WHEN you go to see a thriller at the cinema you pay for a seat and only use the edge of it.

But if you go and see Biffy Clyro you pay for a seat and do not use it at all.

It was something to behold as almost everyone at Manchester Arena – we're talking tens of thousands of revellers – rose to their feet moments after the Scottish rockers played the opening riffs of Wolves of Winter.

Those lucky enough to be in the standing area also erupted into a bouncing, moshing mass with their hands in the air.

It has been a long road for Biffy to get to this point.

They were high school friends infactuated with Nirvana, they then lit up the underground scene with their unconventional song structures and angular riffs.

But now with two consecutive number one albums under their belt it was a revelation to see the pull they have over the crowd thanks to frontman Simon Neil's considerable stage presence.

Biffy are often on tour. It is where they say they feel most at home but they have never been on finer form than this year.

With the likes of rotating cubes, lights in time to the music and images projected onto a backdrop, they have also bumped it up a notch in terms of stage craft.

This was particularly true of one of the crowd favourites, Bubbles.

Biffy now have seven albums of material meaning they could fire out great song after great song while leaving room for a few surprises like the quirky Spanish Radio and the heavy rock song, Ballad of the Wee Man.  

Biblical and Folding Stars felt hugely anthemic and what was also heartening was the big response to Just Boy, a song written some 15 years ago and long before their mainstream success.

An extended, riffier version of catchy Stingin' Belle finally closed the show, sending everyone into the night with a grin on their face.