Fever Ray @ O2 ABC, 6 Sep

Wisconsin based Nika Roza Danilova – known tonight as Zola Jesus – takes to the stage for her third Scottish show in only 48 hours, yet the transition from the tiny Captain’s Rest to the vast hall of the O2 ABC doesn't intimidate her in the least. For the entirety of the set her vocals never fail to amaze, her tiny frame belying the powerful, opera trained voice within. Flanked by a band which operates lo-fi drum machines and synths behind her, her sound is one that complements what will follow this evening: dark and well-crafted but still in its infancy.

Smoke machines work overtime in the minutes leading up to Fever Ray’s entrance, ensuring a suitable mist descends over the cheering crowd. From within the near pitch blackness that envelops the stage, Karin Dreijer Andersson is barely visible as she emerges to the opening bars of If I Had A Heart. Jaw-loosening low frequencies that would have Sunn O))) weeping with jealousy emerge from the speakers, eliciting a collective gasp from the room as laser beams scan overhead in tandem with the music.

This kind of synchronicity rules the night – surrounded by antique lamps that pulse in time with each song, lights flash behind the band, allowing only for silhouettes. It’s not until the aftermath of Triangle Walks that the band's grotesque costumes become clear: misshapen latex masks hang from their faces, contorting as their owners throw themselves around the stage and into their instruments.

Karin’s warped vocals carry each song, but even her distinct, altered voice has to fight against the tribal drumming of I'm Not Done – reaching a deafening level before reigning itself back in. Closing the show with a fluid seque of Peter Gabriel's Mercy Street into Coconut, the venue is plunged into darkness without an encore, only the low chatter of a crowd enthralled by a visually stunning and beautifully crafted show. [Chris Duncan]