Biffy Clyro’s B-side compilation album, ÔÇÿSimilarities’, is not a waste of time. It’s not a cheap money spinner that tides keen fans over until the next album cycle. It’s a demonstration of the hugely prolific and profound songwriter, frontman Simon Neil, and an exceedingly professional band doing exactly what they do best.

The very nature of a compilation dictates that ÔÇÿSimilarities’ is not as coherent as its counterpart, ÔÇÿOpposites’. The collection of tracks all share a more obscure character and it’s clear why they couldn’t all have appeared on Biffy’s seminal, number one album. However, the fragmented structure and arcane nature does not hinder the quality of the songs, which surpass all expectation.

Sombre opening track ÔÇÿThe Rain’ was released as the B-side for ÔÇÿOpposites” lead single ÔÇÿBlack Chandelier’ and is probably the least inspiring song on the compilation. If it does anything, it makes the respective chorus and riff on subsequent tracks ÔÇÿThundermonster’ and ÔÇÿMilky’ appear all the more colossal. Positioned alongside tracks such as ÔÇÿEuphoria’ with its infectious chant and the pop-sentiments of ÔÇÿFingers and Toes’, Biffy illustrate that they are not willing to scrimp on production. The songs don’t feel any less important or less loved than those on ÔÇÿOpposites’. If anything they feel like heavily nurtured versions of vulnerable songs. Simon Neil’s lyrics reach a new level of eccentricity on this compilation; they feel quite fragmented, a collection of abstract images that incrementally build a portrait of his own consciousness.

Providing further insight into the mechanics of the behemoth that is Biffy Clyro, ÔÇÿSimilarities’ is a collection of massive songs which are wholly idiosyncratic in the best possible way.