These Arms Are Snakes @ Stereo, 17 Nov

As the dirty brickwork of Stereo's back walls bathe in green light, you get the feeling that you're in an abandoned sewer, possibly about to get busted by the cops - but that just serves to enhance the raw atmosphere of this brilliant basement venue. As Russian Circles (****) - an instrumental three-piece that shares bassist Brian Cook with tonight's headliners - take to the stage, the room is plunged into darkness. This leaves sweet feedback to morph into dirty noise before a single bright light, emanating from beneath the drum kit, signals the start of an equally blinding set. What follows is a seamless flurry of styles - from beautifully intricate guitar fiddling, to all out heavy-as-hell batterings - flitting in and out with precision, linked together with hums, buzzes, percussive clicks and euphoric noise. Although occasionally treading familiar 'post-rock' territory, Russian Circles are certainly strong enough to hold their own.

Many smokers taking a desperate break nearly miss These Arms Are Snakes' (****) casual entrance to the stage, but it's not long before they make themselves heard and spring into action with their own brand of progressive noise. Singer Steve Snere wastes no time getting involved, and within seconds is clambering over every amp, pillar, and wall in sight, like a kid on too many cokes. Add to that, spitting on himself, and trying to eat the mic, in between which he dances like a sleazy John Travolta, amazingly never missing a beat. Though Snere is the obvious focal point, nothing can be taken from the band's rugged but locked-in tight performance, and when they all drop, and sway in unison, it provides a genuine spectacle amidst the chaos. Angela's Secret gets the night's first pit from the comfortably packed crowd, and everyone leaves surely mesmerised, and perhaps a little scared. [Ryan Drever]