EVERY band must dread “difficult second album syndrome” and few remain unscarred. Nirvana and The Arctic Monkeys did, but too often a classic debut is followed by a classic dud. Just ask The Strokes.

For album number two Warpaint pull out all the stops to prevent becoming another band of hope that descend into one of despair. They have called in Flood (PJ Harvey, Sigur Ros, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds) to take care of the sound, while visionary director Chris Cunningham manages of their image. But the result is more than style over substance.

Warpaint’s music remains brooding, hypnotic and very Portishead, which is no bad thing, but now they are beginning to carve a definite niche, with songs such as Love Is To Die, Hi and Teese that rate with their best material so far. Warpaint have certainly survived the dreaded syndrome, if at times it left a few bruises.

• Warpaint play Leeds O2 Academy on February 19