Biffy Clyro: MetroRadio Area, Newcastle

IT’S been a good year for Biffy Clyro with headline performances at the Reading and Leeds festivals, and already confirmed for next year’s Download. Throw a second consecutive number one album in the shape of Ellipsis into the mix and it’s clear the trio are currently hot property.

They rolled into Newcastle last week to deliver a high energy set complete with a light and laser show that would have had even Muse casting envious looks. Opening their set with Wolves of Winter they set the tone for the evening, a monstrous guitar riff accompanied by a blizzard of lights.

The band is not overly-reliant on the lighting presentation though, and played with both high intensity and plenty of passion helped by some hard-core fans cheering them to the rafters. Singer/guitarist Simon Neil cast aside his oversized white shirt several songs into the set, whereas brothers Neil and James Johnston took to the stage shirtless and ready to rock. They were soon in perpetual motion – an endless blur of fingers, drumsticks, hair and tattoos.

Most of the tracks from Ellipsis were in the set (and sounded significantly beefier live than on record) but the band mixed the songs, cleverly interweaving them among older favourites such as Black Chandelier, Many Of Horror, Bubbles and The Captain thereby ensuring that attention never wavered during the two-hour plus show.

If number one albums and major headlining slots weren’t clue enough, their current tour is proving Biffy Clyro are now true arena rockers.

Dave Lawrence