Disturbed at the Auckland Town Hall

The security guard looks us over and asks, in a smiley, bro-like fashion: "No weapons, no drugs, no sharp objects, guys?"

He might be friendly but he's serious, though he doesn't bother padding us down before waving us into the Auckland Town Hall.

Disturbed are a heavy rock band but the security is pretty, well, heavy. Then again, when the Chicago-based band hit the stage, you can see why - if anyone did have concealed weapons it would be dangerous, because the auditorium is like a scene from Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome. The baying masses are pumped.

There are so few rock'n'roll gigs at the Town Hall nowadays that you forget how incredible the venue is, not only to see bands, but to hear them. Compared to the St James the sound is so much cleaner. But tonight, the air is not. It is sweaty.

In New Zealand Disturbed have legions of fans, and tonight they let their raised fists do the talking. It might not be ten thousand fists, which is the name of the band's latest album, but this gig is a sell-out and everybody has at least one fist in the air.

That album, the band's third, gets a good thrashing and the main highlights are Deify and Stricken - two crunching trademark Disturbed anthems.

While the music can't be faulted - it is heavy, tight and catchy - the band's lumbering stage presence is noticeable. Frontman David Draiman commands the crowd at will, and has them licking his raised fist all night. However, instead of striding round the stage, he just walks.

He has a voice from hell. He can soar, bark and make obnoxious noises on demand. And you'd think his dual piercings that hang out from his bottom lip like a pair of silver tusks, would make him a fearsome sight. But tonight he looks bloated.

You want, and expect, more physicality, more theatrics, and more presence from the band to match their music.

The major low is the cover of Genesis' Land of Confusion from Ten Thousand Fists. It was a terrible song to start with so why torture us more?

When they play their last song - the stunning Down With the Sickness from their 2000 debut, The Sickness - Disturbed look like they're just starting to warm up. It is a blinder of a track. But too late, it's over.

Don't get me wrong, this was a good gig, and besides, who's going to argue with a rowdy, passionate, and fanatical crowd like this? Those crazies are the winners tonight.