Bullet For My Valentine - Scream Aim Fire

by Simon T Diplock

Why heavy metal sucks in '08

"Hell, if Metallica and half a million other thrash metal bands hadn’t already played this stuff 20 years ago (and better too), then it might even be a tad impressive. But it’s not. It’s ridiculous, redundant and inarticulate trash."

Surely Bullet For My Valentine have done enough. Since forming in 2003 the Welsh wonders have wailed their way to an album deal with Sony, two headlining tours of the UK, festival appearances, a spat with Rob Zombie and support slots for their heroes in Metallica, Iron Maiden and Gun’N’Roses. Surely they can stop now. But no, apparently not, because here they are again with second album ‘Scream Aim Fire’.

The opening title track typifies the turgid depths Bullet have slinked back to sink to. Drums thunder and guitars growl but the song never once picks its feet up and goes anywhere interesting, Matt Tuck’s awkward Hetfield impression and crappy rhyming couplets sticking in the throat throughout. And the spark is just as dim elsewhere too- ‘Hearts Burst Into Fire’ a syrupy ballad wheeled out far too early and for far too long, and ‘Eye Of The Storm’ apparently about, yep, a storm. Brilliant.

Oh sure, ‘Waking The Demon’ has a wonderful spiky solo and Skindred’s Benji Webbe slathers a great streak of awesome through ‘Take It Out On Me’ but nearly everything else here has been heard before. Hell, if Metallica and half a million other thrash metal bands hadn’t already played stuff like ‘Forever And Always’ 20 years ago (and better too), then the music might even be a tad impressive. But it’s not. It’s ridiculous, redundant and inarticulate trash. And while tracks like the fidgety ‘Last To Know’ barrel along with real pace there’s nothing the band can do to hide just how much of a lazy album by an inherently lazy band (they haven’t even bothered to punctuate that title) this is.

See, from beginning to end this is a record that looks back at the one before it, glimpses just how easy it was to combine 80s metal with 90s core and some sickly, slick harmonies and get away with it, and tries the exact same tricks. So ok, yeah, if you’ve never had a problem with rocking hard or putting your hands up or doing whatever the hell Bullet For My Valentine are asking of their audience today then you might like this. But if you’re a sensible, smart or otherwise half-decent music fan it’ll be clear that this is a torrent of tired, trite and terribly unentertaining shite from a band that apparently refuse to stop, give up, and go home. It’ll probably sell millions.
tyz said on February 12th 2008 [report abuse]

total BS

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