By Chris Hogg
Puzzle, Biffy Clyro’s fourth album proved an important breakthrough release for the band. This was reflected not only in the sale of 300,000 copies worldwide, but also in the elevation of the band from cult status to stadium sized national success. It also, whether you loved it or loathed it, marked an undeniable step in the direction of big, melodramatic post-hardcore rock and it is in this direction Biffy Clyro continue in Only Revolutions.
A self proclaimed departure for the band from the darker introspection of Puzzle, Only Revolutions makes for a more upbeat, experimental and also inconsistent release. On the one hand Biffy Clyro continues with the grandiose rock music that brought them to mass fame. The Captain is a dumb, fun stadium rock song complete with overindulgent brass section backing likely to earn and lose the band fans in equal measure, whilst former single Mountains proves an anthemic, if out of place addition. On the other hand, the band experiment, to mixed success, with other sounds. Lead single Golden Rule with thundering distorted guitar and intense vocal seems to reconnect with their heavier roots. Born on a Horse has an almost dance beat and Bubbles drifts from tumbling guitar riffs into a full freak out guest guitar from Josh Homme.
The diversity of styles on Only Revolutions makes for both a varied collection of songs, but also an incoherent album. The band never seems to know whether it is making a grand all-out stadium rock record or a more experimental post-hardcore album. This is reflected through the tendency of the band to drown even simple rock tracks like Golden Rule in cinematic orchestral accompaniment. It also means that the songs don’t fit together as an album nearly as well as on Puzzle.
Less a revolution than a small uprising, Biffy Clyro’s fifth album still provides a playful, fun, diverse collection songs that probably won’t winback old fans, but will probably push the band even further into superstardom.