Biffy find hope in the emptiness
TOMORROW, Biffy Clyro make Scotland the rock capital of the world as they livestream their new album.
The trio – Simon Neil and brothers Ben and James Johnston – have gone from cult indie favourites to one of the world’s best rock bands.
To celebrate their ninth studio album A Celebration of Endings, which is out today, the Scots will play a secret empty venue in Scotland.
They aren’t allowed to say but Simon has teased it is “a wonderful ballroom in the city”.
Doing a livestream performance feels like the new normal after four months of lockdown.
James said: “You’ve got to move forward and don’t be too scared of it. I think that’s something the band has always felt is really important to us.”
Simon said: “I always thought that I could happily sit in a studio all year making music.
“That’s what I love, the travelling and the touring I could take or leave. I’ve come to realise that’s b ****** .
“My body needs that adrenaline we get from playing.”
With some dates for 2021 pencilled in, including headlining Download, Simon reckoned next year will be a monster.
He said: “Once everything returns to some sort of normality, go and see your favourite band because it’ll be the best show you’ve ever seen.”
A Celebration of Endings follows Ellipsis in 2016 and Opposites in 2013, which both went to No1 in the UK.
It’s been an incredible ride for the three school pals who formed the band in Kilmarnock in 1995.
Simon said: “There’s not much in life that’s constant but we’re lucky to have had this for 20 years.” “We started in the right place,” said Ben, “and we stayed there.” The album starts with their signature angular riffs on North of No South as the album swirls and jumps from genre to genre.
There’s the stand-out epic stringladden The Champ – which is a heady mixture of Queen and Biffy. Cop Syrup, the album’s last tune, is a blast from the very early days – full of hardcore rage and time signature changes.
There are other rock outs, with Weird Leisure and End Of, and the ballad in Opaque.
Given the band got a No1 single via X Factor when Matt Cardle covered Man of Horror, the group have never been afraid of pop and Instant History, Tiny Indoor Fireworks and Space give a more mainstream sound.