HARDCORE punk, by nature, is usually as serious as it is severe.

Amid the heavy riffs and aggressive drums there is not normally room for a sense of humour but Frank Turner’s Mongol Horde are happy to break the mould.

The folk punk icon’s side project made their long awaited return to Manchester with the band making the most of Turner’s downtime from his solo work.

And it was clear that Turner was relishing the first opportunity to play the songs in three years.

The singer whipped the crowd into frenzy within moments with Hey Judas, a song as energetic as it was technically impressive.

The Manchester Academy 2 gig continued in this vein with moshpits, stage dives and a furious singalong to the existential Staff to Refund Counter.

But between songs Turner was was just as boisterous labelling himself and his bandmates as Take That, joking with the audience and bringing out some ridiculously fun covers including Madonna’s Like a Prayer.

Turner started out in the hardcore before his massive success as a singer-songwriter and if this night was anything to go by he has not forgotten his roots.