Balance, Not Symmetry (album)

Last updated

Balance, Not Symmetry
BalanceNotSymmetry.jpg
Soundtrack album by
Biffy Clyro
Released17 May 2019 (2019-05-17)
Recorded2018–19
Studio
Genre
Length65:15
Label Warner Bros.
Producer
  • Adam Noble
  • Biffy Clyro
Biffy Clyro chronology
MTV Unplugged: Live at Roundhouse, London
(2018)		Balance, Not Symmetry
(2019)		 A Celebration of Endings
(2020)
Singles from Balance, Not Symmetry
  1. "Balance, Not Symmetry"
    Released: 16 May 2019

Balance, Not Symmetry is a soundtrack album by Scottish alternative rock band Biffy Clyro to the film of the same name, co-written by the band's frontman Simon Neil. Recorded at AIR Studios in England, Monnow Valley Studio in Wales and ICP Studios in Belgium with co-producer Adam Noble, it was released on 17 May 2019 by Warner Bros. Records. Initially available only for digital download and streaming, the album was also issued as a vinyl record on 26 July 2019.

Contents

Upon its release, Balance, Not Symmetry debuted at number 8 on the Scottish Albums Chart and number 36 on the UK Albums Chart. The title track, issued as the album's lead single, registered at number 65 on the Scottish Singles Chart and number 19 on the UK Rock & Metal Singles Chart. Media response to the album was generally positive: critics praised the variety of musical styles present on the soundtrack, as well as Neil's vocal performances and lyrical contributions.

Background

Balance, Not Symmetry was issued on 17 May 2019, after the release of the title track the previous day. [1] It serves as the soundtrack for the film of the same name, which was directed by Jamie Adams and co-written by Biffy Clyro frontman Simon Neil. [2] Speaking about the writing process, Neil explained that "On meeting Jamie, we realised early on that we'd both had to deal with grief at a relatively young age and so it was interesting to talk about how we'd both dealt with it and the effect it had on us. And this is the main crux of the film, delving into the lonely world of grief and loss and coming out the other side." [3] Contrary to the typical approach to movie soundtracks, Balance, Not Symmetry was written alongside the production of the movie, rather than after the fact; according to Kerrang! writer Paul Travers, "[Biffy Clyro] weren't just given a movie treatment and asked to write music to fit. Instead, the songs influenced the film and vice-versa, with some of the lyrics and dialogue apparently interchanging". [4] Concurrently to the production of the soundtrack, the band worked on their eighth studio album A Celebration of Endings , which was released in 2020. [5]

According to AllMusic's Matt Collar, Balance, Not Symmetry features "many of the stylistic hallmarks that have made the band one of the more interesting and unpredictable alt-rock acts of their generation, including mutative prog rock songcraft, infectious choruses, and hard-hitting riffs juxtaposed with thoughtfully emotive pop lyricism". [6] Gigwise writer Dillon Eastoe noted that the album's lyrics focus primarily on "the thin lines between life and death, and finding solace and survival amidst the grief of losing someone", which he explained were "themes the film will confront". [7] Travers added that "Lyrically, there's more of a storytelling bent, as you might expect. Simon is perhaps less oblique than usual, although no less poetic at times". [4] Prior to the album's release, Neil explained that "I see it as six pairs of songs. There are a couple of songs that are acoustic and Nick Cave-y, there are a couple that are full-on electronic, a couple of songs that are weird hardcore songs, [and] a couple of big epic rock songs". [3]

Reception

Commercial

Balance, Not Symmetry debuted at number 8 on the Scottish Albums Chart, [8] number 36 on the UK Albums Chart, [9] number 6 on the UK Album Downloads Chart, [10] number 3 on the UK Rock & Metal Albums Chart, [11] and number 4 on the UK Soundtrack Albums Chart. [12] Outside the UK, it reached number 52 on the Swiss Albums Chart. [13]

Critical

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [6]
Gigwise Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [7]
Kerrang! Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [4]
NME Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [14]

