A Celebration of Endings
A Celebration of Endings | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | ||||
Studio album by Biffy Clyro | ||||
Released | 14 August 2020 (2020-08-14) | |||
Recorded | 2019 | |||
Studio |
| |||
Genre |
| |||
Length | 45:19 | |||
Label |
| |||
Producer |
| |||
Biffy Clyro chronology | ||||
| ||||
Singles from A Celebration of Endings | ||||
| ||||
A Celebration of Endings is the eighth[note 1] studio album by Scottish alternative rock band Biffy Clyro. It was produced by Rich Costey and was released on 14 August 2020. It debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart, making it the band's third consecutive studio album to top the chart.
Background
The band confirmed they were working on new material in an NME interview in July 2019,[2] having released their soundtrack album Balance, Not Symmetry a few months earlier. Another NME interview in October 2019 confirmed the release of the album, with the working title Opus 8, for the 'first half of next year'.[3]
The first single, "Instant History", was released on 20 February 2020, and first played on Annie Mac's BBC Radio 1 show.
The album was initially planned for release of 15 May 2020, but was pushed back to 14 August due to difficulties surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.[4]
Critical reception
Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AnyDecentMusic? | 7.9/10[6] |
Metacritic | 84/100[5] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
American Songwriter | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Classic Rock | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
DIY | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Independent | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Kerrang! | 5/5[11] |
Mojo | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
NME | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Observer | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Q | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Uncut | 8/10[16] |
The album received critical acclaim upon release. On review aggregate website Metacritic, the album has an average score of 84 out of 100, indicating "universal acclaim," based on 16 reviews.[5] Kerrang! gave the album a perfect score, stating that "Biffy Clyro have delivered an album of restless invention, substance and style that arrives like a spray of water on the arid expanse of this saddest of summers."[11] The Independent also gave the album a positive review, writing that the album "soothes, shakes and surprises at every turn".[10]
Track listing
All tracks are written by Simon Neil; additional writers listed
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "North of No South" | 4:05 | |
2. | "The Champ" | 3:37 | |
3. | "Weird Leisure" | 4:08 | |
4. | "Tiny Indoor Fireworks" | 3:16 | |
5. | "Worst Type of Best Possible" | 3:50 | |
6. | "Space" | Steve Mac | 3:56 |
7. | "End Of" | 4:37 | |
8. | "Instant History" | Steve Mac, Ammar Malik | 3:31 |
9. | "The Pink Limit" | 3:55 | |
10. | "Opaque" | 4:07 | |
11. | "Cop Syrup" (Collector's Edition contains hidden track "Less is More") | 6:17 | |
Total length: | 45:19 |
Personnel
Biffy Clyro
- Simon Neil – lead vocals, guitars
- James Johnston – bass guitar, backing vocals
- Ben Johnston – drums, backing vocals, percussion
Additional personnel
- Zac Rae – additional keyboards
- Steve Mac – additional Keyboards
- Rob Mathes – string arrangements and conducting
- Jenny Nendick – conducting
- Jackie Shave – concertmaster (1st violin)
- Magnus Johnston – violin
- Perry Montague-Mason – violin
- Patrick Kiernan – violin
- Pete Hanson – violin
- Natalia Bonner – violin
- Cathy Thompson – violin
- Debbie Widdup – violin
- Jonathan Evans-Jones – violin
- Chris Tombling – violin
- Bruce White – viola
- Peter Lale – viola
- Rachel Roberts – viola
- Caroline Dearley – cello
- Ian Burdge – cello
- Jonathan Williams – cello
- Caroline Dearley – cello
Production
- Rich Costey – production, mixing
- Steve Mac – production
- James Rushent – additional production
- Chris Laws – additional programming and engineering
- Joe La Porta – mastering
- Jonathan Allen – string recording
- Paul Pritchard – string recording assistant
- Neil Dawes – string recording assistant
- KT Pipal – engineering
- Mario Borgatta – engineering
- Wesley M. Seidman – engineering
- Cecil Barlett – engineering
- Dann Pursey – engineering
- Koby Merman – additional mix engineering and digital editing
- Dalton Ricks – additional mix engineering
- Ross Newbauer – additional mix engineering
Artwork and design
- Thomas Robson – cover artwork
- Simon Neil – additional artwork, art direction
- Richard Welland – art direction
- Ash Reynolds – photography
Charts
Chart (2020) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australian Albums (ARIA)[17] | 21 |
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[18] | 5 |
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[19] | 77 |
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[20] | 127 |
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[21] | 23 |
French Albums (SNEP)[22] | 104 |
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[23] | 4 |
Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ)[24] | 6 |
Irish Albums (OCC)[25] | 2 |
Italian Albums (FIMI)[26] | 82 |
Scottish Albums (OCC)[27] | 1 |
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[28] | 42 |
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[29] | 4 |
UK Albums (OCC)[30] | 1 |
