Bullet For My ValentineThese Welsh metallers have channelled frustration stemming from off-stage dysfunction into this, their fourth album. While palpable throughout, like previous efforts, this barrage is (pun intended) tempered by arena rock ambitions.
Frontman Matt Tuck recently revealed that this record exudes a sense of almost going over the edge but somehow always maintaining a semblance of control. The thrashed-up parts are fractionally more aggressive (energetic opener Breaking Point, Bullet-by-numbers Riot) and stomping, the infectious title track's fun if you sidestep the laughable lyrics. For all the anger management discussion they're still sensitive dudes when the occasion requires (airplay stab POW, Dead To The World), though. This compromise ensures their releases play to mass audiences, but perhaps makes them difficult to swallow for hardened heavy music fans or more discerning rockers. Some angst feels a tad calculated – pre-packaged perhaps. As do the compositions, which can seem carefully tailored in such a way that there's enough heavy-duty riffage and growly parts to sate metal-heads, as well as adequate radio-ready hooks and saccharine ballads to please mainstream rock audiences, without always executing both convincingly. Case in point – Tears Don't Fall (Part II), which appears unable to decide between lighters-in-the-air moment or frantic shred-fest, without fully succeeding at either.
These lads write hook-laden, occasionally anthemic songs better than many, and Temper Temper won't harm their aim of becoming one of the world's biggest heavy bands. But instead of hitting the brakes at the last second, they should drive over that proverbial cliff every so often. It might end in a fiery mess, but at least there'd be a real sense of danger.
