It’s a Saturday night and that always helps the attendance for any gig and The Button Factory is by no means lacking in heads through the door for this one. Enemies have crawled out of wherever it is they’ve been hiding and play their first gig in seven months. It’s obvious that they’ve been missed because of this strong crowd out for their early set, starting around 7.45pm. The four guys are tight in their execution and show no signs of rust forming on the surface of their ebullient instrumental rock. Hopefully more gigs are soon around the corner.

Deafheaven meanwhile are touch and go. The sound could be better as the guitars are just a little too low in the mix but it doesn’t hamper the vigour of their performance as set opener Violet is still as lush and affecting on stage as it is on record.

The band’s blend of black metal and post rock, resulting in a rather warm and earnest hybrid, is divisive to say the least. Debates aside, Deafheaven definitely can’t be accused of lacking spirit and emotion as it’s palpable from the off, particularly in the impassioned movements of vocalist George Clarke.

Unrequited marks another highlight in the set as the band effortlessly swan in and out relentless blastbeats and evocative melodies. Where Roads to Judah was an impressive release in many regards, one can’t help but feel that Deafheaven is a band that has something very special brewing inside them.

Russian Circles, meanwhile, are on top form. Omitting nothing but pure energy, the Chicagoan instrumental post rock trio utterly delight with cuts from down through the years, spanning their career. It’s a solid testament to the band that songs from their latest record Empros make for some of the set’s strongest moments. Mladek is one the night’s highlights with colossal riffs galore and rich atmosphere, a description that is indicative of the whole show.

The opening duo of Carpe and Harper Lewis had set the expected tone for the show – vast grandeur. Russian Circles is a band that has an ambitious sound that is simply awe-inspiring on record and translating to the live stage much of that grandeur is multiplied.

Again, The Button Factory is well occupied with a crowd that are lapping up every moment of the band’s hour long set. Youngblood is absolutely jaw-dropping in its delivery while the obvious closer of Death Rides a Horse brings everything to a thundering end. Russian Circles, you couldn’t come back sooner.