Adam Newman and Lez Elston, better known as Lab4, were on the verge of calling it a day after the release of their debut album last year.

A host of set-backs, all beyond the control of the duo, caused them, to say the least, severe frustration.

Salvation came with two invitations to perform live - the first being a slot at Dance Valley in Holland, where they performed in front of an estimated 40,000 people - the other being at Viva, which takes place at the legendary Liquid Rooms in Japan. Adam said: "We were on the verge of packing it all in. But playing in Japan helped us realise why we were doing it in the first place."

Lab4's second album, 'Evilution' is available on One Inch Records. It was set for an end of April release to coincide with three launch nites, Dance Valley in Holland, Japan, and a sell-out show at London's Astoria. But problems with distribution has seen history repeating itself. Adam is philosophical.

"Missing out on the press coverage that we know we deserve is a disappointment but not a disaster. Our motto is 'The People Know'. If the crowd is screaming, we're doing the right thing." So, while there's a wave of Lab4 hysteria on a world-wide scale, Adam and Lez remain 'Giants of the Underground'.

"We're trying not to let the frustration with the industry side of things bring us down," Adam said. "The good side of being an underground act is there's no bandwagon jumpers and no burnout.

"Virgin In-store Radio have made a track off Evilution a number one in their dance chart - their DJ has said he's never had so many calls about a record before. Yet Virgin either can't, or won't, stock the album!

"I guess it's a cruel twist of the industry - that and sticking to our mission of destroying sound systems and turning venues to rubble! That's why we stay underground!" he says, with a wry grin. "The album is available mail-order from our website: www.lab4.com or from our record label's website: www.oneinchrecords.com.

"I'd just like to thank the people who've had the patience to track it down so far."

Lab4 are playing live on Saturday at the Brixton Academy, along with Banco de Gaircia and Cosmosis, plus a DJ line-up headed by Blue Peter. Lab4 are on stage at 3am.

"A lot of people go to London from Oxford for our gigs - the problem with Oxford is the licensing laws. It shuts at 2am, just when people are beginning to party. Smaller towns and cities have later licensing, so why not Oxford?

"Brixton Academy is a wicked place to play, looking out from the stage you see a sea of heads."

Last year's Truck Festival saw Adam's debut as a DJ. This year he's back, headlining in the techno tent.

"I had about a week to prepare myself for Truck last year. It was a surreal experience, playing other people's music in a cow shed with dust kicking up everywhere and the occasional light flashing. It had a real underground feel to it.

"Last year I made a point of not playing any Lab4 tunes - and there's a couple I'm going to be dropping in this year. I'm less nervous about DJ-ing now, I'm really up for this year's Truck."