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BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE
Seventh studio album
‘BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE’
(Album Review)

Out October 22

Pre-order HERE

(October 18th 2021)

Review by Kayla Hamilton

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“fresh, it’s aggressive, it’s visceral and more passionate than it’s ever been.”

Sixteen years since they released their debut album The Poison, Welsh metal veterans Bullet for My Valentine are back with their new self-titled album. Determined to bring forth a new era for the band, frontman Matt Tuck states that their new music is “fresh, it’s aggressive, it’s visceral and more passionate than it’s ever been.”

The album kicks off with the second single, Parasite. Flicking through their old music through the effect of an old radio dial, a wave of nostalgia is imminent; the perfect way to set the mood. When Tuck’s raspy vocals come in, you are immediately hit with that classic heavy, fast, thrash inspired sound they do so well. The drums are always such a standout in their music, and this track is no different. Combined with that classic death metal riffage that found itself into many of the metal bands that originated in their era-you can almost feel the circle pit forming. Guitar solo, gang vocals and a blistering proclamation of “I Hope You Choke”, Parasite was the best choice to kick off this release.

From the second single, into the first single Knives, the pace and heaviness are not lost. The bass gets a chance to shine in this track too. While we can hear how Tuck’s harsh vocals have changed over the years, there is no denying that they still carry the same grit. All in all, this one is just a heavy track. With those driving guitars, it will silence any critics questioning their metal pedigree…you can see why bands like Iron Maiden and Metallica have given them the seal of approval.

Any Bullet fan worth their salt has screamed the classic track Tears Don’t Fall at the top of their lungs at some stage, so we know this band can write a gut-wrenching track. My Reverie is one of the two tracks on this album that show they still have it. Everything from the way the track is constructed to the lyrics makes this a song you want to scream along to when you are going through the thick of it. There are subtle sounds throughout the track, that just gives it an extra layer of technicality. The dual guitar solo that has an almost haunting tone and the final screams of the track are just phenomenal. 

The rule is after a gut-wrenching track, you should have a fun one and Bullet For My Valentine have not missed that memo. No Happy Ever After is just a straight-up groovy metal track. Giving flashbacks to one of their older singles Fever, it is the perfect dance while headbanging track. With a snare tone that is on point, drummer Jason Bowld has certainly captured that signature Bullet drum sound and delivers some perfectly timed double kicks on this track. His skill is evident throughout this whole album. 

As mentioned previously, this album has two gut-wrenching, scream/sing-along tracks and Can’t Escape the Wolves is the other one. Instead of the screaming chorus like in My Reverie, this one is a classic beauty of being able to belt out along too. Bullet For My Valentine will forever be that can do emotionally charged rock ballads without losing that grit and heaviness. It is their signature. Also, a big shout out to the work on bass by Jamie Mathias, it stands out on this track.

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Continuing to show love to the rhythm team, they set the tone for the track Bastards. From the jump, you already know it’s going to be a banger with the stadium level chorus of yells. The drumming is a little more complex here, with marching band fills until we go hit into a heavy chorus. This is a song to written to be rousing. Words alone truly can’t capture its power- you must listen to it.

With such a powerful song previous, it is only reasonable to bring the pace down a bit. Rainbow Veins almost has a late 90’s nu-metal smoothness to- think Deftones but if covered by Metallica. Tuck’s clean singing voice has the smoothness of honey but the depth of an ocean, allowing you to feel the agony. Once it kicks off into his screams and the powerful bridge you can feel the contrast. Possibly showing a wider range of influences, especially some throwback feels but keeps to that classic Bullet for My Valentine sound.

Shatter, the third single of the album, shows that the band is not playing around. They may be soulful, they may be melodic, but they are heavy metal, and this track is evidence of it. A headbanger and one that will have the pit not just moving but singing along. They have thrown everything that makes a good metal track into this song. Guitar solos, sing-a-longs, heavy drums and powerful lyrics to scream along to. Blistering, heavy and powerful- a headbangers delight. 

The next track Paralysed keeps the heaviness going. This is the song for the axemen of the band to shine. It sounds as if they told the Paget and Tuck to just go wild with the guitars. There is not much else to say other than this track is a real nostalgia for those who were big metalcore fans back in the mid-’00s.

Speaking of the mid-’00s, the name of the final track will give any long-time fan screamo/metal flashbacks. Death by a Thousand Cuts – the perfect track to complete this album. Keeping the groove and melody that this band just does so well, the heaviness does not drop. We started with the perfect song for the circle pit, and this is just how we are going to end it.

Giving truth to Tuck’s claims, this latest release shows that not only do Bullet For My Valentine know where they want to go with their music, but they are embracing their past. Taking the elements that long-time fans know and love then refining them. It’s a perfect gateway for new fans without alienating any old fans. Mature, heavy and perfectly produced – Bullet for My Valentine are truly cementing their legacy in metal.

“It’s a perfect gateway for new fans without alienating any old fans.”

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Pre-order HERE

BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE
Track Listing

01. Parasite
02. Knives
03. My Reverie
04. No Happy Ever After
05. Can’t Escape The Waves
06. Bastards
07. Rainbow Veins
08. Shatter
09. Paralysed
10. Death By A Thousand Cuts

Bullet For My Valentine recently made history by headlining the Download Festival Pilot event at Donington Park just last month. Kerrang! summed their performance up perfectly, saying, “Sharp, slick and with every shredding solo sounding immense, they nail a full-stop onto the weekend with confidence and power.”

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About BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE

Since their formation in 1998, Bullet For My Valentine have become one of the biggest bands in metal, surpassing 1 BILLION streams in the US alone, selling over 3 million albums worldwide and scoring three gold albums, as well as defining British metalcore with their now classic debut, The Poison.

BFMV have been crowned Best British Band at the Kerrang! Awards three years in a row–where they’ve also been awarded for Best Single, Best Live Band and Best British Newcomer. It’s not just the press and fans that have afforded them such faith –even the heroes that inspired them in the first place, bands like Iron Maiden and Metallica, have personally selected BFMV to hit the road and share the stage with them.

BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE are

Matt Tuck – Vocals and rhythm guitar
Michael “Padge” Paget – Lead guitar
Jamie Mathias – Bass
Jason Bowld – Drums

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Follow BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE
Website – Facebook – Twitter – Instagram 

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AMNPLIFY – DB

Press Release 11th September 2021 (below) HERE

BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE
release new single + video
SHATTER

Seventh studio album
BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE
Out October 22
via SPINEFARM/SEARCH & DESTROY

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AMNPLIFY – DB