Frank Carter and The Rattlesnakes Live from O2 Brixton Academy

Virtual is the new cool as the highly-rated punk-rock band, Frank Carter and The Rattlesnakes bought us something to scream about on Friday night.

Photo Credit: Thomas Green

Even though the band weren't in front of raucous fans nor in the joys of their own house; the band instead played a state-of-the-art virtual reality gig, live from the legendary London's O2 Brixton Academy in part of the latest series by MelodyVR. Fulfilled with a setlist curated by attendees and an innovative 360-degree setup, Frank Carter and The Rattlesnakes bought fire and wild, even for the less known fans like me.

From the start, the band were eager to interact with the on-screen fans from live feeds from their devices to the unique approach of the up and close personal view of individual performances as Frank and Dean took note to the cameras and calling on the viewers to get involved. With the venue being empty, the crew took advantage of what they could create from high audio quality to dynamic stage lighting, all emphasised through the infectious energy the band bought to a Friday night in.

As the audience rocked through a solid hour and twenty minutes set inside the comfort of their own homes, it became noticeable fan favourites like the heavy opener 'Juggernaut' to the hard-punk 'Fire' bought a special atmosphere to the concert. With Frank Carter telling stories about the band's history and personal experiences, the band slowed it down a notch with tracks like 'Anxiety' that speak deeply of his life.

Closing off the night with their most popular songs 'Kitty Sucker', powerhouse 'Crowbar' and 'I Hate You' - dedicated to Coronavirus - the band dedication really paid off as they bought a one-off experience that can't be remade.