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Rating:
9 years have passed since their debut with the excellent "The Poison," and with 4 albums behind them including the present "Temper Temper," Bullet For My Valentine are still here, but with a sound further away from Emo-Metalcore—if such a genre truly exists—and closer to Heavy Metal.
For those well-acquainted with the band, at first listen, the present album might seem like yet another classic Bullet For My Valentine record, something that after several listens proves to be only partly true. Bombastic tracks like the opener "Breaking Point" and the title track "Temper Temper" convey a convincing Metal sound, expertly interspersed with the excellent "Truth Hurts," one of the most successful tracks of the album. But unlike the previous album "Fever," "Temper Temper" is more mature and avoids easy 'mainstream Metal ballads,' allowing a listening experience freer from easy prejudices. However, at the same time, it fails to make a deep impact, opting for a more introspective sound as opposed to more adrenaline-pumping tracks, as was the case in the past with the album "Scream Aim Fire," their pinnacle of success in my opinion, also thanks to the excellent work of Colin Richardson at the mixing—having worked with As I Lay Dying, Machine Head, Kreator—and certainly more seasoned in the genre compared to the current producer Don Gilmore.
Returning to the album, "Leech" with a touch of the 80’s is the second key track of the album, but despite this, it was not featured in the "Temper Temper Tour 2013" in favor of tracks like "Riot" and "P.O.W." which instead recall something already heard. After a couple of filler tracks, the album prepares to close with a 'surprise'—if it can be called that—"Tears Don't Fall, Pt.2" was something avoidable, and such reprises perhaps are not within their reach, but are only meant for a select few.
Overall, the album neither surprises positively nor negatively. The group tried to change their approach with mixed results, and I personally believe that in doing so, they do not express their true potential; assuming they even want that, or more realistically, they are aware that the best was already given all at once, a trend to which Metal and more generally modern music are now accustoming us. Their "credit" for not having flooded newspapers and charts with easy-listening singles is noted, but they certainly won't be remembered for "Temper Temper," they distinguish themselves in other ways.
Enjoyable, rating 7
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