MARILLION @ CIVIC HALL, WOLVERHAMPTON 13/9/12

“Some bands walk out on stage to apathy,” says Marillion frontman Steve Hogarth towards the end of his bands mammoth two-hour twenty minute set. “Some bands, if they are lucky, walk out to adulation,” he continues. “But us? We walk out to affection, and that is worth more than anything.”

And so the ethos of this gig – and indeed this band is summed up. Ok, Hogarth might be neglecting the standing ovation that greeted the band after the first five songs tonight, but you can see his point.

Marillion are at the point that very few bands get to. They simply have nothing to prove to anyone, and they are supremely confident in both their abilities and also in their audience. How else do you explain the fact they can cheerfully begin the gig with a 17-minute track that isn’t even out yet. And moreover, they sound brilliant in doing so.

That is exactly what happens as they play “Gaza” the epic opener from magnificent new album “Sounds That Can’t Be Made” before playing “Your Gone” and the companion pieces from “Marbles” “This Town,” “The Rakes Progress” and “100 Nights” all before the aforementioned reception.

They are, however, only just getting started. In total four new songs from the new album – including the title track - are aired, but they are for digesting later as there are plenty of familiar tracks to get stuck into. Like a stunning “Neverland,” a passionate “Real Tears For Sale” and a golden oldie in “The Great Escape.”

Perhaps Marillion’s real strength lies in how understated their power is. Guitar man Steve Rothery just calmly stands there driving the whole thing forward with his fine playing, which is complimented in great style by the rest of the band.

It is left the naturally extrovert Hogarth to provide the spectacle. He does not disappoint. A frontman in the classic mould, he is equally at home criticising US Presidential hopeful Mitt Romney (”the antichrist takes many forms,”) dedicating a song to a couple celebrating a wedding anniversary, playing many different instruments, singing and changing costumes. All of which he does tonight with aplomb.

There are two encores – the first sees a haunting and epic “A Few Words For The Dead” before they return again for a sing-a-long of “Sugar Mice.” On this form Marillion – who have long been perhaps the biggest cult band in the UK - are unstoppable and deserve both adulation and affection. This was, quite frankly, absolutely flawless.