When you have a weekend like Biffy Clyro's Leeds-Bellahouston-Reading trilogy in August, the Hydro almost feels like a humble homecoming. Almost. But Biffy have never done things by halves.

What finer way to bring their mammoth year to a close than with one of their favourite bands in tow? 'Who doesn't like Brand New?' laughs Simon later in the evening. 'It's like not liking rainbows.'

'Sowing Season' lulls the Hydro to attention before thundering to life, Brand New's blend of low key power and explosive bursts, reaffirming just why they're so many people's favourites. Cloaked in shadows, the Long Island lot rarely spare words beyond the songs, instead focussing in on 'Sic Transit Gloria … Glory Fades' and its almost choir-like response, 'Degausser', and closer 'You Won't Know', for a triumphant set that ends with roses strewn before them.

But that's just part one. Cue: Biffy.

'Wolves of Winter' ferociously sets the tone before kicking it old school with 'Living is a Problem Because Everything Dies'. Through newbies 'Howl' and 'In the Name of the Wee Man', to belters 'JustBoy' and 'Bubbles', the trio leap back and forward, balancing latest album Ellipsis with the pantheons of the last decade and a half.

The stage show packs every ounce of the spectacle of their August glory, but effects alone do not a good show make. Biffy are on fire. They've never been a band who phoned it in. From playfully pitting the sides of the venue against each other (the cool side versus the cooler side, of course) to just babbling away to themselves between songs, they make it easy to forget you're surrounded by around 13,000 other folks.

'This is where we started,' beams Simon, almost 30 songs deep into the night. 'We are Biffy fucking Clyro.'

That they are, and as always, it's good to have them home.

Biffy Clyro tour the UK until Thu 8 Dec.