The Camden Assembly has reverted to its former name, The Barfly, and given The Heat Inc.’s reputation for sheer volume, they’ve picked the right room. Along with Camden’s Black Heart, The Barfly has a knack for making sound hit you squarely in the chest. Tonight, a short but ferocious set draws heavily from their album 'Asleep in the Ejector Seat', opening with 'True Romance', and immediately unleashing a wall of sound courtesy of dual lead guitars Marco Simoncelli and Fabio Staffieri.

The Heat Inc. deal in a raucous strain of Rock’n’Roll, fronted by John Dodd, whose steady stage presence provides a cool centre amid the sonic assault. Vocally, Dodd moves effortlessly from a rich baritone to a powerful falsetto, never resorting to the obligatory Metal scream. That clarity sets The Heat Inc. apart from the countless Post-Punk and ’90s Britpop imitators currently doing the rounds, giving their sound a unique characteristic.

Behind him, Maurizio Vitale’s relentless drumming and Nico Rigot’s menacing bass provide little opportunity to catch your breath as they launch into 'Mind Control'. After a brief introduction from Dodd, they charge into 'Draw Blood For Proof', its Punk urgency recalling The Buzzcocks and pushing the set towards the newer material, including 'Dead Pony Club'.

Amid the layers of guitar reverb, 'Polaroid' reveals a subtle Bowie influence in its composition, adding another shade to their otherwise hard-edged sound. There’s a sense throughout that The Heat Inc. know exactly how much noise they can throw at an audience without allowing the songs themselves to get lost in the barrage.

They finish on an encore with their impending release, a cover of Suicide’s 'Dream Baby Dream'. Where the original embraces a stark, almost fey electronica, The Heat Inc. flip it on its head, injecting the song with their own hard-hitting Rock sensibility while retaining its wistful melody.

Afterwards, I have a chance encounter with Hollywood Brats' venerable guitarist Eunan Brady, who recommends the Hollywood Brats’ memoir Sick on You, reputedly one of the most entertaining Rock autobiographies around. Then, as I descend to the bar, early Black Sabbath erupts from the sound system. Those Doom-laden riffs make for the perfect soundtrack to the aftermath, echoing the darker, heavier edge lurking beneath The Heat Inc.’s Post-Punk swagger.

Review and photos: Ivan De Mello