Media response to Balance, Not Symmetry was generally positive. AllMusic's Matt Collar praised the soundtrack as "a compelling album full of singer Simon Neil's passionate vocals that works as a worthy follow-up to any of their previous albums", selecting "All Singing and All Dancing", "Sunrise" and "Fever Dream" as highlights. [6] Writing for music magazine Kerrang! , Paul Travers hailed the album as "inventive, atmospheric and engrossing as you might hope", claiming that "while this might not be a 'proper' Biffy Clyro album, they've certainly not brought their B game". [4] Dillon Eastoe of Gigwise explained that "It's not quite a reinvention, but after the pressure of consecutive releases ... the surprise release and intensely personal nature of this film project allow Biffy to cast off some of the weight and free their limbs". [7] James McMahon of the NME claimed that Balance, Not Symmetry was "easily the most innovative collection of songs the Scottish band have delivered in a good half decade", claiming that it "takes the band in some fascinating, previously unexplored directions" and "reinvigorates one of Britain's most special of bands". [14]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Simon Neil; additional writers listed

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Balance, Not Symmetry" 3:01
2."All Singing and All Dancing" John Hill 4:21
3."Different Kind of Love" John Feldmann 3:28
4."Sunrise" 5:01
5."Pink" 1:50
6."Colour Wheel" Stuart Price 5:07
7."Gates of Heaven"Feldmann2:40
8."Fever Dream" 6:12
9."Navy Blue" 1:43
10."Tunnels and Trees" 4:07
11."Plead" 4:09
12."The Naturals" 4:19
13."Yellow" 2:25
14."Touch" 5:29
15."Jasabiab" 2:56
16."Following Master" 4:41
17."Adored" 3:46
Total length:65:15

Personnel

Charts

Chart (2019)Peak
position
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [15] 68
Irish Albums (IRMA) [16] 62
Scottish Albums (OCC) [17] 6
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [13] 52
UK Albums (OCC) [9] 36
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC) [11] 3
UK Soundtrack Albums (OCC) [12] 4

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Biffy Clyro</span> Scottish rock band

Biffy Clyro are a Scottish rock band that formed in Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire, composed of Simon Neil and twin brothers James and Ben Johnston. Currently signed to 14th Floor Records, they have released nine studio albums, and following their first three albums, the band expanded their following significantly in 2007 with the release of their fourth album Puzzle, which peaked at No. 2 on the UK Albums Chart and was awarded a Platinum certification by the BPI.

Marmaduke Duke are a Scottish conceptual rock duo from Ayrshire, Scotland, comprising Simon Neil of Biffy Clyro and JP Reid of Sucioperro. Within the band, the pair perform under the pseudonyms The Atmosphere and The Dragon respectively. According to Neil, the band, and its albums, are "based on a trilogy of unreleased manuscripts that a friend of ours brought to this country a few years ago. We're really just working to soundtrack those stories."

<i>Puzzle</i> (Biffy Clyro album) 2007 studio album by Biffy Clyro

Puzzle is the fourth studio album by Scottish rock band Biffy Clyro, released 4 June 2007 – the album was later released in America in August. It is the band's first album since leaving Beggars Banquet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saturday Superhouse</span> 2007 single by Biffy Clyro

"Saturday Superhouse" is a song by Biffy Clyro and the first physical single from their fourth album, Puzzle. It was released on 5 March 2007. The band undertook a promotional tour of UK HMV stores to coincide with the release of the single.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Simon Neil</span> Scottish musician

Simon Alexander Neil is a Scottish singer, guitarist and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist and guitarist for rock band Biffy Clyro. In 2003, Neil formed the side project Marmaduke Duke with JP Reid, releasing two studio album's The Magnificent Duke (2005) and Duke Pandemonium (2009). Another side project fronted by Neil, Empire State Bastard, released their debut studio album Rivers of Heresy in September 2023, reaching number three in Scotland, forty six in the United Kingdom, number three on the UK Rock & Metal Albums Charts and sixty-nine in Germany.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Living Is a Problem Because Everything Dies</span> 2007 single by Biffy Clyro

"Living Is a Problem Because Everything Dies" is the opening song on Scottish band Biffy Clyro's fourth album, Puzzle. It was released on 14 May 2007, as the second physical single from the album. The song itself, without any B-sides, was released as a digital download on 7 May 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Folding Stars</span> 2007 single by Biffy Clyro

"Folding Stars" is a song by Scottish band Biffy Clyro from their 2007 album, Puzzle. It was released as the third physical single from Puzzle, on 16 July 2007 and reached number 18 on the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Biffy Clyro discography</span> Band discography

