Biffy Clyro A Celebration of Ending ( vinyl LP )

Release date: 15-08-2020

2020 EU issue vinyl LP

Biffy Clyro can announce that their eagerly anticipated new album ‘A Celebration of Endings’.It follows the band’s previous two studio albums – ‘Ellipsis’ (2016) and ‘Opposites’ (2013) – both of which went straight to #1 on the Official Albums Chart.

Tracks:
A1 North Of No South
A2 The Champ
A3 Weird Leisure
A4 Tiny Indoor Fireworks
A5 Worst Type Of Best Possible
A6 Space

B1 End Of
B2 Instant History
B3 The Pink Limit
B4 Opaque
B5 Cop Syrup

Biffy Clyro's approach to opus eight was simple. Keep things fresh and maintain the wide-eyed wonder of what they do. Surprise themselves and each other. Push things to their furthest extremes. Their first building block in embracing the new was to turn to an old friend. In came Rich Costey, producer of Ellipsis. "This is a very forward-looking album from a personal perspective and a societal perspective," explains frontman Simon Neil. "The title is about seeing the joy in things changing, rather than the sadness. Change means progression and evolution. You can retain everything you loved before, but let's lose the bad shit. It's about trying to take back control."

That idea manifests itself in various ways. On a personal level that might be a relationship which has reached a point where it's in both parties' interest to separate. And on a wider scale, it's about standing up for what you believe in. Sonically, Biffy Clyro playfully push the outer reaches of their sound to the extreme – often in the case of the same song. Opening track "North of No South" hits hard before finding the space for the Johnston brothers to unleash some soaring Queen-style vocal harmonies, before "The Champ" throws piano, cinematic strings (conducted by Bruce Springsteen collaborator Rob Mathes at Abbey Road) and Biffy's prototyped jagged rhythms into the mix without ever losing any of its sleekness.

Other songs are far more direct. "Tiny Indoor Fireworks" is the best direct rock anthem they've ever written, somehow snappy, melodic and light on its feet while feeling so natural you could imagine it was conceived in minutes. Meanwhile, "Space" is a natural successor from previous lighters-in-the-air highlights "Many of Horror" and "Rearrange." It's a sincere message of reconciliation for someone you love, and Biffy's most tender, unguarded moment from the sweet spot of their catalogue. How can you conclude an album of such esoteric diversity? Biffy launch headfirst into "Cop Syrup." There's the rush of "The Vertigo of Bliss," a detour into Sub Pop-style grunge and manic shrieks which wouldn't sound out of place on a Liturgy record. But then it contorts again, first into ethereal orchestration and then with a final burst of violence. It's an ending to celebrate.