Bullet For My Valentine - Venom (2015)

It is more or less the same old story for the Welshmen in Bullet For My Valentine now a days. Everyone wants the band to get back to their origin, more specifically, their two ground breaking records "The Poison" and "Scream Aim Fire", and it is also something the band has wanted to. Their last effort, "Temper Temper", had the intentions right, but the fairly hollow song material left me and many others longing for something more meaty, something that would last longer than just 5 seconds in your head. So with the path laid out, it was just for the band to piece it all together, which they seem to have done.

Because "Venom" is more or less the album the fans have been waiting for. The band's fifth full length effort is clearly their hardest record since "Scream Aim Fire", which most of the thanks there goes to Matthew Tuck who is fully fit to consistently scream without hurting his voice significantly. But it is also Tuck and Paget's wicked riffs that gives "Venom" its hard edge and aggressive attitude. It got that overall feeling that both of the two first album have, so the band succeeded in their quest to reestablish the good side of their signature sound, something that should win back some of their older fans.

When it comes to the songs themselves, I can instantly say that none of them will get the same amount of commercial impact as some of the band's biggest hits, but who gives a rat's ass, I do not think that would have happened anyway, even if they wrote the 21st century equivalent to "Nothing Else Matters". It is unmistakeably the band's style that is shown here, a album mixed with aggressive maulers and softer, melodic ballads that together twines a versatile record. And with this pack of songs, that holds quite a good standard, it is a strong package that the band is presenting us.

In this record, I think I have found myself two songs that I will listen to a lot in the coming future. We have the strong and emotional anthem "You Want A Battle? (Here's A War)" were I give the choir big props for giving this track its epic feel. I also love "Army of Noise", a song that holds the speed and thrust of a space shuttle. It is definitely the meanest and most powerful creation the band has created since "Scream Aim Fire", and together with a sing along friendly chorus, it hits the nail on your head instantly, leaving a lasting impression on you.

Those two songs alone brings the album up there along the first two albums quality wise, and several other songs like "Broken" and "No Way Out" is helping out to make "Venom" enjoyable, but the album does lose its steam the further it goes, leaving me to think if the band ran out of ideas and just slammed in fillers to make the fans happy. Let me tell you this guys, you do not make your fans happy by rushing out half finished work. If songs like "Hell Or High Water" and "Skin" would have been worked on a little more, then they could have turned out fine, but in their current state, they are pretty boring and bland. So maybe the band should take a little longer working on their next album so this unfinished feeling does not repeat itself.

So yeah, the band keeps on improving, taking step by step to reach the same heights that they reached in the early stages of their career. Because even if "Venom" does not have enough material to make a great, solid album, it still holds a couple of highlights to bring a smile to the listeners. The band sure has evolved from their struggles, and I am sure that this progress will keep on going at least another album. But for every album that goes by, I get more and more doubtful of the band ever exceeding their first two albums. Let us hope that they prove me wrong.

Songs worthy of recognition: Army of Noise, You Want A Battle? (Here's A War), Broken

Rating: 7/10 Pariahs

Bullet For My Valentine - Temper Temper (2013)

I have followed Bullet For My Valentine since the start but I have never as low expectations as I had before the bands fourth full-length album "Temper Temper". After two great releases in "The Poison" and "Scream Aim Fire" came a complete ship wreck called "Fever" that made me loose almost all self respect for the band. Three years has gone since "Fever" and I have laid that chapter behind me now but the big question is if the band has done the same? Have they gone back to their heavy, catchy and easily liked music instead of creating more shameful shit songs?

"Temper Temper" is the bands fourth album and the title comes from the inner struggles the band has had in the time between this release and "Fever". But these struggles seems to have a good effect on the band since this album is a big step forward from "Fever". In "Temper Temper", Bullet For My Valentine is going back to their roots and then inserts a more aggressive approach in several of the tracks. Hell, we even hear a couple of screams from Matthew Tuck which is a segment I warmly welcome back. And it is on the more aggressive songs where the band is really shining. Songs like "Breaking Point", "Not Invincible" and "Saints & Sinners" takes me back down memory lane to a time where Bullet For My Valentine rocked and was nothing like any other band at the time.

Another track that is very noticeable is of course "Tears Don't Fall (Part 2)". Yes, your eyes are not deceiving you, the band has made a follow up to their most successful song in their carrier. Just like Metallica's "The unforgiven" series, "Tears Don't Fall (Part 2)" is very much alike the original but I feel that the similarities between the tracks is way too much. The song is not bad but it feels like a complete rip off from its predecessor which you off course cannot stop thinking about. Ruins the whole listening experience for you. But as previously stated, it is still a good song.

"Tears Don't Fall (Part 2)" is not the only song that reminds you of the good old days. "P.O.W" reminds me of  a mix between "All These Things I Hate (Revolve Around Me)" and a 30 Seconds To Mars song (note, 30 Seconds To Mars is only a band i liked in my early music listening carrier, I despise them now) and "Dirty Little Secret" is sounding like a metalized version of All-American Rejects song with the same name (another band I listened to in my youth but not anymore) and a speed up and more complex version of the intro riff in "Your Betrayal". Ah, those were the days.

There is, however, still some weaknesses that the band has not been able to erase since their last album. For instance, the title track could have been one of the best songs this year with its great riff and aggressive approach but the chorus is lame and has none of the intensity that the rest of the song has. And "Riot" is one of the most repetitive songs I have heard in many years (that chorus is just a big sign of laziness). Otherwise is the standard at a even and good height. There is no real song that I would throw in the dumpster but there is also no song that would be worthy of a throne of its own. The lack of a real super hit like "Tears Don't Fall", "4 Words (To Choke Upon)" and "Scream Aim Fire" is putting "Temper Temper" behind the two big albums but "Temper Temper" is without a doubt a step in the right direction.

Even though "Temper Temper" did not blow me away I am still relieved that the welsh men did not make the same mistake twice. But this album is rough around the edges and definitely not in the same class as "The Poison" or "Scream Aim Fire". But with some better choruses and a little more originality this album could have been one of my new favourites. So yeah, Bullet For My Valentine is here by back with new strength. Let us hope that this power will last a little longer than two consecutive albums.

Songs worthy of recognition: Breaking Point, Dirty Little Secret, Saints & Sinners

Rating: 6,5/10 Leeches