Wunderhorse make their inevitable leap of faith at London’s Alexandra Palace 

Sped-up versions of ‘Leader Of The Pack’ and ‘Purple’ keep both the band and audience on their toes, almost serving as the antithesis to certain pristine arena-rock productions that often grace this venue. Removing the shield of his sunglasses, raw emotion pours out of Jacob during the latter, where the long pause in the bridge gives everyone a moment to soak in the euphoria. New song ‘The Rope’ – which hits streaming services next week – follows, assuredly cut from the same, tried-and-tested cloth as ‘Midas’. Perhaps unsurprisingly, some fans already seem to know every word.

Wunderhorse’s predominantly young fanbase has become a principal characteristic of their shows, in comparison to the seasoned indieheads and ‘6Music dads’ that you might see in greater numbers watching Fontaines DC or IDLES. Although the band were forced to release a statement following “aggressive and unacceptable behaviour” at last week’s Birmingham show, there seems to be a healthy, euphoric atmosphere down the front for the majority of the night. “Don’t be afraid to move,” teases Jacob before ‘Rain’ – which briefly nods to Dick Dale’s iconic ‘Misirlou’. 

Perhaps saving their trump card until last, the Nirvana-tinged ‘July’ has been itching to hang out in a room of this size, serving as the ultimate power move to end the set. While tonight symbolises a collective awareness that Wunderhorse’s stock is hitting unprecedented levels, their live show continues to be underpinned by the same foundational principles. With more arenas undoubtedly waiting as they navigate this never-ending wave of hype, such confidence and authenticity will stand them in good stead.

Tags: Wunderhorse, Reviews, Live Reviews