Saturday, 21 February 2026
Scottish rockers Biffy Clyro played to a sold out, packed-to-capacity crowd at Sentrum Scene last night as part of their Futique tour, celebrating the band’s tenth studio album (review here!). From the moment Simon Neil, twin brother Ben Johnston and Naomi Macleod (filling in on bass) stepped onstage, accompanied by several other musicians including strings and guitar, the trio’s chemistry was unmistakable. Despite the absence of regular bassist James Johnston, who is not on the current tour for personal wellbeing reasons, the band’s momentum never faltered. Naomi’s addition brought a fresh edge without diluting Biffy’s trademark punch.
The band struck a deft balance between Futique tracks and deeper cuts from their extensive catalogue. Seven of the 23 tracks were from the latest album. Opening with a newer cut “A Little Love” was a bold move (as was Simon Neil standing high up at the back of the stage) and it paid off. The intro built tension before detonating into a muscular wall of guitars. The crowd only needed a single chorus before they raised their arms. Another new cut followed, “Hunting Season”, one the highlights of Futique which translates even heavier live. The crowd had to wait until the third track to hear an older classic, when they were treated to the jagged riff of “That Golden Rule” with Ben Johnston’s punk-like aggressive drumming.
Throughout the evening Simon Neil’s guitar work was razor-sharp and his vocals oscillated perfectly between raw shout and melodic serenity. The band’s cohesion was impressive — tight without feeling rehearsed, spontaneous without feeling unfocused. Ben Johnston’s drumming provided infectious rhythmic momentum throughout and the low end felt grounded and omnipresent, even without James on bass.
The band guided the audience from thunderous aggression to hushed reflection and back again. The slow-building intensity of mid-set highlight “Goodbye” showed Biffy’s ability to blend tender vulnerability with visceral power. There were moments where chants rose from the back to the front like a wave. One of the loudest sing-alongs of the night came with “Mountains”. From the first riff, the audience took over. Neil barely needed to gesture, Oslo had it covered. The breakdown section became communal with voices echoing off the walls of Sentrum Scene in a unified chant, but the loudest crowd singing of the night came with the final song of the five-track encore, “Many of Horror”, where the venue transformed into one giant choir. Neil stepped back from the mic during the final chorus, visibly grinning as Oslo carried the anthem to its peak.
Biffy Clyro, a force of nature live, delivered a visceral mix of grit, melody, rhythm and raw emotion, giving Oslo one of the most memorable rock shows of the year. 5/6
Text and photography: Anne-Marie Forker
