Biffy Clyro

Puzzle

[2.5/5]

The British metal press has a laughable track record when it comes to predicting the next big thing (mainly because the media always latches onto some hometown upstart), and not since the days when Black Sabbath invented the genre has the Motherland produced a hard-rock act of any real consequence. Now, they’ve thrust their hopes and hypes upon Biffy Clyro, and in doing so overlooked a few things: An entirely preposterous name; the band aren’t exactly new (having several years and albums under their belt); and they aren’t metal! You’d be forgiven thinking that Puzzle is actually the new Foo Fighters disc because Simon Neil’s vocals are a dead ringer for Dave Grohl’s melodious yelp, while his band proffers similarly slick and raucous guitar-driven rock. The symphonic interludes that pepper the disc hint at a progressive side of the band that never really materializes-which is a shame, because Biffy Clyro would do better to emphasize evolution than pop songcraft. (ROADRUNNER) Brian O’Neill