Funeral For A Friend
Welcome Home Armageddon

THE REVIEW

I detest this "new emocore." But I can't quite explain why I somewhat like Funeral For A Friend (not a lot, but somewhat). Perhaps it's because the singer's voice isn't bad at all, or because over the years they have leaned towards a radio rock style that suits the band better. Maybe it's the more developed melodic line and the rarity of "harsh" segments with hard screams and the unbearable stench of plastic (not that they don't exist, but fortunately much rarer than usual).

I don't know, but the fact is that after hearing a few singles over time, I decided to listen to a full album and my choice fell on "Welcome Home Armageddon," released this year. Unsurprisingly, there are the classic "harsh" tracks characteristic of too many bands which contribute to making people hate the genre ("From Row Seats to The End Of the World," "Spinning Over The Island," "Broken Foundation") that weigh on the quality of the work and sound out of place (not in the "Bullet Theory" way, which is quite an apt track). But we also have more melodic and honest tracks that, to some, might sound too radio-friendly. However, I wonder why it always has to be a negative thing. Some are excellent like "Man Alive," "Damned If You Do, Dead If You Don't," "Old Hymns" and the title track, while others merely hold their ground in the album without leaving much of a mark. Nonetheless, the more radio-friendly approach works, and the more intense tracks end up looking like poor fillers.

In conclusion, we have an album without infamy and without praise, but still pleasant and superior to many offerings in this genre.