Melt-Banana @ Oran Mor, 18 Jun

It’s the night of the ‘ananas’ at Oran Mor, a tantalising one-two of the new kids on the block before a return from the old masters. Dananananaykroyd (****) fill every crevice of the stage and proceed to own it for the entirety of their set. Slick indie grooves sidle up and make merry at the heart of their sound while piercing screamo vocals and staccato ornamentation punctuate proceedings just at the moment the band appear to be verging on one distinct sound. The duel vocals work well, in a disorientating and high-pitched way, but when one vocalist gets down and dirty as a tandem second drummer, the full force of their quirky but powerful tunes can be properly heard.

Melt-Banana (*****) are simply a force to behold. Kicking off with Spathic, the ultra-tight drums and grinding, hardcore-influenced guitars knock the audience’s heads together and this show is truly on. Guitarist Ichirou Agata’s use of his myriad effects pedals is mesmerising, looping back, distorting and resonating like he was born with them attached to the end of his toes. All the while vocalist Yasuko Onuki stalks the stage, clearly possessed. A section of seven short tracks breaks up the evening and the Tokyo trio indulge the crowd with two rapturously received encores, sparking mass pogoing at the front. Delirious, insane and stunning. (Jamie Borthwick)