Isis

People have been piling in here since 6.30 and queuing long before that; by the time Cult of Luna take the stage the venue is full and the anticipation is tangible. Cult of Luna seem to reflect this when they start, producing the kind of elegant, doomy anthems that should set things up nicely for Isis, but they fail to progress in any real way, and before long their ideas start to sound stale and repetitive. Thankfully they redeem themselves before they leave with a closing song that ebbs and flows gracefully with restrained fury and agitation. Those wishing for a more extreme selection of sounds would do well to check out the undeniably unique DJ Speedranch. It's the stuff of Aphex Twin's nightmares; his blend of pummelling beats, bizarre samples and machine-gun sound effects leaves the crowd poised somewhere between incredulity and terror.

Outshining Isis, however, was never an option, something that becomes clear from the moment that the band inflict their sonic thunder on the crowd. It's not hard to see why this band inspire genuine love among their small but growing fanbase. They produce the kind of layered, aural landscapes that Tool and the late earthtone9 have become known for; swathes of lush instrumentation, shot through with chugging, vicious stabs of guitar and capped with impressively bitter, shredded vocals. It’s crushingly heavy stuff, but never devoid of melody; the hypnotic, eerie 'Weight' in particular showcases their softer side, with singer Maria Christopher of 27 lending her demure vocals to it. Few could have guessed how good a reception Isis would get tonight at this, their debut London show, but if the music’s anything to go by, they’ve earned it.