The discography of Biffy Clyro, a Scottish alternative rock band from Kilmarnock, consists of nine studio albums, three live albums, seven compilations, one soundtrack, six extended plays (EPs), 43 singles, 37 music videos and six other appearances. Formed in 1995 by vocalist and guitarist Simon Neil, bassist James Johnston and drummer Ben Johnston, Biffy Clyro released their debut EP thekidswhopoptodaywillrocktomorrow in 2000 through Electric Honey, and later signed with Beggars Banquet Records. The band's debut full-length album Blackened Sky was released in 2002, reaching number 25 on the Scottish Albums Chart. The Vertigo of Bliss followed in 2003, with single "Questions and Answers" reaching the top ten of the Scottish Singles Chart. The band's third and final album on Beggars Banquet, Infinity Land, peaked at number 13 in Scotland. "Glitter and Trauma", "My Recovery Injection" and "Only One Word Comes to Mind" all reached the singles chart top ten.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">That Golden Rule</span> 2009 single by Biffy Clyro

"That Golden Rule" is the second single to be taken from Scottish alternative rock trio Biffy Clyro's fifth studio album, Only Revolutions, released on 23 August 2009.

<i>Only Revolutions</i> (album) 2009 studio album by Biffy Clyro

Only Revolutions is the fifth studio album by Scottish alternative rock band Biffy Clyro, released 9 November 2009 on 14th Floor Records. As with its predecessor, Puzzle, the album was produced by Garth Richardson. Upon release, Only Revolutions was a critical and commercial success. The album entered at No. 8 on the UK Album Chart and was then certified gold by the BPI shortly afterwards. It was certified platinum by the BPI in June 2010 for shipments of 300,000 copies in the UK, making it the band's largest selling album. In September 2010, the album achieved a new peak position of No. 3. It was the 26th biggest selling album of 2010 in the UK with sales of 377,900. It was nominated for the 2010 Mercury Prize, which is awarded annually for the best album in the UK or Ireland, and Rock Sound declared it third in its list of the 75 best albums of 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Captain (Biffy Clyro song)</span> 2009 single by Biffy Clyro

"The Captain" is the third single from Biffy Clyro's fifth studio album, Only Revolutions, released on 26 October 2009. It features a prominent brass section throughout the song. The music video was released on 23 September on NME.com. The B-side "Help Me Be Captain" is an early, more raw sounding, version of the song without brass instruments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Many of Horror</span> 2010 single by Biffy Clyro

"Many of Horror" is an alternative rock song by Scottish band Biffy Clyro for their fifth studio album Only Revolutions. The song was released as the fourth single from the album on 18 January 2010. The song was recorded at Ocean Way Recording, Hollywood, California and mastered at Masterdisk. The lyrics of the song concern Neil's wife and family. Jacknife Lee, who previously remixed "Silhouettes" for the Biffy Clyro and Sucioperro side project Marmaduke Duke, recorded a remix for the song.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bubbles (song)</span> 2010 single by Biffy Clyro

"Bubbles" is the fifth single taken from Scottish rock band Biffy Clyro's fifth studio album, Only Revolutions. Josh Homme from Queens of the Stone Age, Kyuss and Them Crooked Vultures provides additional lead guitar in the song. Despite being one of the lower charting songs from the album, it has spent more weeks in the top 100 than any other Biffy Clyro song.

<i>Opposites</i> (album) 2013 studio album by Biffy Clyro

Opposites is the sixth studio album by Scottish alternative rock band Biffy Clyro, which was released on 28 January 2013. A double album, Opposites was originally announced as a pair of albums, The Land at the End of Our Toes and The Sand at the Core of Our Bones, which later became the names of the individual discs of the album. The album features 20 songs across two discs. There is also a single disc version with 14 selected tracks. As of July 2016, the album has sold 260,720 copies in the UK.

