SO what's the fuss about Incubus? The five-piece from Los Angeles aren't a household name, yet can claim to be one of the most influential rock bands of the past ten years.

The term nu-metal was almost invented for them as the squeaks, squawks and robotic noises created by DJ Kilmore on the turntables are added to the awesome musicianship and singing on stage.

One moment there's soundalike traditional Japanese instruments in the background, the next you have a raw rock number like Pantomime, with singer Brandon Boyd's vocals soaring over 4,000 heaving bodies surging like a crazed sea against the stage's security barrier.

Only Coldplay of late can touch Boyd and the boys for pure entertainment value, but even rock giants can make mistakes and midway through the set the sound is cranked up to painful levels. Perhaps it's the desire to fill the cavernous depths of this arena, where it's impossible to find somewhere to balance an overpriced coffee, hotdog and notebook in the foyer.

But increasing the levels on beautiful ballads like Drive, The Warmth and 1984 just reduces one of the best bands in the world to so much ear-filling fur.

Drummer Jose Pasillas earns acclaim with a five-minute starring role, ably assisted by Boyd and new bassist Ben Kenney on percussion.

Guitarist Mike Einziger massages the pulsating heart of the band's sound which has noticeably changed course following the departure of original bassist Dirk Lane. The latest album, A Crow Left Of The Murder, is a definite move towards mainstream rock and earned Incubus a No 6 album chart entry in February.

It'll be a pity if this ends the experimentation of albums like Make Yourself and Morning View.

Published: 08/06/2004