Biffy, as they are often referred to, utilise a quiet/loud dynamic, constructing songs that can range from a whisper-quiet pick on the guitar, to huge walls of noise with massive distortion and crashing drums. Their sound has simplified somewhat in recent times yet still occasionally contains complex time signatures and heavy riffs. While Simon Neil sings lead, all three members provide vocals. "'Mon the Biffy!" is a well known chant amongst Biffy fans; it is usually shouted in between songs at gigs, or before the band come on stage. Some fans have reacted poorly to the band's recent output.
The first incarnation of what would eventually become Biffy Clyro was formed in 1995 by fifteen-year-old Irvine-born, Ayr-raised guitarist Simon Neil, who recruited Kilmarnock-born Ben Johnston and someone known only as Barry on drums and bass respectively, calling themselves Screwfish. Barry was soon replaced by James Johnston, Ben's twin brother, and the three spent the next two years rehearsing, writing and covering songs. In 1997, they played their first gig as the support for a band called Pink Kross at a local youth centre. The trio then moved to Glasgow, where Neil went to the University of Glasgow and the Johnston twins went to Stow College, studying Electronics with Music and Audio Engineering respectively.They then progressed onto the bigger stage
After playing gigs around Glasgow and receiving positive and enthusiastic reactions from the audiences, the band were spotted by Dee Bahl, who soon became their manager. Bahl offered them a chance to release an independent single on Aereogramme's Babi Yaga record label. "Iname" was released on 28 June 1999, and led to the band being chosen by Stow College's Electric Honey record label to release a record. thekidswhopoptodaywillrocktomorrow... was released on 13 June 2000, and after hearing it, BBC Radio Scotland DJ Vic Galloway gave the band airplay. A few days prior to the release of thekidswho..., the band were spotted at the Unsigned Bands stage at T in the Park 2000 by a Beggars Banquet representative. Soon after, the band was signed to the independent Beggar's Banquet, and on 30 October 2000, they re-recorded and released the single, "27", which became Kerrang!'s Single Of The Week.
On 1 October 2001, one of the songs from thekidswho... was re-recorded and released as a single, "Justboy". This was repeated on 4 February 2002, when the song "57" was released. On 11 March, the band's debut album, Blackened Sky, was released to generally positive reviews. It was around this time that the band began touring extensively, including being the support for Weezer on 20 March at the Barrowlands in Glasgow. On 15 July, the fourth single from the album, "Joy.Discovery.Invention" was released as a double A-side with a newly recorded song, entitled "Toys, Toys, Toys, Choke, Toys, Toys, Toys", which later appeared on The Vertigo of Bliss.
In 2003, the band retreated to the Linford Manor recording studio in Great Linford, Milton Keynes, England to record the follow-up to Blackened Sky. On 24 March, a new single was released entitled, "The Ideal Height", followed by another new single entitled "Questions and Answers" on 28 May. The band's second album, The Vertigo of Bliss was released on 16 June, to positive reviews, which focused on the more experimental style of the album in comparison to Blackened Sky, as well as the introduction of string sections.
In 2004, after touring relentlessly for The Vertigo of Bliss, the band retreated to Monnow Valley Studios in Monmouth, Wales to record a follow-up. As with the previous album, two singles were released before the actual album; "Glitter and Trauma" and "My Recovery Injection" on 9 August and 20 September, respectively. A digital download was also released; "There's No Such Thing As A Jaggy Snake", on 31 May. On 4 October, the band's third album, Infinity Land was released, and on 14 February 2005, the last single from the album, "Only One Word Comes To Mind" was released. On 16 February, the band performed a cover of Franz Ferdinand's "Take Me Out" live from Maida Vale on Zane Lowe's BBC Radio 1 show. Simon Neil's side project, Marmaduke Duke, also released an album in 2005, The Magnificent Duke, and toured the UK, along with the Johnston twins accompanying on bass and drums, for it.
