Live Review: I Heart Hiroshima, Astral Skulls

Astral Skulls mastermind Kurt Eckardt's reverb-soaked voice repeats vague and vaguely nihilistic lyrics over a slightly uncomfortable marriage of '80s-inspired Novation dance beats and wailing electric guitar. It kind of sounds like if Trent Reznor made a Mario Bros soundtrack.

Soon enough, I Heart Hiroshima are greeted warmly and kick things off with London In Love from their very first EP. Somehow nothing this band does feels redundant or revivalist throughout this set, which draws from their entire discography, taking in selections from the band's earliest days, last year's Spillin' The Light EP, plus a generous helping of fan favourites such as Punks, Shakeytown and Captain To Captain. Fifty Three is particularly enthralling and the best illustration of how they've managed to develop as songwriters while sticking to their stripped-down indie sound.

Of course, the star of the show is endearingly hyperactive drummer Sullivan Patten, whose distinctive and dynamic drumming contributes enormously to the band's appeal. Like the band itself, there are no superfluous elements on Patten's drum kit, with Patten playing the hell out of what's there as Matthew Somers and Cameron Hawes trade sharp guitar barbs. Somers shouts into the mic while Hawes stands stoic, his eyes trained steadily on his hands. All three are captivating musicians to watch.

After the band leave the stage, the appreciative crowd are not having it. Even after music starts to play over the venue sound system we can see the trio at the side of the stage, probably debating whether or not to come back on and then working out what to play. It doesn't feel like the usual, obligatory encore. This crowd demands more. The band return, exultantly, with the pointed and poignant Lungs before closing with a particularly urgent Surgery.