Biffy Clyro start work on fifth studio album
Biffy Clyro have told Rock Sound that they've already started work on the follow-up to their last album, ‘Puzzle’, and, according to drummer Ben Johnston, they're planning on making “an absolute masterpiece”.
“We've got about 12 tracks in various stages of completion,” Ben’s bass playing, twin brother James Johnston told us. “It’s sounding really good and we're really happy, but we don't want to rush ourselves. We took quite a long time on the ‘Puzzle' record and I think it was well worth it. We’re doing festivals at weekends and practising in the week, but when the festival season finishes we’re going to start demoing songs and thinking more seriously about the album. I think we’ll start recording at the end of this year, maybe going into next year a little bit. We definitely hope to have the album out around summer next year.”
“We’re experimenting with sonics and different instruments and getting different people in to play,” Ben told us. “It’s an album, not a live show, so we can go to town if we want to. We’re just thinking about how we can make an absolute masterpiece of an album, push the boat out and not be scared to take risks.”
“I don’t think it’s going to be a radical departure and become disco-funk,” James added. “We’re still a rock band with guitars and largely that’s how it will remain. ‘Puzzle’ was our attempt at a big rock record with lots of strings and a choir. I think we’re still going to have a big sounding record, but the main thing for us is not to repeat ourselves, maybe explore a few new avenues. It won’t be until we’re halfway through the album that we’ll have more of an idea how it’ll be. That’s when you realise where the peaks and the troughs are going to be.”
The band also has tentative plans for major live shows at the end of the year. “We’re going to do a big show before Christmas, maybe one big Scottish one and one big English one,” says Ben. “Just to say thanks to everybody.”
