The Prodigy take no prisoners at First Direct Arena

Over the years there have been many acts that have tried to emulate The Prodigy.
The ProdigyThe Prodigy
The Prodigy

Pendulum, Chase and Status, Justice and Die Antwoord to name a few, but whilst they attempted to follow, it is clear The Prodigy are still leaders, the rest are tourists.

Opening with Breathe, the track that got my little 13-year-old heart racing many years ago, The Prodigy arrived to take no prisoners.

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The Prodigy were the Sex Pistols of my generation. Your parents feared them, the media baulked at their videos, they were dangerous, they were rebellious, they were exciting.

Hearing a dance act mix punk and industrial sounds with pounding drum and bass, The Prodigy crossed genres and fused styles effortlessly and still do.

What is evident on the night, is how fresh and relevant The Prodigy still sound. Tracks such as Firestarter still hold up against newer cuts from recent album No Tourists and a personal favourite release Invaders Must Die.

The Prodigy have always been five steps ahead of the competition, seemingly creating a body of work that is uniquely Prodigy and forward thinking. I wouldn’t necessarily say the invaders must die, but they certainly need to pick up their game to reach The Prodigy.

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Some would question the relevance of a group of men in their 40s performing ear-blistering rave music and still remain viable, seeing Maxim and Keith Flint trade off on each other, you would think a minute has not gone past from those days back in the fields.

Music and music videos didn’t turn the kids to drugs, life did and The Prodigy soundtracked that youth. Music for the jilted generation indeed.

It’s fitting that No Tourists artwork shows the number 7 bus to the first Prodigy gig, a sign things have gone full circle but there’s more to go and more mileage in the band.

You either get off here and re-live past glories, or you buy a lifetime ticket and stay on the journey. I for one have bought a season ticket all the way forward.