Biffy Clyro - Opposites (Single Disc Edition) (12/04/2013)
Although it may seem like Biffy Clyro have materialised out of nowhere, the Ayrshire rock trio have actually been around for quite a while. Already with five albums to their name, Opposites serves as their sixth studio album and a testament to everything they’ve achieved.
It isn’t long before Biffy Clyro’s experimental ways come to the forefront, and at just two songs in Black Chandelier is their first example of this. Unfortunately for them, it isn’t a risk that has paid off. The repetitive intro (“Drip, drip, drip, drip, drip”), although attention grabbing, doesn’t flow seamlessly into the song and instead creates a jarring introduction to what could have been a great track. However, this isn’t the songs only fault. The band is usually heralded on their creative lyrics but with their clumsy simile, “You left my heart like an abandoned car,” it doesn’t provide much depth to the song.
There’s something about title track, Opposite, that is somewhat underwhelming. Although true to their well-known soft-rock style, it doesn’t compare to the other songs and gets overshadowed by the rest of the content on the album. Nonetheless, Opposite is the perfect track to close your eyes, gently sway and hold up a lighter as the beat gently lulls you into a state of bliss.
Proving that they’ve got all genres covered, Biffy Clyro jumps from its previous slower track to a metal-infused rock number, The Joke’s On Us. This song serves as a great break from the melancholy atmosphere that echoes through the album, and surprisingly doubles as an elaborate break up song, culminating in “I’m in love with somebody else”.
After a few more jumps in genres, including a bout from a Spanish trumpet, Opposites reaches what is arguably a standout of the album, Victory over the sun. Starting off slow, the song slowly builds until it reaches its climax, where the guitar and drums have reached the perfect harmonisation.
Just when you thought Biffy Clyro had covered everything they throw a bagpipe into the mix with their song Stingin’ Belle. For managing to successfully fit bagpipes into an alternative rock song with metal twangs, we applaud thee.
Making up for their previous experimental song that just didn’t hit the mark, Trumpet or Tap becomes the savour of the album. With an original compilation and interesting lyrics that are more poetic than Sylvia Plath, Trumpet or Tap is Biffy Clyro’s experimentalism at its best.
Although Opposites is an album that covers so many genres it has a little bit for everyone, it has fallen short of its predecessor, Only Revolutions, which has been the cause of their most recent success. It almost seems that in their pursuit of creating an experimental album, their lyrics have suffered as a result. In saying that, Opposites is still a great album to listen to and is far from being mind-numbingly predictable.
Amanda Sherring
It isn’t long before Biffy Clyro’s experimental ways come to the forefront, and at just two songs in Black Chandelier is their first example of this. Unfortunately for them, it isn’t a risk that has paid off. The repetitive intro (“Drip, drip, drip, drip, drip”), although attention grabbing, doesn’t flow seamlessly into the song and instead creates a jarring introduction to what could have been a great track. However, this isn’t the songs only fault. The band is usually heralded on their creative lyrics but with their clumsy simile, “You left my heart like an abandoned car,” it doesn’t provide much depth to the song.
There’s something about title track, Opposite, that is somewhat underwhelming. Although true to their well-known soft-rock style, it doesn’t compare to the other songs and gets overshadowed by the rest of the content on the album. Nonetheless, Opposite is the perfect track to close your eyes, gently sway and hold up a lighter as the beat gently lulls you into a state of bliss.
Proving that they’ve got all genres covered, Biffy Clyro jumps from its previous slower track to a metal-infused rock number, The Joke’s On Us. This song serves as a great break from the melancholy atmosphere that echoes through the album, and surprisingly doubles as an elaborate break up song, culminating in “I’m in love with somebody else”.
After a few more jumps in genres, including a bout from a Spanish trumpet, Opposites reaches what is arguably a standout of the album, Victory over the sun. Starting off slow, the song slowly builds until it reaches its climax, where the guitar and drums have reached the perfect harmonisation.
Just when you thought Biffy Clyro had covered everything they throw a bagpipe into the mix with their song Stingin’ Belle. For managing to successfully fit bagpipes into an alternative rock song with metal twangs, we applaud thee.
Making up for their previous experimental song that just didn’t hit the mark, Trumpet or Tap becomes the savour of the album. With an original compilation and interesting lyrics that are more poetic than Sylvia Plath, Trumpet or Tap is Biffy Clyro’s experimentalism at its best.
Although Opposites is an album that covers so many genres it has a little bit for everyone, it has fallen short of its predecessor, Only Revolutions, which has been the cause of their most recent success. It almost seems that in their pursuit of creating an experimental album, their lyrics have suffered as a result. In saying that, Opposites is still a great album to listen to and is far from being mind-numbingly predictable.
Amanda Sherring