The rockin’ Scots dip their collective toe in (relatively) exotic waters, but prefer to mostly ply us with more earnest, stadium-sized emo-rock than you can shake a stick at.

Even before hitting the big-time, Biffy’s music always came across as rather laboured.

But releasing a single-disc and double-disc version of Opposites seems an odd decision – like they couldn’t be bothered to sift the wheat from the chaff themselves.

The arena-rock stylings keep Biffy’s familiar elements of pining lyrical delivery and loud-quiet-loud structure, but few melodies or riffs will stick in the mind.

Picture A Knife Fight’s brutal drum and brusque guitars are built for shaking stadia, and Victory Over The Sun efficiently slots choppy guitar and drums in the verses next to a thumping rock chorus.

It’s accessible, emo-pop-rock but there’s little to draw you in except when they try something a little different.

Cue Trumpet Or Tap’s almost theatrical verse, the soft trumpet and Spanish tempo lashed to oohs, aahs and power riffs on Spanish Radio, and bagpipes in Stingin’ Belle’s square-jawed brutal guitars. The dull, electro-infused Med chillout Skylight is best avoided. Passable.

3 stars