Limp Bizkit, Manchester Arena

LIMP BIZKIT'S adrenaline-fuelled metal/rap show breezed into Manchester this week.

Coming off the back of a triumphant Wembley show, Fred Durst's crew bring it on like Manchester has never seen before.

Formed six years ago in Jacksonville, USA, when Durst, then a tattoo artist, and ex-House of Pain man DJ Lethal started combining killer riffs and phat grooves with Durst's unique vocal rapping.

And once Wes Bowland had joined the crew there was no going back. Now Limp Bizkit are possibly one of the world's most distinctive, popular and controversial bands of modern times.

Already crowned the kings of the nu-metal scene, Bizkit rocked through a set of crowd-pleasers, including their MI2 theme, Take A Look Around, Break Stuff and new single My Way.

The highlight of the night, though, was their brilliant yet strangely disturbing rendition of George Michael's Faith.

Having numerous hit singles and a number one album already in the bank, Durst has a surprisingly high teeny-bopper contingent.

And along with the rest of the sell-out crowd, they felt the heat of Durst's presence and the random fireballs that provided the backdrop to the intense show.

One thing you should credit the band for is providing a show rather than

just another gig. The explosive atmosphere was mind-blowing.

Only Eminem or perhaps Slipknot could bring a more committed audience to Manchester.

STEVEN BROWN