Album Review: Bullet For My Valentine - Venom

After six months of writing, Bullet For My Valentine have produced their most aggressive and complex studio album, their fifth, reuniting with producer Colin Richardson and co-producer Carl Bown, who worked on their previous albums 2005's The Poison and 2008's Scream Aim Fire.

The sound is heavier than their previous work, with rapid drumming from Michael Thomas, while Michael Paget's guitar riffs are intense and Matt Tucks belts out complex, aggressive lyrics. No Way Out is a look into Tucks mind, áll riffs and intense lyrics, but he can't leave the past behind him.

Army Of Noise has some phenomenal riffing between Tuck and Paget while screams in The Harder The Heart (The Harder It Breaks) are extraordinary. The guys' skills are incredible, especially in the opening of Hell Or High Water and Broken.

You Want A Battle? (Here's A War) is a stand-out track; a balance of heavy and mellow sounds with powerful lyrics delivered by Tuck. Venom is a more mellow song that shows their softer side, the lyrics emotional, giving off a gloomy sound. The final track, Pariah has a strong, rapid guitar and drumbeat, giving off an overpowering energy, an impressive end to the album.

The album feels like Bullet has taken a step back rather than forward, revisiting the built-up pain from their beginnings instead of thinking about the future. The sound may be heavier and more intense, but the concept behind the lyrics has let them down.