WOLF Alice are currently on a headline tour supporting their recent ‘Visions Of A Life’ album and on Monday played the O2 Academy.

‘Visions’ is the excellent follow up to their debut ‘My Love Is Cool’ and it’s clear that while the media argue over whether to label them folk-grunge, indie-rock or rocky-pop, let’s just agree with singer Ellie Rowsell that they’re “just a rock band”. A damn good one.

Opener ‘Heavenward’ kicked the evening off in style before ‘Yuk Foo’ found Rowsell’s versatile vocals working overtime, snarling, screaming and grunting out the rage-filled vocals to the crowd’s delight.

There wasn’t much chat between songs from Rowsell and her bandmates - Joff Oddie (guitar), Theo Ellis (bass) and Joel Amey (drums) - but it didn’t matter, the band excel on stage and were happy to keep the music coming.

Live favourite ‘You’re A Germ’ came early in the set, and the tempo remained high as the band stormed on with ‘St. Purple and Green’ before a little respite during the slower ‘Don’t Delete The Kisses’.

By the time ‘Formidable Cool’ and ‘Beautifully Unconventional’ appeared mid-set the Academy was hotter than a furnace. ‘Moaning Lisa Smile’ was cheered to the rafters and, closing the set, ‘Fluffy’ had the place bouncing and moshing. After a brief respite the band returned for ‘Blush’ and ‘Giant Peach’.

The band have a huge Alexandra Palace show coming up later this month in the capital and on this evidence Wolf Alice are at the top of their game and thoroughly deserve their reputation as a thrilling live band.

Dave Lawrence