Biffy Clyro at the O2 Arena

Scottish rockers Biffy Clyro triumphantly hit the stage at the O2 Arena for the final night of their UK tour.

The band has been around for a long time. Formed in 1995 in Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire, they have now been going for the best part of two decades, putting out consistently impressive rock albums with wide appeal. Some groups might struggle to avoid sounding repetitive after such a long career, but Biffy Clyro seem to take this challenge in their stride. Three years ago their sixth studio release Opposites hit the number one spot in the UK, and, after a break in 2015, their latest offering Ellipsis shot to the number one spot as well.

It’s not difficult to see that the Scottish rockers have amassed a loyal fan base in their years of touring. They manage to create the feeling of a much smaller and sweatier rock show inside the glitzy and cavernous O2 Arena, and those who had travelled to see them on this closing night of their tour need no time whatsoever to warm up. It’s not long before the standing crowd are whipped into a frenzy of pogoing and mosh pits, with plastic cups of beer shooting high into the air.

Three giant, illuminated squares frame the band on stage, with lead singer Simon Neil and bassist Jim Johnson occasionally climbing onto small platforms either side of the performing area, getting closer to fans in the highest seats to make sure everyone is as riled up as those on ground level.

Particularly popular with the audience is Black Chandelier, the stormy lead single from 2013’s Opposites and the angsty Friends and Enemies from their new album, both performed with an unstoppable energy.

After storming through many of Biffy Clyro’s faster-paced hits, we enter a mellower section of the set in which Simon Neil treats the crowd to an acoustic rendition of sentimental Medicine, allowing everyone to regroup slightly, letting his expressive and versatile voice enthral for the duration of the song. But this rest is short-lived and soon it’s back to business as usual with the large mosh pit reforming in front of the stage. 

With the release of Ellipsis last year, the group now have seven studio albums to choose material from, so it’s not surprising that there are very few dull moments in a long show. The unfaltering energy of the crowd – inspired by the stamina of the band themselves – is a good testament to Biffy Clyro’s enduring ability to entertain.

Joanna Blyth

For further information about Biffy Clyro and future events visit here.

Watch the video for Wolves of Winter here: