WELSH rock band Feeder are riding high after returning from their four-year hiatus last year, concluding the second leg of their UK tour at York Barbican on Thursday night.

Founded in 1992 under the name Reel, Feeder, pictured, had their mainstream breakthrough in 2001 with their third album, Echo Park, and have gone on to enjoy a strong cult following in the years since.

With the release of All Bright Electric last year, the band have returned to the top ten of the album charts after an eight-year absence.

Opening act Darlia were competent enough to sustain a steady trickle of polite applause after each song, but lacked energy and enthusiasm and they never peaked above average.

After Feeder entered to screams and cheers, a subdued start quickly ramped up to a fever pitch of heavy-rock guitar riffs and thundering drumbeats that had the crowd shrieking and singing along right from the off. Playing songs old and new, Grant Nicholas, Taka Hirose and company demonstrated the appeal of Feeder’s alt-rock, Britpop sound. Popular chart hits from the past like Just The Way I’m Feeling, Lost And Found and Buck Rogers all went down great guns with the jostling fans in front of the stage.

Even after a five-song encore, the crowd were still shouting for more! An enduring band with a loyal fanbase, Feeder are back in a big way.