Confidence trick

Quarter Final 3 on Friday, July 25
The third Quarter Final in the LEP-supported Battle of the Bands had just about every ingredient for a top-class gig.
Onstage at the Venue, in Lords Walk, Preston, three-piece Boy Genius run amok with wicked short-shrift choruses and considered melodies, heavy riffs shining out throughout the set, taking a strong aim for the final. Without any gimmicks, their songs remain swirling around the head.
Their closest rivals in the confidence stakes must be House On Fire, whose set may not have the standout song needed to tie it together but there's enough technical talent to command concentration.
With hints of the grunge amongst the melodic rock, Makers Of Venice belted out a collection of sharp rock songs, broken-up verses buttressing crashing solos in a style at odds with the initially melodic mood.
Indie lads Innocents Abroad have a collection of interesting, well-phrased songs, in the wordsmith tradition, but the order of the set list knocks the emotion around a bit, leaving a slight sense of underwhelming confusion.
The judges' vote put House On Fire through to the semis with second-placed Boy Genius.

Rock climbers

Quarter Final 4 on Saturday, July 26
Metal stalwarts You Will Fail turned their angry guitars into an unplugged session.
Maintaining their characteristic intensity through personal, angry lyrics, the highlight was the electric mandolin influenced instrumental, turning the gig into a unexpected céilidh.
With the bar set so high, Exit State may have been shaken by the task ahead of them, but the rock veterans put together a set of such confidence that it seemed this quarter final would have to finish with a round of rock-paper-scissors.
Their high point was "Is There Anybody Out There", an anthem which brought the crowd out in droves.
The youthful Silicon Talent were full of promise with their expansive and multi-layered guitar explorations, although the songs seemed lacking the same spirit which impressed during the heats.
Population Four are a real prospect for the future, their sharp metal fused with very compelling emotion. They made the semis, with Exit State in first place.

* Semi-final 1 - Friday, August 1: Myth of Unity, Red Winter Capital, House on Fire and Population Four

* Semi-final 2 - Saturday, August 2: Gallows Gate, Blackbird, Exit State and Boy Genius