Scotland has provided us with some cracking bands over the past couple of years. Biffy Clyro have pretty much taken over the world, Twin Atlantic’s assault on the music industry has well and truly begun, and We Were Promised Jetpacks have slowly started to shuffle into the spotlight.

Hailing from Aberdeen, The Xcerts are here tonight to celebrate the release of their new EP ‘Slackerpop’. Smashing straight into their energetic set with the mighty ‘Do You Feel Safe?’ it’s clear that this three-piece are ready to cause a stir. Murray Macleod’s accent is thick in the vocals, but not too overpowering. It sits perfectly with the driving bass-lines, dirty distortion and crunching drums. As they blast out song after song the large crowd seems reluctant to get involved, but a couple of tracks later they are steadily beginning to sway along with the music.

A toned-down version of ‘Home Verses Home’ lacks the power and passion that’s present on the band’s debut ‘In The Cold Wind We Smile’, but the more recent, and upbeat, ‘Scatterbrain’ whips the audience into action and infects the mind with its calculated loud-pop undertones. As the final note rings out and the band leave the stage, Murray is called back on by the shouts for “one more song”. Standing alone, he tunes his guitar and strums out the glorious ‘Aberdeen 1987’. The room sings back every word that leaves his mouth, and it’s a powerful, yet emotional ending to a solid set from a very promising band.

Rob Bramhill