Biffy Clyro - 'Puzzle' (14th Floor) Released 04/06/07

A multi-faceted, beast of an album, ‘Puzzle’ firmly grabs hold of you and locks you in Biffy’s world of wonderment till you have completely succumbed. Biting riffs, enchanting choruses and with more mood swings than Naomi Campbell, Biffy Clyro have fashioned a record glistening with rock gems. The Scottish stalwarts had promised such an LP ever since their stunning debut ‘Blackened Sky’. All their heart and soul has been poured into ‘Puzzle’ and by god does it show.

Opening track ‘Living Is A Problem Because Everything Dies’ has a rather strange start, jittering clashes of thumping drums that sounds like either the cd is skipping or it’s the beginning of a Beyonce tune, but thankfully the gritty reassuringly Scottish vocals of Simon Neil kick in and the track transforms into a smouldering volcano bordering on the verge of eruption. ‘Saturday Superhouse’ follows with the best riff of the LP while ‘Who’s Got A Match’ takes the album up a notch with a recurring riff reminiscent of Queen Of The Stone Age’s masterpiece ‘No One Knows’. The chorus is sublimely simple, using gang vocals that are destined to be shouted so loud in future gigs.  

‘As Dust Dances’ stunningly shows Biffy’s quieter more reflective side, obvious comparisons to fellow countrymen Idlewild could be made. The most radio-friendly, potential mainstream-breaker is the awesome ‘The Conversation Is’. Seductive verses and the most harmonious of choruses, Neil’s vocals flow effortlessly and with the right exposure this could be a mammoth hit. ‘Get Fucked Stud’ encapsulates the band’s two guises, with gentle bubbling verses that are over-hauled by a raucous racket of a chorus. 

One of Biffy Clyro’s greatest charms is the depths and layers each song has, it keeps them so fresh, with every listen revealing a little more magic. This is certainly the case on ‘Now I’m Everyone’ that starts off so simple, yet later transforms into a whole new creature that spits out a staggering end. When picking highlights of ‘Puzzle’ you suddenly realise there just isn’t a ‘lowlight’ every part of every song has something special, something significant and worthy of comment. Biffy Clyro have built up some of the most loyal and committed fans and this is someway of saying thanks, it is an indulgent treat that begs to be gobbled up.

In an album so diverse and borderless ‘Puzzle’ manages to sound as harmless as Snow Patrol one moment then as aggressive and unhinged as The Gallows the next. On ‘Puzzle’ Biffy Clyro have well and truly cracked the code. From the first track to the last the journey is exhilarating, unrelenting and a complete pleasure. This trio deserve every plaudit coming their way, they are simply on top of their game and the most engrossing and ambitious alt-rock band around.