SOME seven years since the Kaiser Chiefs had their last top 30 hit, they have never sounded better.

Welcomed by a packed BIC crowd this was an electrifying, high-energy show that zipped through a decade of hits alongside gems from the latest studio album Education, Education, Education & War.

After a nod to this with the atmospheric opening track Factory Gates amid a sea of fog, the band launched into some of their simpler, repetitive sing-along hits such as Every Day I Love you Less and Less and, from the second album, Everything is Average Nowadays.

New tracks like Ruffians on Parade and My Life were slightly out of kilter with most of the Kaisers’ most famous anthemic hits, displaying a darker and more brooding side. But the album that reached number one when it was released last March was well received.

Any of the deeper, more reflective and mature tracks did not alter the overall mood of the night with charismatic frontman Ricky Wilson – on a break from his ‘other job’ as judge and mentor on The Voice – interacting with the crowd like a true showman.

Bounding, jumping, even pogoing around the stage, standing on drums and running up through the audience to sing atop monitors and speakers, he hardly stopped and took to the back of the auditorium to deliver an angst-ridden The Angry Mob and Cannons.

The indie rockers proved they know how to please the crowd delivering must-have hits such as the Kaisers’ first ever number 1 single Ruby which had everyone singing along, and the rousing Na Na Na Na Na and Never Miss a Beat.

But the biggest hit, I Predict a Riot, took the atmosphere to another level. The Leeds fivepiece continued to crank up the energy with a storming rendition of The Who’s Pinball Wizard too – their song at the London Olympics closing ceremony.

The only breather from this breathtaking show came with ‘Band Choice Song’ where a random band member was selected to choose a song that is seldom played – guitarist Andrew White chose Bad Days.

And it was full steam ahead once more with the show culminating in a three-track encore and their memorable debut single Oh My God.

It was a slick, highly engaging and entertaining performance.

Still sounding as keen as mustard, I predict this riotously fun band will be storming arenas and festivals for some time yet!