It was, as singer Tom Woodhead observed before staggering off stage, "possibly the hottest day ever, including the Jurassic period and various other hot times".

This might have smelt like a puny excuse from most other bands but Forward Russia! would have needed Olympic athleticism to sustain the pace of their post-punk madness.

The rock kids game enough to attempt a mosh pit were losing enough sweat to dampen the floor, while drummer Katie Nicholls looked like she was about to perspire away parts of her cranium as she hammered out their relentless rhythms.

Subtlety is a concept the Leeds quartet sneer at with violent endeavour, chugging guitars crashing inexorably into indecipherable howls.

Their At The Drive-In sound was underpinned by the technical precision of Whiskas, their dazzlingly-bearded guitarist, who exuded a mischievous delight at his fellow members' flailing.

Distinguishing between tunes became something of an observation test but that may not be important for a band who give their creations numbers rather than titles.

In any case, watching Woodhead bounce and shriek his way to a frenzy was compelling viewing, if only for the morbid fascination of wondering whether he would survive another song.