take inspiration from people like (former Almighty frontman) Ricky Warwick. But it’s what we do, it’s what we did before we had kids and will continue to do until we keel over – hopefully on stage in front of people.”

But while Ghost in the Tanglewood may be Ginger’s first country album, it’s the second time in just three months he will have come to Bolton on an acoustic-based tour.

In December he had bandmate CJ played a set of unplugged Wildhearts tunes at Bar Metro just before Christmas.

The duo – who founded the band in the late 80s – found themselves surprised by how much they enjoyed the outing.

But Ginger says people have misconceptions about his musical DNA.

“People probably think I just listen to extreme music and pop-rock – and I do – I love all genres of music,” he said.

“But one of my favourite genres of music is country - and folk . I’m a huge fan of Richard Thompson, I will put myself in a hole and listen to Richard Thompson albums back to back. But I won’t listen to Metallica albums back to back.”

He adds that the musicality of his projects is often overlooked, something demonstrated when The Wildhearts last visited Bolton.

"Fans sometimes forget that we aren't bad singers and the songs aren’t too shabby, either, "he said.

"You can forget that, when they’re covered in volume — drums and loud guitars — but strip all that back and some work even better than with the band. It surprised everyone to be honest."

Ginger Wildheart plays Bolton Bar Metro on Friday, March 2. To book tickets visit wegottickets.com/event/428908 or call 07973154560.