<i>Ellipsis</i> (Biffy Clyro album) 2016 studio album by Biffy Clyro

Ellipsis is the seventh studio album by Scottish alternative rock band Biffy Clyro. It was produced by Rich Costey and released on 8 July 2016. Ellipsis entered the UK charts at number one, making it Biffy Clyro's second number one album, after 2013's Opposites.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wolves of Winter</span> 2016 single by Biffy Clyro

"Wolves of Winter" is a song by Scottish alternative rock band Biffy Clyro, and the first single from the band's seventh studio album, Ellipsis. It was released on 21 March 2016 and premiered as Zane Lowe's World Record on Beats 1. It was later sent to alternative radio in the United States on 15 August 2017 as the album's sixth domestic single.

<i>Balance, Not Symmetry</i> 2019 film directed by Jamie Adams

Balance, Not Symmetry is a 2019 drama film written and directed by Jamie Adams. The film stars Laura Harrier with Bria Vinaite, Kate Dickie, Tamsin Egerton, Freya Mavor, and Shauna Macdonald in major supporting roles. The film is about Caitlin (Harrier), an art student at the Glasgow School of Art who is struggling with the recent death of her father.

<i>MTV Unplugged: Live at Roundhouse, London</i> 2018 live album by Biffy Clyro

MTV Unplugged: Live at Roundhouse, London is the third live album and second video by Scottish alternative rock band Biffy Clyro. Recorded at the band's one-off acoustic show on 8 November 2017 at the Roundhouse in London as part of MTV Unplugged, it was released on 25 May 2018 by 14th Floor and Warner Bros. Records. The video was directed by Sam Wrench, produced by Sian Larkin & Executive Produced for MTV by Jeremy Davies and Albert Schilcher. The show won Best Live Concert at the 2018 UK Music Video Awards. Four recordings from the release were issued as digital download singles.

<i>A Celebration of Endings</i> 2020 studio album by Biffy Clyro

A Celebration of Endings is the eighth 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.

<i>The Myth of the Happily Ever After</i> 2021 studio album by Biffy Clyro

The Myth of the Happily Ever After is the ninth studio album by Scottish rock band Biffy Clyro, released on 22 October 2021 through 14th Floor and Warner Records. It is said to be the 'sister album' to their 2020 album A Celebration of Endings. It entered the UK album chart at number 4.

References

  1. ↑ "Biffy Clyro share title track from 'Balance, Not Symmetry' soundtrack, and the full album's coming tomorrow!". DIY . 16 May 2019. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
  2. ↑ Grater, Tom (11 May 2018). "Rock band Biffy Clyro reveal film project 'Balance, Not Symmetry' (exclusive)". Screen Daily . Retrieved 31 May 2019.
  3. 1 2 Trendell, Andrew (17 May 2019). "Listen to Biffy Clyro's surprise new soundtrack album 'Balance, Not Symmetry'". NME . Retrieved 31 May 2019.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Travers, Paul (17 May 2019). "Album Review: Biffy Clyro – Balance, Not Symmetry". Kerrang! . Retrieved 31 May 2019.
  5. ↑ "Biffy Clyro told us all about their epic plans to make two new albums and a movie this year". NME . 13 April 2018. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  6. 1 2 3 Collar, Matt. "Balance, Not Symmetry (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) - Biffy Clyro: Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic . Retrieved 31 May 2019.
  7. 1 2 3 Eastoe, Dillon (20 May 2019). "Album Review: Biffy Clyro - Balance, Not Symmetry". Gigwise . Retrieved 31 May 2019.
  8. ↑ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100: 24 May 2019 - 30 May 2019". Official Charts Company . Retrieved 31 May 2019.
  9. 1 2 "Biffy Clyro Full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company . Retrieved 31 May 2019.
  10. ↑ "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100: 24 May 2019 - 31 May 2019". Official Charts Company . Retrieved 31 May 2019.
  11. 1 2 "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40: 24 May 2019 - 31 May 2019". Official Charts Company . Retrieved 31 May 2019.
  12. 1 2 "Official Soundtrack Albums Chart Top 50: 24 May 2019 - 31 May 2019". Official Charts Company . Retrieved 31 May 2019.
  13. 1 2 "Biffy Clyro". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
  14. 1 2 McMahon, James (17 May 2019). "Biffy Clyro - 'Balance, Not Symmetry' review". NME . Retrieved 31 May 2019.
  15. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Soundtrack / Biffy Clyro – Balance, Not Symmetry" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  16. ↑ "Irish Albums Chart: 16 August 2019". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  17. ↑ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.