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United Kingdom (BPI)[31] | Silver | 60,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Notes
- ^ The band referred to the album using the working title Opus 8. This numbering does not include the soundtrack album Balance, Not Symmetry from 2019. See also: Biffy Clyro discography
References
- ^ "Biffy Clyro – "A Celebration of Endings"". Everything Is Noise. 4 September 2020. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
- ^ "Biffy Clyro give us an update on their "rocking opus" of a new album". NME. 23 July 2019. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
- ^ "Biffy Clyro confirm their next album will arrive in "first half" of next year". NME. 11 October 2019. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
- ^ "Biffy Clyro delay 'A Celebration of Endings' album due to the coronavirus". NME. 27 March 2020. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
- ^ a b "A Celebration of Endings by Biffy Clyro". Metacritic. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
- ^ "A Celebration Of Endings by Biffy Clyro reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
- ^ Grunenberg, Kira (11 August 2020). "Biffy Clyro Takes Its Music To Another Level on 'A Celebration of Endings'". American Songwriter. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
- ^ Wilding, Philip (14 August 2020). "Biffy Clyro: A Celebration Of Endings might be the beginning of something". Classic Rock. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
- ^ Jamieson, Sarah (13 August 2020). "Biffy Clyro - A Celebration of Endings". DIY. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
- ^ a b Beaumont, Mark (13 August 2020). "Biffy Clyro expertly mix gloss and grime on A Celebration of Endings – review". The Independent. Archived from the original on 13 January 2021. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
- ^ a b Winwood, Ian (13 August 2020). "Album Review: Biffy Clyro – A Celebration Of Endings". Kerrang!. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
- ^ Garner, George (16 April 2020). Mojo. p. 88.
{{cite magazine}}
: Missing or empty|title=
(help) - ^ Trendell, Andrew (13 August 2020). "Biffy Clyro – 'A Celebration Of Endings' album review". NME. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
- ^ Empire, Kitty (16 August 2020). "Biffy Clyro: A Celebration of Endings review – smiley vs gnarly". The Observer. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
- ^ Everley, Dave (28 July 2020). "Square Pegs". Q. p. 112.
- ^ Cochrane, Greg (14 July 2020). Uncut. p. 27.
{{cite magazine}}
: Missing or empty|title=
(help) - ^ "Australiancharts.com – Biffy Clyro – A Celebration of Endings". Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
- ^ "Austriancharts.at – Biffy Clyro – A Celebration of Endings" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Biffy Clyro – A Celebration of Endings" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Biffy Clyro – A Celebration of Endings" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
- ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Biffy Clyro – A Celebration of Endings" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
- ^ "Top Albums (Week 34, 2020)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Biffy Clyro – A Celebration of Endings" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
- ^ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2020. 34. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
- ^ "Official Irish Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
- ^ "Album – Classifica settimanale WK 34 (dal 14.08.2020 al 20.08.2020)" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
- ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
- ^ "Top 100 Albumes – Semana 34: del 14.8.2020 al 20.8.2020" (in Spanish). Productores de Música de España. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
- ^ "Swisscharts.com – Biffy Clyro – A Celebration of Endings". Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
- ^ "British album certifications – Biffy Clyro – A Celebration of Endings". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
- v
- t
- e
- Simon Neil
- James Johnston
- Ben Johnston
- Blackened Sky
- The Vertigo of Bliss
- Infinity Land
- Puzzle
- Only Revolutions
- Opposites
- Ellipsis
- A Celebration of Endings
- The Myth of the Happily Ever After
- Balance, Not Symmetry
- Revolutions: Live at Wembley
- Opposites: Live from Glasgow
- MTV Unplugged: Live at Roundhouse, London
- A Celebration of Endings: Live from the Barrowlands Ballroom
- Singles 2001–2005
- Missing Pieces
- Lonely Revolutions
- Blackened Sky B-Sides
- The Vertigo of Bliss B-Sides
- Infinity Land B-Sides
- Similarities
- "Iname"
- "27"
- "Justboy"
- "57"
- "Joy.Discovery.Invention"
- "Toys, Toys, Toys, Choke, Toys, Toys, Toys"
- "The Ideal Height"
- "Questions and Answers"
- "Eradicate the Doubt"
- "There's No Such Thing as a Jaggy Snake"
- "Glitter and Trauma"
- "My Recovery Injection"
- "Only One Word Comes to Mind"
- "Semi-Mental"
- "Saturday Superhouse"
- "Living Is a Problem Because Everything Dies"
- "Folding Stars"
- "Machines"
- "Who's Got a Match?"
- "Mountains"
- "That Golden Rule"
- "The Captain"
- "Many of Horror"
- "Bubbles"
- "God & Satan"
- "Black Chandelier"
- "Biblical"
- "Opposite"
- "Victory Over the Sun"
- "Wolves of Winter"
- "Animal Style"
- "Re-Arrange"
- Discography
- Mark Z. Danielewski
- Marmaduke Duke
- Mike Vennart
- British Theatre
- Oceansize
- Sucioperro
- Aereogramme