Omar Rodriguez-Lopez and Cedric Bixler-Zavala’s latest incarnation saw the pair, better known as the brains behind prog favourites The Mars Volta and post-hardcore protagonists At The Drive-In, return to their simpler rock roots with gusto.

The well-travelled Rodriguez-Lopez has a seemingly endless list of collaborators and side-projects; perhaps the best is the art-pop of Bosnian Rainbows.

Singer Teri Gender Bender (possibly not her real name) brought her main band Le Butcherettes along for the ride and immediately threatened to upstage the headliners.

All riot grrrl vocals and performance-art-contortion, the Mexican-American was a revelation and her garage punk meets creepy psychedelia trio proved a hard act to follow.

ANTEMASQUE may not have topped their magnificent support act, though this dazzlingly kinetic hour of frenzied rock ’n’ roll posturing came damned near. Bixler-Zavala is a natural showman and the line-up – essentially The Mars Volta – proved convincing live.

Taking almost generic songs from their lacklustre debut record and turning them into mini-anthems on stage proved to be alchemy repeated throughout.

People Forget got the energy flowing and the crowd moving whilst Providence built to almost Volta heights at the climax.

In true mic-kicking style, this was a return to vintage Cedric and Omar.