Those roaming valleys and lush green fields of Wales really know how to generate a pop-rock band. It’s like some kind of weird science. Following the likes of Lostprophets, Funeral for a Friend, Kids In Glass Houses and The Blackout, Attack! Attack! is the latest band to emerge from the Cymru conveyor belt, tonight winding-up in Luton town for an evening of fun and poppy histrionics. Not bad for a usually bland Thursday night really.

FATE OF A STRANGER is a band that is worlds apart from its initial incarnation. Tonight the hometown quintet overcomes some initial technical hitches to deliver a set that has the faithful bopping away; melodic pop-rock with the hint of an aggressive edge. The band still feels one big track/one big chorus, away from truly tapping up its potential but tonight has enough to suggest that this may be on the way soon. Notably a cover of Vanessa Carlton’s “A Thousand Miles” remains in the set: nice touch.

DON BROCO rides into Luton on the crest of a wave that is that video. Delivering “Thug Workout” in the opening seconds of the set is either an excuse to get it over and done with quickly, or a bid to whip up a frenzied mass instantly. Whichever reason, the result is the same; the crowd laps up the pop-punk/nu-metal hybrid, bleeting along to the tale of sexy girls who fucking love it. The trademark Don Broco live show energy is on display, although it does seem a little more controlled, just a touch less chaotic, than usual but still the likes of “Wat’cha Gonna Do” and “Living the Dream” prove as enjoyable as ever. In a nutshell, this band is fun. Fact!

Based on an appearance at Slam Dunk Festival in May it wouldn’t be a stretch to suggest ATTACK! ATTACK! is not far off competing with the big boys of the pop-rock scene. With a pedigree that includes Adequate 7 and Dopamine as former bands it’s probably not all that surprising. Tonight takes a little while to get off the backburner. An ever friendly Luton crowd doesn’t help, a stoic and stone-footed will to not respond to any of the bands banter is just absurd. Still, halfway though the set the South Wales quartet starts to make headway.

Live the band is a little more dog-eared, a bit rougher around the edges. Some of the pristine and polish of the self-titled debut album is lifted, which is most definitely a good thing. It all makes the band seem more fallible, more human even. It’s much easier to like, that’s for sure. Turn-of-the-year single, “You and Me”, manages to garner the biggest response (predictably so, really) eliciting a few more fists in the air, some clapping along, cheering, and even a yelp or two. It seems Luton has finally awoken. “From Now On”, with a gentle, more melodic, almost Foo Fighters sounding approach, sounds fantastic. Simple as.

Overall it’s a solid enough performance that definitely garners the band a few more followers in these regions. It’s not yet essential (it may take at least another album for that) but it there’s enough here to see that the Attack! Attack! is in the ascendancy. The Blackout better watch those backs; here’s a pretender hot on the heels.