Claudio Simonetti's Goblin, Gorilla, Manchester, 26 February

“And on keyboards… Claudio Simonetti!” Not many musicians would finish their band introductions by then introducing themselves, but then, Claudio Simonetti is no ordinary musician. After all, for this rare UK tour, the band in-fighting that has plagued him for decades has forced Simonetti to rebrand accordingly, with the Goblin name currently claimed by fellow founder member Massimo Morante. The hardcore vote with their feet regardless, turning out in numbers for a chance to hear the music that saw the Italian troupe, largely through their work for Giallo master Dario Argento in the 70s and 80s, become the cineaste’s prog rock act of choice.

To Simonetti’s credit, it’s a self-deprecating bonhomie, rather than ego, that fires his onstage persona, and his interplay with both band and audience (“So…who likes zombies?”) helps turn 90 minutes of extended instrumentals into a potent, boisterous event. The set includes key works from their non-film output as well as the classic horror themes this partisan crowd expects. Dawn of the Dead, Zombi (Zombie Flesh Eaters), Tenebrae and Suspiria are all played out against a backdrop of scenes from those films.

For once, it helps to get up close, where the blur of Simonetti’s fingers and the musicianship of drummer Titta Tani, guitarist Bruno Previtali and, in particular, bassist Federico Amorosi, is something to behold. Simonetti’s 62 now, but he carries himself with an infectiously youthful swagger. “You are a great, great audience, Manchester!” he says as the band return for an encore of perhaps their finest moment, the theme from Profondo Rosso. In every sense of the word, bloody brilliant.