According to recent reports, guitar bands are at their lowest ebb.

That might be true in terms of conventional sales, but this latest instalment in the New Year's Revolution series proved there's many a band doing interesting things within rock's confines.

Admittedly, the fluid rhythmic time shifts of openers Lady North are unlikely to set the charts alight, but the pop world might be in better straits if they did, given the unerring strength of the tunes in the Aberdonian trio's noisy, all instrumental set.

They weren't quite as eyecatching as Natalie Pryce, though, a suited and booted foursome who already seemed to boast substantial confidence, given they came equipped with videos flickering on the wall and a set-closing number that featured a spoken-word vocal. A tad pretentious, some might find, but they certainly proved different from the majority of acts on the Scottish scene, with a frontman in Mark Swan who hollered and raged like Nick Cave. He was aided by some superbly insistent, loping basslines a delightful tendency by the band to deliver waves of noise with poise. Hugely impressive.

Hunt/Gather proved more energetic, and they flung themselves around with commendable gusto. Their screaming songs were, however, not quite the finished article, meaning it was a steady set, rather than thrilling.

United Fruit, however, are more complete. The Glasgow four-piece's set was rousing, modern rock at its best, crammed with chunky riffs and catchy yet clever hooks, with Don't Leave Me Alone already sounding gargantuan. The band's power in full flight could stir even the most catatonic subject from slumber.

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