“MON THE BIFF!”: Biffy Clyro Bring Fire, Fury, and Feels to a Rain-Drenched German Riot 💥🇩🇪
☔️ Biblical Storms, Bare-Chested Bangers & Big Feels
If there’s one band on Earth who could look a biblical downpour in the eye and scream “Is that all you’ve got, ya wee dafty?” — it’s Biffy Clyro. Headlining Hurricane Festival 2025, the Scottish titans brought a spiritual experience to the drenched German fields. Think fire-and-brimstone riffs, raw-throated singalongs, and just enough existential dread to make it all poetic. It wasn’t just a gig — it was a baptism by Biff.
Forget your poncho. Forget your wellies. Biffy’s set demanded sweat, tears, and a willingness to be spiritually obliterated in the name of rock. 🩸🎸
🛑 SETLIST OF DOOM – FULL BREAKDOWN
Let’s dive into the chaos — track by glorious, face-melting track.
1. “DumDum”
No intro, no warning — just boom, straight into “DumDum”. The opening notes hit like a Glasgow kiss. Guitars roared through the sodden air, Simon Neil shirtless from the off (obviously), hair dripping with defiance. A wall of sound smashed into the crowd and lit the fuse on what was about to be a blistering night.
“This song’s about losing your f**king mind… and finding something better.” – Simon, before screaming the chorus like it owed him money.
2. “A Hunger in Your Haunt”
Tighter than a snare drum at a military parade, this one had the whole front row shaking like a kettle ready to blow. It was menacing, manic, and moody — classic Biffy with a growl. Ben Johnston’s drumming? Absolutely thunderous. You could feel the beat in your bones. 😤🥁
3. “Biblical”
Cue the lighters. Or, in this case, phones held up in plastic bags. “Biblical” turned the mudpit into a moment of beauty. Simon’s vocals cracked in the best way — full of pain, longing, and redemption. It was the kind of performance that makes you hug your mate and cry into your soggy beer.
“Baby if you could would you go back to the start?”
— YES SIMON. TAKE US.
4. “Black Chandelier”
Massive singalong vibes. You could hear the “drip drip drip” all the way to Hamburg. A modern Biffy anthem, and Hurricane responded like a choir of soaked angels. The first major crowd surge hit here — people flying over the barrier, security scrambling, and Simon smirking like a proud dad.
5. “That Golden Rule”
And then came the monster riff. Holy crows, it was like a tidal wave crashing through the crowd. The mosh pit turned feral. Limbs. Everywhere. And still, Biffy kept it tight, technical, and terrifyingly perfect.
“There’s no rules tonight. Just noise.” – Simon, grinning.
6. “Unknown Male 01”
Atmospheric, haunting, and utterly hypnotic. A slower moment, but no less intense. Neil’s falsetto floated over a wash of reverb-heavy guitars. It’s moments like this where Biffy show their prog chops. You could feel the silence in the crowd — no phones, no chatter. Just thousands locked in a trance.
7. “Bubbles”
A fan favourite. And when that iconic riff kicked in? You’d think the heavens had cracked open. (Well, they kind of had — it was pissing it down.) The chorus punched the clouds away for a moment of pure joy. The energy bounced like a toddler full of Haribo and regret.
“Biffy taught me more about love than my therapist.” – overheard in the crowd, honestly not even joking.
8. “Living Is A Problem Because Everything Dies”
The orchestra intro? GOOSEBUMPS. The scream? PRIMAL. The breakdown? FILTHY. This one wasn’t just a song — it was a goddamn exorcism. We all screamed. We all felt it. Existential crisis in A minor, baby. 🎻💀
9. “Mountains”
A massive emotional moment. People on shoulders, couples kissing, a man in a banana suit openly weeping. Peak festival energy. The line “I am a mountain, I am the sea” roared across the field like a collective therapy session. Cathartic as hell.
10. “Wolves of Winter”
Straight back into the fire. This one had the snarl. It was tight, it was sharp, and it had Simon practically spitting venom at the crowd. We howled. We raged. And the mosh pit turned into a war zone — muddy, manic, and majestic. 🐺🔥
11. “Space”
The calm before the final storm. A rare moment of intimacy in a sea of chaos. The lighting was lush, Simon knelt at the edge of the stage, and you could hear people whispering the lyrics. That’s how powerful it was. Absolute chills.
