Earlier that evening, I’d seen Abwärts' resident percussionist/synthist Mufti stun a Venue crowd. During fellow Hamburgers X-Mal Deutschland’s knock-out set he’d jumped onstage to perform a brief but dazzling sticks frenzy. Afterwards, the super stocky human dynamo ran back to Camden to settle behind a drum kit and, in partnership with Axel Dill, create a demonic drum stampede of epic proportions.

In front of this thump-happy pair, guitarist/singer Frank Z and bassist Marc Chung (can you believe he was born in Leeds?) stare into the audience with an intense and uncompromising glare.

Abwärts are always on the offensive, single-mindedly hammering home their points. Visually, they are striking and sinister. Unlike many a British compo, they don’t glance anxiously around for approval.

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