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The Vertigo of Bliss is never predictable, hardly even stable. Most of the tracks here are in constant flux. Pastoral acoustic guitars, fuzzed bass and sweet strings slip in and out of the mix, leading on to the next folksy interlude, wild jazz break or punky firestorm. One example of this is "With Aplomb", where a pretty acoustic riff is gradually submerged in lush strings and vocal harmonies, before the band engage in a series of brief solos rising to a kind of Elizabethan rock climax recalling Ritchie Blackmore. Elsewhere "Diary of Always" is a bizarre ballad driven by a Laurie Anderson-style vocal pulse, while "Now the Action Is on Fire!" mixes turbulent guitars and staccato strings, like a cross between John Cale and Ozzy Osbourne.
This is not to say the album is difficult or messy, rather that great care has been taken to embellish and enliven songs that were already fairly strong, and is an ambitious and intriguing effort. --Dominic Wills
Branded with the usual , Biffy Clyro are "nu-metal", "emocore", "punk", butwhatever the hell is written about them matters little. The Opening track ("Bodies In Flight") sets a precedent of Biffy at their frantic best. Mixing a monstously loud array of distorted guitars ("Now The Action Is On Fire!") with a tender, lilting celtic clean tone; Biffy Clyro weave melodies that tease the ear before flattening the listener with a hammer punch of caustic guitar riffage ("A Day Of...").
Which is no mean feat considering that Biffy are a somewhat understated three piece from deepest darkest Scotland. Formed in "mid-1990s" from frontman Simon Neil and his rythm section of the Johnston brothers , three way vocals are the order of the day. These are revealed as insprining harmonies ("All The Way Down: Prologue Chapter 1") and schizophrenic banshee screams ("Toys, Toys, Toys, Choke, Toys, Toys, Toys").
Singles "The Ideal Height" and "Questions And Answers" have gleaned fair coverage on MTV2 whilst gracing the Top 40 on both occasions, the new single "Eradicate The Doubt" out September 22nd will jab it's quarter inch fishing hook through your ear and point blank REFUSE to let go before exploding in a earth shattering manifestation of rage. The last few bars are VISCERAL. Think Glassjaw riffage minus the warped painkillers, mix it with the dynamic capacity of System Of A Down and you KNOW it works!
I advise that people listen to Biffy Clyro.
... Read more ›Simply put, to those who haven't heard them, and despite what some toilet paper music magazines would have you believe, Biffy are a breath of fresh air. In a time of predictable, trendy rock music, their songs (and live performances) show a creative flair which is distinctly lacking in most modern bands.
Not all of their songs are instantly 'accessible', having strange timings and quirky riffs, but it's these little turns which, in the end, make the album so enjoyable.
Vertigo of Bliss is perhaps less accessible than Blackened Sky, and has more of the beautifully twisty turny guitar work and epic song-feel of, say, Kill The Old Torture Their Young.
The token single is there, ironically perhaps the most average track on the album, and although it's alright, it isn't a good song to judge the rest by.
It also isn't fair to compare Biffy to bands like Nirvana or the Pixies as you can always make that comparison with any band. Biffy's formula of pretty-pick loud-riff has been done before, but there's an extra ingredient in there somewhere which makes them stand out.
I've seen the band play many times and always leave impressed, wondering what it actually takes to get people to go out there and support the most exciting band I've ever heard from the UK.
1) BODIES IN FLIGHT - a good song, quite heavy, it (like many other tracks) manage to be heavy and melodic and angsty with the occasional shouts but also tuned singing.
2) THE IDEAL HEIGHT - a very cool intro, that changes into this amazing song, with a catchy chorus that sticks in your mind., "How well do you think that you know me?"
3) WITH APLOMB - classic. It has the greatest ochestral instrumental that makes your heart speed up and stops you from whatever you're doing to listen halfway through.
4) A DAY OF... - A good song. Doesn't neccissarily stand out, but still with a good sound to get into. It's melodic but furious.
5) LIBERATE THE ILLITERATE... - another track that can't decide if it's heavy or calm. It's another rollercoaster song that takes you along with ease.
6) DIARY OF ALWAYS - my least favourite song. The song itself is good, but it's the drone of "I just wish we all could betray" that goes on throughout that eventually makes the song so repetative you have to ff
7) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS - The reason why I bought TVOB. Pure genius.
8) ERADICATE THE DOUBT - rumoured to be the next single. It's a nice little song at the beginning and then kicks into a pounding track.
... Read more ›I'm not a massive fan of Bodies In Flight. It's good, but not fantastic. Read more
If you don't own it;
1. Why the hell not?
2. Buy it now!
The boys have cracking melodies and increasingly complicated structures. Read more
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