Live Review: The Prodigy celebrate triumphant return to The National Bowl with Warrior’s Dance festival

Throughout their 20-song set, frontman Maxim frequently reminded fans it was 16 years since the Essex natives last headlined the Milton Keynes venue when the Warrior’s Dance festival first rolled into town.

That day in 2010 remains one of the most iconic moments in the Bowl’s recent history.

A lot has changed in the decade and a half since – most notably the loss of singer and dancer Keith Flint.

There was inevitably a question as to whether fellow members Liam Howlett and Maxim would continue following Flint’s passing in 2019.

They did, and anyone who caught the band on their arena tour earlier this year would have seen first-hand that between the pair and their live band, The Prodigy remain as good as they’ve ever been.

Like in 2010, the Warrior’s Dance brought together a stacked line-up across two stages.

Reggae and dancehall legend David Rodigan kicked off proceedings with dance heavyweights Carl Cox and Andy C both performing prior to the headliners.

However, it was ¥ØUUK€ ¥UK1MATU and Scarlxrd - sandwiched between the legends – who put in two of the best sets of the day as people poured into The Bowl.

So, what of The Prodigy. In truth, Maxim and Liam could have picked a set comprising of (almost) anything from their extensive back catalogue and the tens of thousands of adoring fans inside would have left happy.

It’s been a while since we’ve had any new music from the pair.

2018’s No Tourists was their last album and it’s no surprise most of their set came from the acclaimed mid 1990s classic Music for the Jilted Generation and 2009’s Invaders Must Die – with a handful of tracks from the rest of their back catalogue.

With Liam permanently surrounded by keyboards and electronics all night, for much of their set the focus was on Maxim.

Being the band’s sole frontman probably comes with greater pressure than he’s ever experienced – with all eyes fixed on him.

However, his command of The Bowl’s stage was faultless. It’s a huge stage to fill, but all night the singer was a blur – bounding around every inch of it and in the moments when he was stationary – he was glaring, menacingly, out to a sea of people.

The Prodigy kicked off with Omen before taking things back more than three decades with Voodoo People and Poison. The pace never really slowed down.

Masters of melding dance and heavy guitars, The Prodigy shifted between rave and rock all night, while lasers and lights reached out over the top of those inside.

The reprise of Omen gave way to Firestarter which was handled with aplomb.

In tribute to their late frontman whose lyrics dominate the track, lasers from a giant statue in the middle of The Bowl - between barriers separating fans – projected an image of the singer onto the screens.

It was an emotional but perfect nod while the song itself was a remix of the classic track.

Highlights of the set included rave classic No Good (Start The Dance) and Their Law before Smack My B**** Up brought the main set to a close.

The band then returned for an encore which included the likes of Breathe, Warrior’s Dance and their 1992 rave classic Out of Space.

The Warrior’s Dance festival brought to an end what’s been a fantastic year of live music at The National (dust) Bowl.

While many of those inside were there first time around in 2010, Maxim joked early on that many wouldn’t have been old enough to attend 16-years ago.

While you could – it’d be unfair to compare the two performances. What’s not up for debate is the astonishing power of The Prodigy.

No one else effortlessly melds genres as they do and no one puts on a show as intense or with as many lasers either.

Not many acts could headline The Bowl in two different decades and it’s a testament to their enduring appeal that they have.

Let’s hope they come back for a third time – but let’s hope there’s not another 16 year wait!