Power of the dark

After the raucous Grinderman project and two critically acclaimed forays into the world of movie soundtracks, Nick Cave returns to familiar ground fronting the Bad Seeds.

His literate accounts of death and debauchery augmented by one of the most accomplished and assured backing bands around sold out three nights at the cavernous Hammersmith Apollo - the venue bowing to increasing ticket demands by removing the seats from the stalls.

From the opening moments, their popularity is justified. Cave is a mesmerising frontman, intensely parading the stage with more stamina and purpose than most vocalists half his age.

Cave stalwart Mick Harvey and the impossibly bearded Warren Ellis are the multi-instrumental lynchpins of the powerful and versatile Bad Seeds, combining over two decades of experience with unwavering enthusiasm.

Commencing with Night of the Lotus Eaters, one is left wondering whether Cave was empathising with disillusioned Londoners in the audience with the lyric "get ready to shield yourself from our catastrophic leaders," while the aftershock of the election of Mayor Boris still reverberates around the capital and beyond.

The title track of their latest opus, Dig! Lazarus Dig! with its mantra "dig yourself back in that hole" only seems to emphasise London's greatest folly since the Great Fire.

Introducing "a song that is old and tired," the group launches into Tupelo, from 1985. The sonic assault and Cave's hypnotic stage presence captivate the entire venue.

The beguiling film noir of Red Right Hand and the blackest of love songs Deanna create enough electricity at the Apollo to power the National Grid.

The zenith of the new album, We Call Upon The Author, is astonishing. The recorded version leaves one doubting its capability as a live number because of its fractured and disoriented middle eight. But the band spectacularly achieve the execution of the track as naturally as night follows day.

Disappointingly, the main set concludes with new single More News From Nowhere. The track lacks the gravitas of predecessors such as The Mercy Seat and the extended poetic lyric fails to disguise the fact that its explosive promise soon mutates into a damp squib.

As if to atone for this momentary blip, the band return with the bombastic Get Ready For Love and Cave invites the audience to a shambolic and perplexing singalong in The Lyre of Orpheus, whereupon mysterious electrical crunching noises emit from the stage. The band halt proceedings, seemingly fearing electrocution. Sections of the audience clap along with the alien sound before being humorously castigated by Cave.

This inspires the performance of the evening - a stunning rendition of Stagger Lee. The debauched tale of sex and murder exemplifying all the wonder and magnitude that More News From Nowhere lacks, with Cave demonically administering the crowd throughout.

Culminating with an assured Into My Arms and the surprising inclusion of Johnny Cash's Wanted Man, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds leave content in the knowledge that, when the pundits are ready to award their gongs, this will be hailed as one of the outstanding tours of the year.