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Biffy Clyro
Blackened Sky


4.0
excellent

Review

by Adam Jones is GOD USER (14 Reviews)
January 16th, 2005 | 44 replies


Release Date: 2002 | Tracklist


A bit about the Biffy
Biffy Clyro, hailing from Scotland, have to date released 3 amazing albums, all with their unique sound and are growing in skill and depth every time. People have likened them to the Pixies and Nirvana, due to their style of changes of tempo, melody and distortion uses. However, don’t be taken by comparisons, Biffy have a style that is their own, and is one that appeals to both mainstream and alternative listeners.

This was their first full album, released on Beggars Banquet label in 2002.

Joy. Discovery. Invention
Perfect album intro, featuring all that is Biffy. Starts slow, then a stand out little riff, into a crunching distortion, with an insane sounding little section near the end, before heading back to where it started. Vocals are spot on too. 4/5

27
Same pattern as the first, but more vocal depth this time when the song kicks off into its heavier last third. The drums help the build up well. 4/5

Justboy
Begins with an overdriven section, but falls into a nice mellow section. Has a great chorus too, simple but effective guitar work, with nice effects at the end.
4/5

Kill the Old, Torture Their Young
After the natural harmonic intro, Simon discovers he can scream on this track, only for the first part, but it goes well with the powered riff The song slows down, goes to bare roots of a simple beat/strumming pattern. It then slowly builds up, then unleashes the heavier part, containing complementing vocals. At 6.10, it shows that Biffy have what it takes to write a longer progressive song, as well as 2-3 minute wonders. 4/5

The Go ‘ Slow
Another song that veers from heavy to clean on regular occasions. It has catchy lyrics too, and finishes with Simon once again discovering he has the ability to scream. 3.5/5

Christopher’s River
Emotional song this one, with a sense of defiance. Usual clean intro, but this has more feel to it, going well with Simon’s deeper lyrics. The break into the overdriven ending section is great, with the line ‘I’m not through..." repeated over and over to great effect. Finishes with a little octave solo-ish piece which brings the song to a good ending 4.5/5

Convex, Concave
More upbeat tempo with this song, but contains some of the most brutal Biffy riffs to date. A great live song, due to its great build up sections. 5/5

57
The most pop orientated song on this album. Full of catchy riffs, vocals that you will be singing for weeks, and the well know (for Biffy fans) ‘doo do dooo doo’ section, this track will stay in your head for a while after hearing it. 4/5

Hero management
Into section drags on a bit for this song, and the song s doesn’t appear to go anywhere for ages, until about 2 minutes in, where it picks up tempo. It ends well with feedback building up over the clean guitar, then heads into the heavier ending part, with nice octave work again. 4/5

Solution Devices
Overdriven bass lines are very noticeable in this one, another class Biffy song with its usual changes, and some more quality vocals. A more straight-to-the-point song than most of the others. 3.5/5

Stress On The Sky
The drums go racing away in this one; they get heavier while the guitar is still subdued. This changes before long, and a nice heavy section follows. Apart from the odd vocal section, this feels more of an instrumental song, with nice build up sections all over the place. 3.5/5

Scary Mary
And to finish, a ballad? Well it’s the tamest track on the album, but still has some nice parts to it. The vocals are spot on, and the little ending guitar section works well. A calm end to the album. 3/5

This album is a severely underrated classic, as it was lost (and even compared to) the surge of the Nu Metal market. It contains lots of catchy sections, which could easily share the charts with other manufactured acts that solely rely on forcing hooks on their listeners. Biffy however, creates and incorporates these sections brilliantly into their music. Also a great live band.

Suggested tracks
Justboy
57
Christopher’s River



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Comments:Add a Comment 
Med57
Moderator
November 24th 2004


1002 Comments


Good review Ben...I have to say that I've heard more about these guys then I've heard by them, which I guess proves your point about them being somewhat forgotten. If they've been compared to Nirvana and The Pixies, I'll probably check them out.

Adam Jones is GOD
November 25th 2004


113 Comments


[QUOTE=Iai]Wait....was 57 that track where all three members sing?

'And I'm trying not to feel this music's for real......And over (HEY!) And over (HEY!) And over.....'

I loved that song. Only Biffy song I've heard that really struck me as worthy of their cult fanbase. I think they finished with it when I saw them, too. The rest I've either liked or been disinterested by. They were a great live act, mind.[/QUOTE]

Thats the one. When did you see them live? SInce their set list rarely finishes with that these days. Ill review the other two albums at some point, since I guess no one else on here is threatening to do so soon

Adam Jones is GOD
November 25th 2004


113 Comments


Good line up. Only just listening to InMe about 10 minutes ago


/ponders reviewing InMe's album too, if its not done

Davio El Dwarfo
November 26th 2004


4 Comments


Biffy are pretty good. I'm falling slowly in love with Vertigo Of Bliss (only now, despite having it for months and months). I only got into this album because of Now The Action Is On Fire... I love it when a band makes 5/4 sound like 4/4.

3rdplanet
August 9th 2005


46 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Stress on the Sky is such a crap song (apart from the harmonies at the end). Pissed me off when they closed with it. I would love to hear them place Instructio4 instead.



Good album though.

Bad Habit
December 26th 2005


4 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

Just listened to this album for the first time in ages and I forgot how damn good it was! Justboy and 57 the essential tracks for me.

iname
January 23rd 2006


3 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

probaly the simplest of the 3 albums but that dosnt take away any credit from it. this album like the other 2 is is great and dosnt use the standard layout of a song eg. verse, chours, verse, chours, middle, chours

sid121
July 17th 2006


34 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

this is an excellent album!! full of great drum beats and amazing lyrics!! i was very impressed. very good review, think you go it perfect:]

spoon_of_grimbo
January 10th 2007


2241 Comments


bought this for a fiver, and its worth every penny, may have to invest in their others soon!

faves: 27, justboy, christopher's river, 57.

Collis
October 4th 2008


662 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Awesome album. Biffy's second best (Behind VoB).

bonavida
October 30th 2009


4 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

I remember these afternoons listening this album with friends. Just amazing

EVedder27
February 21st 2010


6088 Comments


Impressed so far

crazyblinddude
December 22nd 2010


3388 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Band is pretty sick.

cb123
February 16th 2012


2238 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

love this album probably biffy's best work

NightProwler
March 26th 2013


7006 Comments


57 is so catchy. Especially on the Live at Wembley-album

NightProwler
March 26th 2013


7006 Comments


I think it was the song that got me into Biffy, lol

InfamousGrouse
March 26th 2013


4378 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

sweet bumping a pre-puzzle biffy thread i must screenshot this rare occurence

NightProwler
March 26th 2013


7006 Comments


Yeah, Glitter and Trauma rules too.

This is prob the best Biffy, IMO, too bad with the few bumps, Grouse

InfamousGrouse
March 26th 2013


4378 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Best Biffy is Vertigo of Bliss, hands down. This is second best though.

NightProwler
March 26th 2013


7006 Comments


Damn, that's their only album I haven't heard! Going out to buy myself some records tomorrow, I should pick it up then. Probably gonna see these guys 3 times this summer, so I should own all their albums, lol



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