Five stars
It's going to be a tall order for Biffy Clyro to top their last gig in Glasgow.
A headlining set with Slash for MTV complete with pyrotechnics, high octane stage antics and rousing chants is a tough act to follow but entering the Barrowlands tonight it's clear that the Ayrshire trio are more than up for the challenge.
With their song titles adorning the stairs, it promises to be a very special show, kicking off the band's three night residency at the Barrowlands.
However, these gigs are all about thanking the fans, with each night's setlist focused on two of the group's albums plus related b-sides and created through requests from the trio's devoted followers.
Tonight's show is built around two of the group's most important albums, their debut Blackened Sky and the record that arguably brought them to the attention of the more mainstream music consciousness, Puzzle.
The crowd erupts as Biffy take to the stage and launch into Joy. Discover. Invention.
A frenetic version of Living is a Problem Because Everything Dies is quickly followed by The Conversation is.
The crowd can barely contain their excitement as James Johnston tells them "You've chosen well" before performing one of the band's earliest tracks 27.
The atmosphere at the show is phenomenal with fans chanting and singing almost every word back at the band.
Saturday Superhouse, A Whole Child Ago and Hero Management are particular crowd pleasers, while Christopher's River, Folding Stars and Machines show the band's softer side.
"We've been looking forward to this weekend all year," singer Simon Neil tells fans and it shows.
The band are clearly having a ball and their carefully crafted set has something for everyone, mixing songs to please the most devout and diehard with the trio's more popular back catalogue.
Energetic performances of 57, 9/15th and Semi-Mental delight fans, while Neil's amp jumping and stage antics during Who's Got a Match and The Go-Slow are a sight to behold.
Kill the Old, Torture their Young packs a punch before the trio return for an encore featuring Stress on the Sky and Scary Mary.
It's been a fantastic start to their Barrowlands stay and a masterclass in why Biffy are currently one of the best rock band's in the world.
Anyone lucky enough to have tickets for the next two shows is definitely in for a treat.
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