12. “Many of Horror” (Encore)
You didn’t think they’d skip this one, did you? “When we collide, we come together…” was practically screamed by the entire continent. Emotional wrecks, the lot of us. Strangers hugged. Flags waved. Even the beer felt sacred. 🍻
13. “Cop Syrup” (Encore – Final Song)
They ended on the weirdest, wildest, most Biffy-est track they’ve got. It was chaotic, dissonant, and an absolute sonic slap in the face. The perfect finale. No one walked away clean — mentally or physically. “Cop Syrup” was a declaration of war on boring rock. And it bloody ruled.
🤪 Crowd Madness: Tales from the Pit
Hurricane Fest was madness all weekend, but during Biffy’s set it became something else. A few crowd highlights:
- A bloke in full Braveheart facepaint charging through the pit screaming “MON THE BIFF!”
- A cardboard cutout of Gerard Butler crowd surfing during “Bubbles”
- At least 8 inflatable flamingos spotted mid-air
- Someone proposing mid-“Mountains” and immediately getting a muddy yes
- Security guards dancing side-stage during “That Golden Rule” – legends
🎧 Soundcheck Chaos & Backstage Banter
Backstage, the mood was surprisingly chill considering the carnage to come. Word is, Simon was seen sipping herbal tea in a Slayer mug. (Tidy vibes, that.)
Banter overheard from crew:
“This storm’s nothing – they played T in the Park with hail the size of Irn-Bru cans.”
“We’ve got two sets of strings, three towels, and zero plans to dry off.”
“Tell Simon to put a shirt on? You tell him, I’m not losing my job.”
Apparently, the lads nearly pulled “There’s No Such Thing As A Jaggy Snake” from the set for time, but decided “nah, it’s Hurricane – go hard or go home.”
Respect.
🧡 Final Thoughts: More Than Music
A Biffy gig isn’t just songs and sweat — it’s a shared experience. It’s therapy with distortion. It’s poetry screamed over power chords. It’s the feeling of being absolutely broken and still finding the strength to howl back.
At Hurricane 2025, Biffy reminded us why they’re one of the most important bands of the last two decades. Not because they’re the loudest (though, holy sh*t, they’re LOUD), but because they mean it. Every note. Every lyric. Every shirtless roar.
And in a muddy German field, under stormy skies, we all believed it too.
🏁 Setlist Recap:
- DumDum
- A Hunger in Your Haunt
- Biblical
- Black Chandelier
- That Golden Rule
- Unknown Male 01
- Bubbles
- Living Is A Problem Because Everything Dies
- Mountains
- Wolves of Winter
- Space
- Many of Horror
- Cop Syrup
🧻 Was it worth getting soaked to the bone?
✅ YES.
✅ YES AGAIN.
✅ TAKE MY SHOES, I DON’T EVEN NEED THEM.
🎤 RATING: 11/10
Biffy didn’t just headline Hurricane — they owned it, shredded it, and left it gasping.
Now say it with me, rockers:
MON. THE. BIFF. 🎸🇩🇪🌪️
Michael is the founder, editor, and chief riff wrangler behind The Riff Report, an independent Welsh rock and metal publication built by fans, for fans. With a lifelong passion for loud guitars, unforgettable live shows, and the incredible community that surrounds rock and metal, he created The Riff Report to celebrate everything that makes the scene special—from legendary headline acts and grassroots venues to rising bands that deserve to be heard.
A familiar face at festivals across the UK, Michael spends much of the year covering events including Download Festival, Bloodstock Open Air, Steelhouse Festival, Firevolt, Plumpton Revival, and many more. Whether he’s battling the Welsh weather on a mountainside, surviving a weekend in a muddy campsite, or squeezed against the front barrier with thousands of fellow fans, he’s always searching for the next great story to share.
As editor of The Riff Report, Michael writes festival guides, breaking news, album reviews, gig reviews, interviews, opinion pieces, nostalgia features, and behind-the-scenes stories from across the rock and metal world. His writing combines honest opinions, humour, and a genuine love for live music, bringing readers closer to the bands, festivals, venues, and people that keep the scene alive.
Michael is particularly passionate about supporting independent artists, local venues, charities, and the wider UK rock and metal community. He believes every band deserves a chance to be discovered and every festival has a story worth telling. Through The Riff Report, he aims to shine a spotlight on both the biggest names in rock and the future stars waiting to break through.
When he’s not writing or interviewing artists, you’ll probably find him exploring festival campsites, photographing live shows, chatting with fellow fans over a pint, or planning the next road trip in search of more riffs, bigger crowds, and unforgettable moments.
Above all, Michael believes rock and metal are about more than music—they’re about community, friendship, and creating memories that last a lifetime. That’s exactly what The Riff Report exists to celebrate.
Proudly Welsh. Proudly Loud. Always chasing the next great riff. 🤘
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