Enter Shikari took over The Ritz in Manchester on Friday night to stake their claim as one of the country's most thrilling live bands.
The evening kicked off early with U.S. hardcore act letlive. putting on a great show, the floor of the 1,300-capacity venue already moving with constant circle pits.
The crowd, to their credit, kept up this incredible atmosphere, their energy matched by each band on the bill.
Your Demise showed the strength of the UK live hardcore scene with an exciting set, and Ed McRae proved his worth as a hardcore front-man.
By the time Enter Shikari took to the stage at the newly-reopened and refurbished HMV Ritz, the crowd were already breaking into chants of 'And still we will be here, standing like statues' (from the band's self-titled track).
Kicking off with 'Destabilise', the St. Albans quartet's energetic performance was enhanced by an absolutely stunning light show that perfectly complemented their sound.
In a club, sound can be muffled, especially with a band like Enter Shikari incorporating synths into a hardcore rock style.
There were no such issues tonight, with tracks like 'Zzzonked', 'No Sssweat' and 'Quelle Surprise' sounding phenomenal.
The crowd played their part, as the band seemed to thrive on the love they were getting from fans that haven't seen them play a headline show here in almost two years.
From selling out the London Astoria as an unsigned act (only the second band to do so) to making a career for themselves on their own label, Enter Shikari have built up a loyal fan-base, and they were in full-force on this night.
Rou Reynolds was constantly moving and matching the crowd's energy, whether he was head-butting speakers, jumping off them or (in a rare, stupid move) throwing a mic stand into the crowd
A performance of the undeniably beautiful 'Gap In The Fence' provided a chance of pace, but one that wasn't really needed in this show.
It was the only moment the crowd seemed a bit lost, and it would have been a better idea to keep the intensity high rather than try to break it up so late in the set.
Newer songs like 'Arguing with Thermometers' and new single 'Sssnakepit' blended well with stunning performances of the likes of 'Return To Energiser'.
Earlier in the day, drummer Rob Rolfe told us that they're starting to get bored of playing songs like 'Sorry You're Not A Winner'.
Whilst understandable, the band showed no signs of waning enthusiasm, closing the main set with a great performance of their best-known song.
Bringing the evening to a close with 'Juggernauts', Enter Shikari proved once again why they are hailed as one of the best live acts in the UK.
Thankfully, they can still live up to this reputation with their stunning light shows, without letting the production over-shadow their musical prowess and live energy.
From tonight's performance (attended by You Me At Six), it's not unfeasible to expect to see Enter Shikari's profile raise over the next few years as they move to bigger and bigger venues.
Check back tomorrow for our interview with Rob Rolfe and Chris Batten.
Female First - Alistair McGeorge
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