It’s been a less than Roman trail up to this point for long-haul, stubbly Scot trio Biffy Clyro. From the proto-grunge of their debut, through gathering melodic grandeur, progressive cross-genre experimentalism, brief indie accessibility and some truly heavy songwriting, to say they’ve surpassed expectations along the way is an understatement as large as the chasm between their original potential and subsequent accomplishment. They had doggedness and resilience from the off, they were a roughly musical Glasgow-kiss that left a mark and no doubt one or two fractures, but as persuasive as they might have been the Biffy Clyro of then could never have written the Queen vs. Fall Out Boy orchestral future-emo audaciousness of "Living Is a Problem Because Everyone Dies". That they did now should give Muse and Panic at the Disco cause for concern. What they’ve done with Puzzle then that they haven’t exactly done before is marry their experimental bent with their swelling urge for accessibility, brilliantly. Acoustic "Machines" and rocketing "Saturday Superhouse" could be from the respective flip-sides of the Foo Fighters’ double album, In Your Honour, only with that glint in the eye that long since evaded Grohl’s mob. Hell, they even go a touch post-punk with bells on for a flash on "A Whole Child Ago". Is there nothing they won’t turn their hands to and wring dry without breaking a sweat? Still waiting to find it. - - James Berry

Fourth album, and major label debut, from unique Scots alternative rockers whose mind-boggling mix of prog rock, pop and metal, technical virtuosity and relentless touring have earned them a rabid cult following. This album sees them step up into the big league in awesome style, adding a dash of melody and accessibility and forceful production from metal guru Garth Richardson (Rage Against The Machine). Includes thesingles 'Semi-Mental', 'Saturday Superhouse' and 'Living IsA Problem Because Everything Dies'.

Customer Rating:
Summary: stop giving this album bad reviews
Comment: this is a brilliant album i hate when people keep going on about its not old biffy they still have there obscure brilliance please stop it becuase you are being to critical this album is AMAZING!!!!

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Customer Rating:
Summary: MON THE BIFFY!!!
Comment: An awesome album best album of the last year by far. My friend got me into Biffy a while back so was listening to the back catalogue for a few months before this album came out. "Living Is A Problem..." is an awesome opening track with the strings and the choir lifting the track to the next level after that we're off and flying. "Saturday Superhouse" and "Who's Got A Match" all fly by at break neck speed before the tempo is slowed is ever so slightly by "As Dust Dances". "A Whole Child Ago" harks back to early Biffy Clyro efforts before firing through "The Conversation Is" and "Now I'm Everyone" leading onto the singles "Semi-Mental" and the emotionally charged "Folding Stars" then then finishing on "Machines" with the lyrics "take the pieces and build them skyward" meaning that the album as a whole finishes on a positive note. Overall this album isn't as hard as The Vertigo Of Bliss for example, but provides those who want to get into Biffy Clyro an instant access point before discovering the delights of their earlier work.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Class CD
Comment: The cd has a couple of singles on which are really well known. The music is extremely easy to listen to and enjoyable.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Really Dull
Comment: This is the first Biffy Clyro album I've bought and it really is just indie rock by the numbers. Derivative and dull.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Hugely Disappointing
Comment: Like most other of the 1 star reviewers, I too had been waiting with great anticipation for the release of Puzzle as Biffy's first three albums were all great. The non-standard time-keeping and structure to their songs was really appealling. Each album they had released was an improvement on the previous and they put on a phenomenally good live performance.

I truly thought that Puzzle would surpass Infinity Land and the band would make the bigtime. What appears to have happened is that the band have made the bigtime with a monumentally appauling record. I was desparate to hear the new material on Puzzle, but after just one listen it was fairly clear that I was in for a disappointment. I have listened to the album several times now, hoping that I would discover things I had missed the first time round. There was nothing left to discover and I just can't listen to it any more, it is that poor an album.

Puzzle sounds far too clean and has been over-produced, but this would be tollerable if deep down the music was any good. Unfortunately this is not the case. Biffy seem to have abandoned all that had previously made their music appealing and Puzzle is almost completely devoid of any musical inventiveness. I agree with other reviews that generally speaking the singles are the best tracks on the album.

If you like radio-friendly music then you may love puzzle. However, if having read good things about Biffy you are keen to hear their non-mainstream sound then please buy one of their earlier albums, particularly Vertigo of Bliss or Infinity Land. Puzzle is far too poppy for my liking. Pop can be good but if you want pop then buy ABBA. Biffy now sound too much like any other of the talentless bands that are clogging up the airwaves today. They may as well rename themselves "The Biffy Clyro" and advertise themselves on TV.

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