I think the first thing to point out here is that this was the 8th time i had seen Deftones live, and never before had i seen them in such a bad venue. It boggles me that they would even let un-signed bands play here, let alone a band like Deftones.

I won’t spend time harking on about how bad a venue Myth (Maplewood, MN) is – all you need to know is that they wouldn’t know good acoustics if it slapped them on the face.

Considering how shabby the sound was, Deftones still came across well, and i enjoyed the gig. Having arrived at the venue in anticipation to see the first support band, The Fall of troy, i was disappointed. They failed to impress, and i was left wishing i had been stuck in traffic. Without going off in a tangent of brutal x-rated words, i don’t think i can accurately describe this band. However, i do give them credit for two things:

1. They got the crowd going
2. All three members appeared to be incredible on their instrument, especially the guitarist

Next up was Dir En Grey. Now i admit, i had one track on MP3, and it didn’t stay very long on my iPod. Needless to say, i was not looking forward to them. So, you can imagine how shocked i was when i actually enjoyed their performance. If you are unaware of Dir En Grey, they are a Japanese metal band, with a vocalist who would remind you of the Tasmanian Devil

Onto the headline act, Deftones. By the time Chino and co. arrived on stage the crowd was almost at capacity, chanting, “Chino, Chino, Chino”. The band seemed really pumped up for tonight, and this was the first time in a good few years that i had seen Chino actually able to hit those high pitched screams without his throat breaking down on him. This also happened to be the first time i had seen the new songs and Back To School live. Great night – shite venue!

Setlist:

PASSENGER
SUMMER
LHABIA
BEWARE
E9
ROOT
WGTB
FUR
RICKETS
KNIFE PRTY
DIGITAL BATH
NOSEBLEED
BORED
HOLE IN THE EARTH
XERCES
RATS RATS RATS
CHERRY WAVES
———————–
CHANGE
BACK TO SCHOOL
HEADUP

Band Name: Biffy Clyro
Album Name: Puzzle
Label: 14th Floor (UK) and Roadrunner (US)
Release: 4 June (UK) and August (US)
Rating: 5/5

This month didn’t really leave too much room for deciding who would receive ‘Album of the Month’ – there was always only going to be one clear winner.

Scottish alt.rock heroes Biffy Clyro unleashed their 4th album, simply entitled Puzzle on Monday, 4 June. This band, rightly so has a huge cult following back in the UK. Constant touring for the three previous albums, high profile tour supports and to be honest, great fucking songs make this band simply irresistable. If you have not heard any of their previous work, i urge you all greatly to check them out, not next week, not in an hour, but now (well, as soon as you leave ths blog).Anyway, onto the album itself. The content of the album is very personal. Simon Neil, guitarist and lead vocalist, suffered through the death of his mother before the recording of Puzzle began and you can feel the emotion not only in the lyrics, but in his voice.

Puzzle was recorded in late 2006, in Vancouver, Canada, by Garth Richardson (Rage Against The Machine, Chevelle, Kerbdog), before being mixed by Andy Wallace (Foo Fighters, Nirvana, Rage Against The Machine), in New York City.The album opens with their latest hit (#19 in UK charts), Living Is A Problem Becuase Everything Dies. This epic song has dark a mood, not too unlike Pink Floyd, with a baroque choir and a steady crescendo of staccato violins. The following track, Saturday Superhouse (#14 in UK charts) is more reminiscent of something from the debut album, Blackened Sky – with a soaring, punk fueled chorus, you cannot help but find yourself playing this song over and over.

Who’s Got A Match, with the chant, “I’m a fire and i burn, burn burn, tonight” is the type of song that i would expect from The Strokes or The White Stripes – neither of whom could pull it off quite as well this though. Now if you have previously heard the earlier work from Biffy, you will probably know that in addition to creating blinding rock songs, the guys can also write some pretty good heartfelt tracks. The three way vocals from Simon, and twin brothers Ben and James Johnston really stand out on the quieter tracks. The last albums have seen these type of tracks limited to one, maybe two – Puzzle has a good handful. Love Has A Diameter, next single Folding Stars, album closer Machines and As Dust Dances never feel out of place when mixed in with the usual distorted opuses that Biffy churn out on a regular basis.

I guess the point i am trying to make is that if you have not already bought this album, you should be putting this top of your list. It’s already top of my ‘Albums of the Year’ list – the only two albums i expect to like this year as much are the new Ryan Adams and the comeback Smashing Pumpkins’

Tracklist:
1. Living Is A Problem Because Everything Dies
2. Saturday Superhouse
3. Who’s Got A Match
4. As Dust Dances
5. Whole Child Ago
6. Conversation Is
7. Now I’m Everyone
8. Semi Mental
9. Love Has A Diameter
10. Get Fucked Stud
11. Folding Stars
12. 9/15th’s
13. Machines