Muse Amaze On Tour

Some bands take a while to warm their audience up - Muse aren't one of them.

But what the heck, they get a top-notch support act in for good measure anyway. The Noisettes, headed up by charismatic singer Shingai are on electric form.

The frontwoman's sometimes scratchy, sometime soothing vocals rampaged through a series of cracking punk-pop numbers.

Don't Give Up has hints of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs while Rifle Song with its insistent guitar riff and filthy vocals is a big heavy number that stands out on its own - another female addition to next year's NME cool list, we wonder? Look out for these lot.

Meanwhile, from the moment Matt, Dom and Chris launch into opener 'Apocalypse Please' they whip the already frothing crowd into a bubbling frenzy.

3D graphic robots boogie on the stage, lasers fill the space and Matt skids on his knees regularly, emitting that startling falsetto of his - this cyber-infused extravaganza isn't yer average gig by any stretch of the imagination.

But then the band's smash album 'Black Holes and Revelations' is in a world of its own too and the gloriously bonkers tunes are matched all the way with wacky special effects.

It's not just about frontman Matt's vocals and searing guitar licks either - drummer Dom and bassist Chris do just as much work to etch their tunes on to the crowd's imagination.

You could say the highlight of the set is the discotastic 'Super Massive Black Hole' or the mosh-pit stirring new single 'Knights of Cydonia', but every tune brings the house down.

Muse are out of this world at the moment - even if you don't consider yourself a regular fan, miss them at your peril!

NH