Biffy Clyro - Opposites
In the accustomed manner of true epic records, Biffy Clyro’s latest offering Opposites comes to us in the form of a two titled conceptual double album. The first record, The Sand at The Core of Our Bones is a more brooding, intense affair, perhaps feeding on the bands well documented troubles with the trappings of fame such as drummer Ben Johnsons alcohol problems. The second, The Land at the End of Our Toes is comprised of more uplifting and optimistic tracks. I’m sure all Biffy fans, new and old will hope this is an indication of the more positive place the band are in right now. Although the two records have these distinct themes running through them sonically they are not dissimilar, indeed those who bought the single album might struggle to ascertain which track comes from which record.
The tracks themselves are exciting and varied although all are unmistakable Biffy. There are always polar opinions on individual tracks which is only natural, after all one mans ‘Jaggy Snake’ is another mans ‘Many of Horror’. None of the tracks on either record can fairly be described as filler tracks but occasionally it feels as though some tracks are there to enrich the album as a whole. Indeed, I don’t think I have ever heard an album of such high quality individual tracks where the album as a whole is still greater than the sum of its parts. This is without doubt one of the great rock albums. If any criticism is to be made, it is that some tracks are a little predictable and do nothing to move the band forward. However, with a back catalogue of Biffy Clyro’s quality, that is not exactly a major fault. Opposites also pays homage to the bands more leftfield origins, featuring a variety of sounds seamlessly woven into that signature Biffy sound. There are bagpipes in Stingin’ Belle and even a Mariachi band in one of The Land at the End of Our Toes standout tracks, Spanish Radio. Lyrics range from traditional emo fodder to the humour of being ‘cool, like a porcupine’. There is definitely no shortage of snippets of profound verse to keep tattoo shops in business from Land’s End to John O’Groats.
Production values are higher on Opposites than perhaps any previous Biffy album, which could upset the purists. It is polished, almost to a fault but the sheer magnitude of the songs and the depth and purity of the sound does more than enough to reassure even the most old school Biffy fan that the integrity of one of the UK’s best rock bands has not been compromised. The richness of the sound may be lost on some downloaders as compression could render some of the more subtle nuances inaudible. Even on CD, this is one to play loud!
Opposites, then is an intelligent, deep and thought provoking springboard for the evolution of Biffy Clyro. There is more than enough quality content to carry a double album, a notoriously difficult achievement. Opposites does nothing to alienate existing fans and is sure to win the band an even greater following. At time of writing, I notice Amazon UK is out of stock of copies of Infinity Land (2004), perhaps suggesting that a whole new group of people are discovering vintage Biffy Clyro for the first time. That can only be a good thing.
The word ‘epic’ is overused when discussing music these days but Opposites is just that.
Epic.
To find out more about Biffy Clyro, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Phil Clack
The tracks themselves are exciting and varied although all are unmistakable Biffy. There are always polar opinions on individual tracks which is only natural, after all one mans ‘Jaggy Snake’ is another mans ‘Many of Horror’. None of the tracks on either record can fairly be described as filler tracks but occasionally it feels as though some tracks are there to enrich the album as a whole. Indeed, I don’t think I have ever heard an album of such high quality individual tracks where the album as a whole is still greater than the sum of its parts. This is without doubt one of the great rock albums. If any criticism is to be made, it is that some tracks are a little predictable and do nothing to move the band forward. However, with a back catalogue of Biffy Clyro’s quality, that is not exactly a major fault. Opposites also pays homage to the bands more leftfield origins, featuring a variety of sounds seamlessly woven into that signature Biffy sound. There are bagpipes in Stingin’ Belle and even a Mariachi band in one of The Land at the End of Our Toes standout tracks, Spanish Radio. Lyrics range from traditional emo fodder to the humour of being ‘cool, like a porcupine’. There is definitely no shortage of snippets of profound verse to keep tattoo shops in business from Land’s End to John O’Groats.
Production values are higher on Opposites than perhaps any previous Biffy album, which could upset the purists. It is polished, almost to a fault but the sheer magnitude of the songs and the depth and purity of the sound does more than enough to reassure even the most old school Biffy fan that the integrity of one of the UK’s best rock bands has not been compromised. The richness of the sound may be lost on some downloaders as compression could render some of the more subtle nuances inaudible. Even on CD, this is one to play loud!
Opposites, then is an intelligent, deep and thought provoking springboard for the evolution of Biffy Clyro. There is more than enough quality content to carry a double album, a notoriously difficult achievement. Opposites does nothing to alienate existing fans and is sure to win the band an even greater following. At time of writing, I notice Amazon UK is out of stock of copies of Infinity Land (2004), perhaps suggesting that a whole new group of people are discovering vintage Biffy Clyro for the first time. That can only be a good thing.
The word ‘epic’ is overused when discussing music these days but Opposites is just that.
Epic.
To find out more about Biffy Clyro, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Phil Clack