It was never really in doubt what my album of the week for this week was going to be. My list of favourite bands changes pretty regularly but Biffy Clyro is a name that has been ever present since I first heard 'Blackened Sky' all those years ago!'Only Revolutions' is Biffy's fifth studio album and their second since signing to 14th Floor (Warner Bros.) in 2006. Garth Richardson (Rage Against The Machine, Skunk Anansie), producer of previous album 'Puzzle' returns on production duties. 'Puzzle', the debut release on a major label, really launched the band into the mainstream with it's more straightforward song structures giving it a much wider appeal. It hit the charts at number two and won many awards including a Kerrang award for album of the year 2007.
I was really hoping that 'Only Revolutions' would not be a disappointment. Having suffered the disappointment of another favourite band (Muse) releasing a disappointing fifth album already this year I was hoping this one would not give the same results. It is very easy for bands who have had a highly successful record to ride on that, get lazy, and put out a distinctly average follow-up record. I don't think Biffy are that kind of band, they work hard at what they do and they love what they do. They are all about the music and if people like it then that's a bonus. The fact they are currently on their fourth UK tour in the past three years is testament to their devotion to their music and their fans and their love for being Biffy Clyro.
Before hearing the album I had already heard three of the songs released as singles. "Mountains", released last year, is included on the album and is a fairly straghtforward and incredibly catchy song with a great chorus getting the whole crowd singing along "I am a mountain, I am the sea". "That Golden Rule" is a high energy song with heavy riffing guitars and manic indecipherable vocals on the verses. The second half of the song in instrumental with strings and guitar hammering out a classic biffy breakdown. "The Captain" is again a fairly straightforward song this time featuring a brass section! Overall these songs gave me hope that this album would be a good one. "That Golden Rule" in particular showed that they are still keeping their slightly unpredictable and more raw edge.
On first listen to 'Only Revolutions' I have to say I wasn't convinced but I gave it time and after a few more listens I was definately sold. I think the reason for this is in the depth of the music on this album certainly compared to 'Puzzle'. It is not in your face like their earlier work, there is less of the jagged guitars and unpredictable rhythms, instead the depth and detail is a lot more subtle. The band experiment with different instruments and with adding more layers and it really works and adds more texture to the songs. This can be seen on songs such as "Know Your Quarry" with it's harpsichord intro, the brass section on "The Captain" and the string arrangements on a number of songs including "God & Satan" and "Many of Horror".
Lyrically the album is interesting as ever. There is a real spiritual element to many of the lyrics, most obviously in "God & Satan". There are also the lighter, more eccentric moments that Biffy are so good at such as "Born On A Horse" with it's opening lines "I pronounce it aluminium / 'cause there's an I next to the U and M". Other themes include his relationship with his wife ("Shock Shock") and a relationship breakup ("Many of Horror").
I'm pleased to say this is yet another Biffy album with no bad song on it. I can't think of many other bands with five albums I can listen to from start to finish without getting bored and wanting to skip any tracks. 'Blackened Sky' is still my favourite album but this is a band that have never compromised to sell more records. They have just kept writing songs that they love to play and whilst their sound has become more mainstream their passion and talent has kept them from being just another rock band. I look forward to many more years of Biffy Clyro, still one of my favourite bands and for the record one of the best live bands I've ever seen.
Mon the Biff!
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