ANOTHER triumphant homecoming. While rightly famous for floppy-haired

sensitive types, it's fitting that even post-industrial Glasgow should

have a metal band to be proud of: a band calling its albums Gallus and

Swagger.

With dislocated dancing, blond close crop, and skin a stark white

against black leather, singer Mark Rankin looks more vulnerable than

before -- certainly less substantial than the Gizzi clan flanking him on

guitar and bass.

Then Rankin crooks his microphone arm, bares his teeth and takes

command with: ''No, no, I won't Stand In Line.'' Is the song about a

two-timing lover or the DSS? In fact it's about both. This is not to

deny the pop accessibility of demon hooks like Steal Your Fire: Bon Jovi

would be glad to play that at half speed and wreck it. But Gun combine

melody, energy, and credibility in a very smart package.

The sassy, knowing cover of Word Up and Dante Gizzi's punk rant on the

new single, Something Worthwhile, make the point. When you sing along to

Gun, you aren't just mouthing metal cliches about losing in love (though

you can if you like). The personal emotion can also become political if

you want it to.

Calling for an encore, Saturday's audience even makes Flower of

Scotland sound decent and is rewarded with the feel-good verdict of

Better Days: ''This should be Heaven, but this feels like Hell.''

It sounds as defiantly hopeful as it did in 1989, and even more

relevant.