Biffy Clyro - 'Joy. Discovery. Invention.' (Beggars Banquet)
3/5
By: Thomas Hannan
What a confusing band Biffy Clyro are. Their hybrid of post-hardcore, metal, indie and emo has a way of sounding like nothing in the world and everything you've ever heard before all at the same time. If not already slightly taken aback by the wonderfully ridiculous song-titles, too (finally, someone to rival the Manics) and the dismembered dolls on the cover, then the actual music should do the rest of the work without much trouble.
'Joy. Discovery. Invention.' is arguably the better song on this double A-side effort. The tactic of having what could be seen as two choruses and coupling touching melody with a sensitive aggression make it an ideal choice for single, an indie mini-anthem in the vein of Idlewild at their most emotional. Opening with a twinkling guitar and pounding, almost tribal drums, the standout track from their debut LP even manages to build up somewhat unpredictably to a fantastic crescendo of sound, refreshingly reserved for the track's closing stages.
Such affection for unconventional song-writing also crops up on the previously unavailable 'Toys Toys Toys Choke, Toys Toys Toys'. Definitely imaginative, but less instant than its counterpart, the track sprawls slightly over its lengthy five minute-duration, Biffy Clyro's Fugazi/Shellac-esque grind perhaps suffering from too often a mood-change.
Undoubtedly inventive and admirably exploratory, but if Biffy Clyro can learn to hone down their amount of ideas and flair to a more realised aim then we could see the arrival of an even more special talent.
Artists in this article: Biffy Clyro
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