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Rating:
Highly anticipated comeback for Bullet For My Valentine, who rose to fame at the time of their successful debut "The Poison" as the European answer to the new overseas sensation named Trivium.
In light of the "nu-thrash" revival spearheaded by Heafy and friends, I was curious to see if the Welsh band would also change their sound. However, it just takes inserting the CD into the player to realize that little or nothing has changed in Tuck's realm, where the fixed menu still includes a starter of emo followed by a metalcore main course accompanied by a strictly twenty-year-old vintage wine.
The explosive title track "Scream Aim Fire" kicks things off, catapulting us into the new work, and the first impression is like finding yourself in front of Metallica playing "Master of Puppets" with endorsements signed by Guitar Hero and Fisher Price instead of ESP and Tama. Metaphors aside, it’s undeniable how powerful they sound (after all, with Colin Richardson at the mixer even my grandmother whisking egg whites would have a booming sound) and damn effective, though with an undeniable plastic aftertaste compared to their revered predecessors...
The following "Eye of the Storm" moves along the same coordinates, another intense song destined to wreak havoc live, where it's possible to also appreciate the excellent work of drummer Moose: note the presence of the "clap clap" effect in the chorus, as cheesy (even sleaze bands like Hardcore Superstar have stopped using it) as it is effective in this context.
A delicate arpeggio introduces us to the third track "Hearts Burn into Fire" which, although dangerously close to the most polished emocore, stands out as one of the most inspired of the bunch thanks to a truly effective chorus and catchy harmonies worthy of the best Silverstein: simply irresistible even in its simplicity!
We are at position number four and just when it seems the fringe has occluded their vision, the unexpected track arrives: "Waking the Demon" opens with a Machine Head style riff (see "Imperium", opener of their penultimate "Through the Ashes of Empire") and continues optimally balancing rage and melody, for one of the most successful episodes of the album.
Also notable are "Disappear" and "Deliver us from Evil", which, while not bringing substantial novelties compared to what we’ve heard so far, can be listened to in one breath thanks to the effective choruses kindly offered by the duo Matt and Jay, just as enjoyable is the ultra-catchy "Take it out on me", characterized by more melodic vocals; unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the soporific "Say Goodnight", where they play the semi-ballad card in the style of "One" and/or "The Unforgiven" and/or "Nothing Else Matters", without however having a fraction of the emotional depth of Hetfield and company.
The experiment is attempted with even worse results, if possible, on the closing "Forever and always", while in between are the customary "End of Days" and the entertaining "Last to Know", the latter acting as a true lifeline in the emo tear valley caused by the two ballads mentioned above.
In conclusion, this second work, despite some yawns too many in the second half of the tracklist, confirms BFMV, along with the aforementioned Trivium and the omnipresent Avenged Sevenfold, among the best newcomers of the "mainstream metal" scene of the third millennium: whether we will still hear about them in twenty years is a tough judgment I leave to posterity... in the meantime I’ll run to listen to "Scream Aim Fire" again, at least until the new Heaven Shall Burn arrives!!
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
02 Eye of the Storm (04:02)
Can you hear the thunder?
can you feel the rain it poors?
nail down all your windows
then barricade the doors
mother nature's fury takes you by the hand
showing all but mercy
wreaking death upon the land
Go!
Caught in the eye of the storm
did the heaven just open and fall?
We are caught in the eye of the storm
all that's left are just bodies to mourn
Can you see the lightning?
Can you feel the wind it soars?
Pack up your belongings, let chaos take control
(take control!)
Mother nature's fury takes you by the hand
Rip this world to pieces
Bid farewell to all you know
Go!
Caught in the eye of the storm
did the heaven just open and fall?
We are caught in the eye of the storm
all that's left are just bodies to mourn
Yeah!
x3
Caught in the eye of the storm
Can you hear the thunder?
can you feel the rain it poors?
nail down all your windows
then barricade the doors
mother nature's fury takes you by the hand
showing all but mercy
wreaking death upon the land
Go!
Caught in the eye of the storm
did the heaven just open and fall?
We are caught in the eye of the storm
all that's left are just bodies to mourn
To mourn!
04 Waking the Demon (04:07)
Verse:
HELPLESS!!,
My eyes are bleeding from the fear that's inside,
you sealed your demise when you,
took what was mine,
Don't try to stop me from avenging this world,
No Voice to be heard,
Chorus:
Waking The Demon,
Where'd you run to?
Walking in shadows,
Watch the blood flow,
Theres not much longer, so don't try and fight,
your body's weakening, Walk to the light,
Those painful times so alone, so afraid
I'm not coming back, theres nothing to gain,
Verse (2) :
CAUTION!, theres just no limits to the boundaries you push,
I warned you but still you just,
FUCK WITH MY MIND, Theres no escape from this rage that i feel,
Nothing is real,
Chorus:
Waking The Demon,
Where'd you run to?
