BIFFY CLYRO – Puzzle (14th Floor Records)
Biffy Clyro is a name that I have heard around for many years without ever trying any of their work. At one time hyped as Britain’s answer to Nirvana, they never really hit the big time, and were always something of a second division band. Their fourth album could just be the one to change all that, as after a long struggle their time has finally come. The Scottish trio have always had the tunes, but the production tended to let them down, and so for this album they have drafted in a slew of extra musicians to beef up the sound, and this is no more evident than on opening track and recent single ‘Living Is A Problem Because Everything Dies’. After one of the weirdest intros ever to a rock song, it finally bursts forth from the speakers in a rush of adrenalin, and the massed vocals on the chorus prove that their decision was the right one. ‘Saturday Superhouse’ was a good choice for lead single, having a powerhouse sound but also a good chorus, whereas ‘Who’s Gotta Match’ is so commercial that if they really want a chart hit then that is the track to go for. The band give us the big ballad with ‘As Dust Dances’, but still manage to cram in a screaming middle eight to further compound the Nirvana comparison, before it drifts to a close with the piano-led segue of ‘2/15ths’. ‘A Whole Child Ago’ and ‘Semi-Mental’ are two more pop/punk gems, powerful but still tuneful, and ‘Now I’m Everyone’ utilised saxophone to beef up the sound. ‘Love Has A Diameter’ is another potential single, and it is about this point – two thirds into the album - that you begin to realise just how many of these songs could hit the charts. ‘9/15ths’, however, is unlikely to do so, being quite unlike everything that has gone before. Stabbing guitars, massed choirs and un-nerving lyrics do not make for chart success. ‘Machines’ ends the album with an acoustic ballad – a rather odd choice as you expect one more thrasher to follow, but it rounds off a fine record. If, like me, you have missed out on Biffy Clyro so far, then rectify it immediately with this album.