Clang Boom Steam @ MelloMello, Liverpool, 20 Jul

The launch of Liverpool-based Clang Boom Steam's self-titled debut album proves diverse and intense in equal measure, with the audience treated to an evening of smouldering, post-apocalyptic Nick Cave-esque lyricism paired with swashbuckling, foot-tapping rock 'n' roll.

Support comes in the form of an array of Liverpool talent. Alex Gavaghan, one half of The Cubical, the first to take to the lamp-filled stage, charms us with thoughtfully crafted songs and an enthusiasm that refuses be stifled by the oppressive heat. The drawn-out, hypnotic sounds of quartet Owls*' Gravity Sweetheart reverberate around the room; next, indie-shoegaze act Memory Men, clearly influenced by classic American pop of the 60s and 70s, provide an ideal precursor to the headline act with their dreamy, sun-drenched final song, Clarabella.

Clang Boom Steam open with a special preview of their new music video, Fort St. Gabriel, a haunting piece made up of retro black-and-white film clips and showing lead singer Garvan Cosgrove offering an invitation into the dirtier world of rock'n'roll. Taking to the stage, the charismatic Cosgrove looks every bit the part with his slicked-back hair. The band's set, showing the clear influence of Johnny Cash, The Bad Seeds and QOTSA, has the audience hooked; The Good Ship, with lyrics like 'We’ll instil in you the delusion of control and the culture of fear', shows their mix of contemporary cynicism and sleazy blues swagger. Yells of ‘You don’t move me’ paradoxically have the audience in spurts of frenetic movement – as does a joyous encore of Bowie’s China Girl.