Scottish rockers Biffy Clyro are a band who've come a long way since their scrappy, scruffy alt rock beginnings back in 1995. With the release of ONLY REVOLUTIONS, the Kilmarnock trio's fifth album, Biffy Clyro have undoubtedly unleashed their most bombastic, epic and melodic concoction to date; a record equal parts U2 and Dinosaur Jr, an album where bold orchestral surges blend effortlessly with noisy guitar bursts, all the while buoyed by euphoric and triumphant choruses.  Teamed up with mega rock producer Garth Richardson and Nirvana mixer Andy Wallace, ONLY REVOLUTIONS is the sound of Biffy Clyro staking their claim as rocks never huge thing, stadium rocking mega stars on the verge of that massive breakthrough.

Opener THE CAPTAIN swiftly alerts you that Biffy Clyro mean business this time round, an infectious, urgent sounding song that lodges itself into your brain within seconds; front man Simon Neil crooning impossibly catchy sounding melodies whilst orchestral flourishes surge bombastically in the background giving the impression that this is the musical equivalent of a summer blockbuster movie. THAT GOLDEN RULE proves that the band can still rock out with the best of them, heavy riffs bombarding your senses and thunderous drum beats cracking your skull, Biffy Clyro unleashing echoes of that rambunctious alt rock that first heralded their arrival in 1995. With surprising time shifts and another orchestral explosion though, the band in 2009 are a defiantly more polished, accomplished and assured deal, confidence and experience brimming through in every note struck and melody sung.

BUBBLES is another euphorias sounding rock anthem, all chest beating melodies, cascading choruses and crashing guitar blasts, the midway guitar onslaught in particular prompting a certain indie rock-gasm for those of a certain bent. The more subdued GOD AND SATAN does away with the bombast for a spell, acoustic guitars and militaristic drum patterns building beneath Simon Neil's Scottish croon; a brass section adding to the magic.

With MOUNTAINS, it's satisfyingly effective business as usual from the band, a pleasingly euphoric sounding song that shows Biffy Clyro continue to move in defiantly epic rock directions, the “I am the mountain/I am the sea” chorus just begging to be chanted at stadiums worldwide come the summer months. SHOCK SHOCK, BOOOOOM, BLAST AND RUIN and CLOUD OF STINK are further examples of Biffy Clyro's confidence and sense of melodic urgency; the band belting out self assured alt rocking goodness, their amalgamation of the best parts of U2, Foo Fighters and Dinosaur Jr resulting in a thrilling joy ride for the senses.
MANY OF HORROR is another more subdued, gentle break in proceedings, a much more introspective and pretty sounding entry to ONLY REVOLUTIONS track listing, shades of Snow Patrol in the mix of the delicate and the anthemic. It's in this vein that KNOW YOUR QUARRY and WHORSES closes up the album, songs that mix the more gentle with the epic, slower building affairs that reveal yet another string to Biffy Clyro's already impressive bow.

ONLY REVOLUTIONS is a defiantly self assured and confident sounding album from Biffy Clyro, this a band sounding primed and ready to take the next step into stadium rocking stardom; a collection of anthemic, epic and bombastic songs full of urgency and euphoric intent. Definitely Biffy Clyro's most cohesive and satisfying release to date, ONLY REVOLUTIONS is a winner.

Scottish four piece Kizzy Star are a band much in vein of the anthemic guitar pop of acts such as Snow Patrol, The Killers and Echo and the Bunnymen. Bashing out chest beating melodies set to sky scapering guitar work and militaristic drum patterns, Kizzy Star sound like the latest outfit to vie for the position of next years next big thing judging by new single THE LAST TIME.

Front man Tony McGovern provides the band's heart and soul, adopting a comforting croon that can flit between gentle grace and world weary growl in the blink of an eye, giving Kizzy Star the presence to shine here. Whilst THE LAST TIME may not be the most thrillingly original sounding of songs to ever appear, it is a good, solid and well-constructed effort from this Scottish four piece. Yes, the Snow Patrol by way of Killers comparisons are glaringly obvious and transparent and no Kizzy Star never really sound particularly original or inspired; but despite all this, THE LAST TIME still manages to shine, Kizzy Star injecting enough tried and tested elements into the mix to succeed.

THE LAST TIME is good solid anthemic pop from Kizzy Star, the sound of a band standing on the verge of big things.