Until the late '80s, dance and rock music were an unthinkable recipe. Although that same decade had given birth to extended remixes of guitar-based bands such as Simple Minds, INXS and U2, the hard-edged end of the market remained untouched by human hand or programmed machine. Iron Maiden remixed by Marshall Jefferson was aeons away (still is).

Arguably since the '90s, The Prodigy, Depeche Mode, Front Line Assembly and Pendulum have helped bridge that gap to some degree, with the latter taking drum and bass and metal to another level - suddenly stadiums were booming to the sound of chainsaw-riffs and speaker-trembling basslines. After Pendulum's demise, Skrillex ambled in with his version of aural-terror, fusing the largely-overlooked genre of dubstep with balls-out riffs that has lured fans from both camps to his shows.

London-based Modestep are hoping to take this potent blend to the masses and have had a fair crack at doing so thus far. Formed just a few years ago, the quartet's fresh sound is ripe for plucking. They notched-up a Top 40 hit at the first attempt, thanks to some Radio 1 support for "Feel Good", with subsequent follow-ups also delivering attention and airplay - "Sunlight" actually broke the Top 20. But it's albums and live shows that pay the bills and after unleashing a handful of singles in 2012, it's time to cross a new bridge.

January will see debut-album "Evolution Theory" hit the virtual shelves, featuring new single "Another Day", plus all the singles and tracks that will make their already-revered live shows, just that bit more exciting. And there are a whole bunch of those to come.

The band's UK tour will call firstly in Newcastle on 2nd February, followed by Manchester, Glasgow, Liverpool and lots more until Plymouth on the 17th. There is a London show in there somewhere - KOKO on 14th February. We will have tickets for all shows from 9am on Friday 16th November, priced at £12 regionally and £14 for London.