Atari Teenage Riot @ The Arches, 24 Nov

Alec Empire could hardly have timed the return of Atari Teenage Riot more astutely. Inactive since 2000, the Berliners’ hyper-politicised take on distorted hardcore techno has been dormant during a period of political apathy in much of Europe. With nationwide student protests earlier today signalling a resurgence in unrest, the band – now comprised of Empire, Nic Endo, and new member CX Kidtronik – take to the stage amidst an expectant, febrile atmosphere.

New track Activate opens the set, a trademark blend of overdriven, pounding beats and screeched political sloganeering. The lyrics, as ever, are generally vague to the point of vacuity (“too much government control” could, after all, have been taken from the Tories’ last manifesto); but trying to articulate the complexities of anarchist theory over 200 BPM hardcore would be absurd.

The band’s sound has aged surprisingly well: although the breakbeat sections have dated, when the 4/4 beats kick in the primal simplicity and sheer brutality of the assault feels as stirring as it did ten years ago. With the crowd getting pretty frenzied by the end of the night, its clear that if radical leftist politics is on the rise again, ATR provide as potent a rallying cry as ever. [Sam Wiseman]