Walking in shadows,
Watch the blood flow,
Theres not much longer, so don't try and fight,
Your body's weakening, Walk to the light,
Those painful time so alone, so ashamed
I'm not coming back, theres nothing to gain!,
Breakdown x2
Breathe for me,
Dont wake me from this slumber
Stay with me,
Possession taking over
.....
TRIP!
Breakdown x2
Breathe for me,
Dont Wake Me from this slumber,
Stay with me,
Possession taking over
Outro
Waking The Demon!
05 Disappear (04:05)
Once again the same things on your mind
Increasing pulse from what goes on inside
Will you pay for what you've done, hatred
Paybacks such a bitch her vengeance haunts you
So what's wrong tough guy why the tears
You drove me to this now you disappear
Now all those acts repaid
Your turn to be afraid
Not longer almost done
Oh god just what have I become
[X2]
Try to fight you only make things worse
Screams of agony your final verse
Now you're begging for your life breathless
All the times I bled my vengeance takes you
So whats wrong tough guy why the tears
You drove me to this now you disappear
Now all those acts repaid
Your turn to be afraid
Not longer almost done
oh god just what have I become
[X2]
Your sweetest dreams turn into tears
It's almost done
They're almost gone
So whats wrong tough guy why the tears
You drove me to this now you disappear
[X2]
Now all this acts repaid
Your turn to be afraid
Not longer almost done
Oh god just what have I become
Have I become
[X2]
08 Say Goodnight (04:43)
Heaven's waiting for you
Just close your eyes
And say goodbye
Hearing your pulse
Go on and on and on
I live my life in misery
I'd sacrifice this world to hold you
No breath left inside of me
Shattered glass keeps falling
Say
Say goodnight
Just sleep tight
Say goodnight
Flowers laid out for you
So many colors leave me blind
Seeing your face reflect from our baby's eyes
I live my life in misery
I'd sacrifice this world to hold you
No breath left inside of me
Shattered glass keeps falling
Say
Say goodnight
Just sleep tight
Say goodnight
So here I am
You're inside of me
So here I am
Our world is over
So here I am
You're inside of me
So here I am
Our world is over
Here I am with you
I'm there til the end
Memories are calling
So farewell my friend
Farewell my friend!
Here I am with you
I'm there til the end
Memories are calling
So farewell my friend
FAREWELL MY FRIEND!
MY FRIEND
MY FRIEND
MY FRIEND
11 Forever and Always (06:49)
Forever and always
(always)
That time is here again
Prepare to be apart
And it drives you crazy
Each time I go away
The distance gets longer
But it makes us stronger
Should it all come crashing down around me
Would you be there should I stumble and fall
And pick up the pieces
Oh oh oh
Forget about the shit that we’ve been through
I wanna stay here forever and always
Oh oh oh
Standing here in front of all of you
I wanna stay here forever and always
These days are dead again
It’s empty from the start
And it drives me crazy
The hours drift away
It hurts to remember
This will soon be over
Should it all come crashing down around me
Would you be there should I stumble and fall
And pick up the pieces?
Oh oh oh
Forget about the shit that we’ve been through
I wanna stay here forever and always
Oh oh oh
Standing here in front of all of you
I wanna stay here forever and always
(Solo)
Forever and always
Forever and always
Forever and always
ESPAÑOL
Ese tiempo esta aqui otra vez
Preparate para separarnos
y te vuelve loco
cada vez que me voy
la distancia se hace mas grande
pero nos hace mas fuertes
si todo se derrumbara a mi alrededor
estarias ahi si me tropezara y cayera
y levantarias los pedazos?
oh oh oh
olvida la ****** por la que hemos pasado
quiero quedarme aqui por siempre y para siempre
oh oh oh
parado aqui en frente de todos ustedes
quiero quedarme aqui por siempre y para siempre
estos dias estan muertos otra vez
esta vacio desde el principio
y me vuelve loco
las horas que pasan
duele recordar
que pronto todo va a terminar
y se repite desde si todo se derrumbara a mi alrededor...
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Other reviews
By Gallagher87
"Scream, Aim, Fire is more Emotional than Metalcore despite its bombastic title."
"Deliver Us From Evil becomes noticeable as the best track on the CD after repeated listens."
By emanuele
‘An album that’s flat, full of melodies so sugary they could cause diabetes.’
‘Failed with very few exceptions.’
By Taurus
Bullet For My Valentine have missed the mark.
Thrash in form, but little substance, to be even remotely comparable to the Four Horsemen.
