WELSH rock gods Funeral For A Friend could be considered at the top of their game right now with five studio albums to their name. But with new album, Welcome Home Armageddon, the group took a brave new direction, but rest assure they are still as cool, driven and manic live as they ever were.

The excitement is palpable as they take to the stage and launch into Front Row Seats To The End Of The World. The band carry energy, passion and a lot of commitment in their music, which you can both see and feel.

Lead singer Matthew Davies is the perfect ringleader, calling for audience singalongs and enthusiastically bounding around the stage, punctuating the music with jokey asides.

Funeral for a Friend didn’t neglect their back catalogue to any detriment, playing legendary tracks Bullet Theory, Streetcar, and standout record Roses For The Dead, from the Hours album. It was like being transported back to 2005 when it all began, and the lively audience lapped it up like there was no tomorrow.

The songs were delivered tightly and effortlessly, and the amount of passion and energy that the band poured into their performance was greatly felt, both visually and aurally.

The first song of the encore was History, a timeless classic that received a roar of appreciation from the large crowd. The fivesome finish with the anthemic Juneau and the crowd jumped in unison.

One of the finest examples in their field – it is hard not to be amazed by Funeral For A Friend live, simply because these five guys are really good at what they do.