I've never worn them, but when I saw ...Trail Of Dead in Newcastle last summer, in a relatively small venue, I almost passed during the last track and I think it might have been the crazy volume. Also my fey demeanour and piss weak constitution. I do know that both me and my girlfriend were very out of sorts the next day.

I'd never thought of doing this, as I don't go to many properly loud gigs (or at least, not as many as I did a few years ago) and I do enjoy the bracing experience of it when I do. But I'm becoming very conscious of my hearing these days, I have very mild tinnitus already and I'd hate to really fuck myself up. Plus, the next 2 months include HEALTH, Mono and Boris gigs, and aside form the aforementioned ...Trail Of Dead show Mono is the single loudest band I've seen.

So I think I'm off to go and buy some, and cock off to any young scamp who looks at me funny when I put them in. What would you recommend?