The Welsh are back to give us a third dose of hard rock and metalcore. BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE’s Fever doesn’t experiment and some songs are too similar yet, thankfully, this doesn’t summarize it because there are a few standouts.
‘Your Betrayal’, the first single and track, states urgency and command with a militarized drumming intro. Switching between whispers, singing and screaming keep it entertaining even though it feels like its all been done before. The straight, hard rock vibe of ‘Fever’ has appeal but the weak lyrics are so Eighties with its cheap sex content. Overall, lyrics are pretty weak.
‘The Last Fight’ chants “I will fight.” I concede because it’s a good step forward musically, starting traditionally (and warmly) before becoming quite catchy with a guitar solo thrown into the mix. The guitar takes a bigger role in the ballad, ‘A Place Where You Belong’, saving the song from mediocrity. ‘Pleasure and Pain’ is filled with attitude but it’s ‘Alone’ that ups the stakes with a harmonious guitar riff, well placed chants and overall song flow that ensures it’s the best so far. ‘Breaking Out’ is too school punk to be taken seriously. The other ballad, ‘Bittersweet Memories’, is Linkin Park on a bad day’ whilst ‘Dignity’ is influenced by The Used yet somehow a filler (as is the cliche, ‘Pretty on the Inside’). ‘Begging for Mercy’ screeches but doesn’t captivate.
On YouTube, there’s a fan comment that “BFMV is the next Metallica”. They’re wrong even if it does prove that the band has real fans. BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE’s Fever is not revelational. It has moments, will sell and ‘Alone’ makes my 2010 playlist…but it lacks psychological depth and comes across too much as an idea already done…and redone.
One of the best albums eva!!!!!!!