CULT LEADER/BIRDS IN ROW/ COILGUNS

UNDERWORLD, LONDON

If you can imagine surrealist comedian Andy Kaufman fronting a blackened hardcore band, you’re halfway to imagining Switzerland’s CoiLgUns.

Add in some noise and crust elements and you’ll have a pretty clear picture of them. They’re more Picasso than Courbet but if you prefer abstractionism to realism, Coilguns might be for you.

The sheer authenticity shown by

birds in roW comes through every thundering bassline, piercing scream, drum hit and guitar riff. It’s anarchic music that spreads a message of empathy and understanding. The trio make a hell of a post-hardcore racket and if a mix of Converge’s aggression with Fugazi’s avant-garde clatter sounds appealing to you, it’s essential that you check them out at your earliest possible convenience. It seems a hard act to follow but as soon as CULt

LeAder pile drive into I Am Healed, it’s clear they’ll have no problems.

The deep resonance of vocalist Anthony Lucero threatens to cause the earth to tremor, recalling both a demented Jake Bannon and a weary Mark Lanegan in one sublime performance. An incredible night for heavy music.

REMFRY DEDMAN