Band Of Skulls, Metropolitan University, Leeds

Band of Skulls have always been a straight-up power rock trio. The type of band that you’d associate with Dave Grohl’s no-frills mindset, and this is pretty much the case as the band casually stroll on stage; disregarding even the faintest of lighting theatrics to disguise their entrance. Unfortunately this approach doesn’t disguise a nervous start. The impact that should feel immediate is lacking. However, this is recovered as a sudden intensity exudes from Russell Marsden belting the lyrics ‘‘cause where we are going is anyones guess’, taken from last years teaser-release ‘Asleep at the Wheel’.

As this is the first night of the UK tour the set is not a perfectly slick machine as some songs don’t seem to fit in the right places. A lot of new material is featured throughout the set and the sense of unfamiliarity occasionally lasts too long. At times the image of Matt Hayward commanding his drum riser, bookended by Marsden and bassist Emma Richardson, can seem too generic.

‘Patterns’ and ‘You’re Not Pretty but You Got it Going On’ do deliver with a colossal weight that reminds the crowd that they are here to see a band and not just be gormless statues. In a live format new album title-track ‘Himalayan’ leaves a lasting mark showcasing the marriage between Marsden and Richardson’s vocals.