Violin-wielding Swedish metalcore crew Imminence work wonders in London's Electric Ballroom

There's a dapper-looking lad in a nice shirt on stage at the Electric Ballroom, waving a violin about as he nearly headbangs his noggin clean off. In front of him, around one and a half thousand people are losing their shit: jumping, singing, clapping, fist-pumping and crowd surfing as the epic, orchestral metalcore blaring out over them reaches fever pitch. This is pretty much unlike anything you'll see at a metal show anywhere else on Planet Earth right now. This is Imminence.

"I heard London has the best singers!" beams the violin-wielding Eddie Berg as Camden attempts to live up to his lofty praise. He is undoubtedly the man of the match tonight; when he's not crooning his way into everyone's hearts or letting loose a scream that could strip the paint straight off these near-100 year old walls, he's elegantly swirling around the stage as he gently draws outs gorgeous, swelling notes from his unusual instrument of choice. He's also bagged a hell of a trademark heavy metal pose, bending so far back on a couple of occasions, arms aloft as he takes in the spectacle of his own band's making, that he looks less like a metal frontman and more like some kind of surrealist yoga instructor who's ended up getting a side hustle at a jazz club.

To be fair, his bandmates play their part, shredding, plucking and battering their instruments like their lives depend on it, backed by a simplistic but impressive, windowed backdrop that turns the Ballroom into a chapel fit for such epic sonic sermons. Tonight's setlist draws heavily from this year's very good The Black album, cuts like Come Hell Or High Water , Heaven Shall Burn and Death By A Thousand Cuts sounding colossal live. There's the slight sense that come their next record, Imminence could do with pushing forwards and expanding their sound beyond their very obvious influences - Architects in particular still loom large over many of these songs - but judging by the delirious faces roaring along to a stunning, set-closing Into The Black , the Swedes' current formula is working just fine for them.

Tonight was an excellent showing for a band that clearly have plenty more to offer. Get these boys in a bigger room with a full orchestra behind them and they could produce something truly spectacular.