In 2006, Biffy Clyro left Beggars Banquet and signed a deal with 14th Floor, an offshoot of Warner Bros. In June, the band contributed a cover of Weezer's "Buddy Holly" to Kerrang!'s High Voltage!: A Brief History of Rock, which came free with Issue #1110 of the magazine. In September, the band moved temporarily to Canada to record their fourth album at The Warehouse Studio in Vancouver, and The Farm Studio in Gibsons, which they finished doing in November. The song "Semi-Mental" was released as a digital download on 25 December. In 2007, the song "Saturday Superhouse" was released on 14 May, where it reached #13 on the UK Singles Chart; the band's highest single chart position to date. On 14 May, the song "Living is a Problem Because Everything Dies" was released, reaching #19 on the UK Singles Charts. On 21 May, Biffy were confirmed for T in the Park 2007, as well as being announced as one of the support bands for the 17 June gig at the new Wembley Stadium for Muse. On 1 June, Biffy were confirmed for Glastonbury 2007. On 4 June, Puzzle was released to critical acclaim, and eventually helped the band to reach their highest UK Albums Chart position ever, reaching #2 in the first week of release. On 6 June it was announced that Biffy were to support The Who at Marlay Park in Ireland. On 12 June, it was announced that "Folding Stars" was released as a single on July 16. On the 23rd of August 2007, Biffy Clyro were announced as the support act for the Red Hot Chilli Peppers at Hampden Stadium in Glasgow, for the Stadium Arcadium tour.
The Atrocity
Biffy Clyro Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't expect me to die
I've got my enemies within my sight
We're looking through a stained-glass genocide
I don't wanna die
Don't expect me to die
Memories of a perfect time
We dream of nothing
Or so we say
We dream of discovering a perfect trail
To the answers that will seal our pale faces
That can't happen now it's flickering out
Will we meet again? I hope somehow
Even if we pass you on your way out
I don't wanna die
Don't expect me to die
We can live forever
I don't wanna die
Don't expect me to die
We can live forever
The opening lines of "I don't wanna die / Don't expect me to die / I've got my enemies within my sight" set the tone for the rest of Biffy Clyro's "The Atrocity." The song is full of defiance, a refusal to give in even in the face of overwhelming odds. The singer is ready to fight, but not necessarily to die - it's a rallying cry to keep going, to keep pushing on even when everything seems hopeless.
The metaphor of "looking through a stained-glass genocide" is a powerful image of destruction painted in vivid, almost beautiful colors. It suggests that even in the midst of death and destruction, there can be moments of transcendent beauty - or at least, that beauty and horror can exist side-by-side in unexpected ways. The chorus repeats the singer's refusal to give up, suggesting that even though the future may be uncertain and the path ahead may be rocky, there's still hope to be found: "We can live forever."
The final lines are perhaps the most poignant: "Even if we pass you on your way out / I don't wanna die / Don't expect me to die / We can live forever." It's a reminder that even if the singer does die - or even if we all do, eventually - there's still a legacy that can be left behind, a sense of purpose and meaning that can endure beyond our lifetimes. It's a powerful message of resilience and hope in a world that can often feel overwhelming.
Overall, Biffy Clyro's "The Atrocity" is a powerful meditation on life, death, and the human spirit. It's a call to keep fighting, to keep pushing forward even when everything around us seems to conspire against us. It's a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there's still hope to be found - and that ultimately, we all have the ability to make a difference in the world, no matter how small that difference may seem.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't wanna die
The singer expresses a strong desire not to perish
Don't expect me to die
The singer refuses to submit to the notion of his own mortality
I've got my enemies within my sight
The singer is aware of the threats to his existence and is vigilant in his defense
We're looking through a stained-glass genocide
The singer is observing a world where violence is pervasive and destructive, like looking through a colorful stained glass window that depicts scenes of genocide
What's joy without the tears filling our eyes?
The singer suggests that true and pure joy is only possible when experiencing the pain of loss and sadness
Memories of a perfect time
The singer reflects on a past where everything was ideal and blissful
We dream of nothing
The singer and his audience are reticent about their aspirations
Or so we say
The singer acknowledges the possibility that some of the people with whom he is communicating may speak about their dreams at other times
We dream of discovering a perfect trail
The singer shares the hope of every person to find the correct path to happiness, and that everything will begin to fall into place thereafter
To the answers that will seal our pale faces
The singer suggests that once people have found the key to satisfaction, their countenances will have an unmistakable and definitive quality that resembles pure contentment
That can't happen now it's flickering out
The singer implies that the pathway to happiness is becoming less clear and less substantial as time passes
Will we meet again? I hope somehow
The singer expresses uncertainty and hopeful expectation about the future and whether he and his friends will have the opportunity to see one another once more
Even if we pass you on your way out
The singer expresses his desire to make connections with as many people as he can before they depart the world, even if only fleetingly
We can live forever
The singer holds out hope that by preserving cherished memories and connecting with other like-minded people, we can all have an eternal existence
Contributed by Muhammad Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Kasper Wilkosz
Amazing song!