Biffy Clyro's new venture, Living Is A Problem, has all the markings of an enormous hit. Radio play (although grossly edited) is through the roof, and the key features of brilliant chorus, high energy and innovation are all there in abundance.

One particularly exciting feature is an intro of sporadic violin shrieks (sounding vaguely like Flash Gordon) that climaxes with the booming chants of a baroque choir. This then gives way to the jarring, impossibly noisy arrangements that now sound so typical of a band who continue to find new ways to be explosive. Simon Neil's vocals are as softly engaging as ever, with his rousing chorus of "Don't wanna waste no more time" given a spectacular lift by some truly awesome choral backing. Quite simply, you will not hear anything quite like this all year, because only so many bands are capable of producing it. On this evidence, Biffy Clyro are set to hammer that message home.

  share with:  Facebook | Digg | other sites