I’m sure they wouldn’t thank me for saying it but there was a time when Hed P.E. were compared to Limp Bizkit. In the late 90s and early noughties, both mixed rap with angular metal/punk and a healthy dose of scratching. And there was no chance either would be missed out of a rock club’s play list.

But, on tonight’s evidence, that’s where the similarities end.

While Fred Durst and co have had lengthy hiatuses between albums, Hed P.E. (planet earth) have never gone away. Where Limp Bizkit are a business as much as they are a band, the Californian five-piece are highly politicized and proud to tell the crowd they are signed to an Indie label. And musically, seven studio albums of genre-crossing has meant that Hed P.E. have a massively eclectic set-list - something few rock bands, especially rap-metallers, can claim.

This Hed P.E. set for a near-full Rescue Rooms is a frantic fusion of brutal riffs, blistering guitar solos, speed punk, rap, song and crazy Bob Marley covers ('No Woman, No Cry'). “We play hip-hop, punk rock, heavy metal, we don’t give a f**k” says vocalist Jared Gomes and the result is a show where you never know what’s coming next. From classic sing-along rock tune 'Bartender' to the pounding 'Killing Time', where even the back-row is throwing shapes, there’s never a dull moment.

And, if there was any concern that the crowd might not know new stuff from 2009’s New World Orphans, it's averted when the stadium rock meets slamming hardcore of 'Renegade' gets the crowd bouncing as much as they have all night. If fault is to be found with Hed P.E. it's their curious aversion to playing some of the songs in full. Maybe it's the only way to fit all the material in or perhaps it's a comment on the length of set they’ve been given. There was the odd grumble, but guitarist Jaxon’s solos alone more than compensated the moaners.

Another comparison to Hed P.E that’s done the rounds is Rage Against The Machine. But in truth that seems a little ridiculous. Hed P.E. may have angry lyrics but they don’t show a great deal of it live. Gomes laughs and jokes with the audience like he’s having a drink with them at the bar, and he‘s genuinely funny. When RATM play Download this year they’ll have to be on top form to be as engaging and entertaining as these guys.

Posted In Live Reviews, Mar 10 2010. Words - Cris