Bullet For My Valentine - The Poison

*=Staff's pick	Intro Her Voice Resides* 4 Words (To Choke Upon)* Tears Don't Fall* Suffocating Under Words Of Sorrow (What Can I Do) Hit The Floor All These Things I Hate (Revolve Around Me)* Room 409 The Poison* 10 Years Today* Cries In Vain Spit You Out The End*

Genre	Metalcore	Matthew Tuck	Vocals
Tracks	13	Matthew Tuck	Guitar
Runningtime	57 Min.	Michael Padget	Guitar
Label	Trustkill Records	Jason James	Bass
Release	19 Oct. 2005	Michael Thomas	Drums
Country	Wales	-	Keyboards
Similar artists	Trivium , Killswitch Engage, Funeral For A Friend

Yet another American band which plays the usual kind of metalcore that we heard several times before? Well that was my first thought when the record started to spin anyway. I was quite surprised when I found that Bullet For My Valentine hails from Wales (sorry!) and if I might say, this must be the best band coming from United Kingdom in years. To label them metalcore is a bit unfair because the core of their music basically is rooted in heavy metal spiced with hardcore, melodic punk, thrash- and death metal.

In the ever flowing stream of new bands Bullet For My Valentine really shines and the main reason is that they are very skilled in crafting great melodies that works as a great contrast to the more aggressive parts. The vocalist Matthew Tuck is also in possession of a golden throat that both can handle growls and clean singing, which he uses quite a lot, and all those aspects makes the album extremely dynamic.

After a beautiful intro that is performed together with the finnish cello masters Apocalyptica the albums kickstarts with the aggressive, yet melodic Her Voice Resides. This works perfectly to catch your attention, just to make sure that you're ready for the next hammer blow since 4 Words (To Choke Upon) is nothing but a BIG hit. And when you already lie down on the floor the melodic masterpiece Tears Don't Fall hits you with the guard down.

Even though the already mentioned tracks are the albums biggest highlights the quality is held on a very high level through the entire record. And what a way to close the album my friends! The End starts as a beautiful ballad but slowly changes its face and in the end we are treated fast heavy metal riffing that eats you alive.

As you already might have understood I find The Poison to be in my liking. This was one of last years biggest surprises and the album was extremely close to make it to my personal top-10 for 2005. Credits where credits due, the producer Andy Sneap once again is the mastermind behind a record that sounds totally awesome. I don't know what he does but every record I've heard with him behind the wheel in the last years have all been great.

This is a record for everyone and I'm also referring to you people out there who get allergic chocks when the word metalcore is mentioned. Give it a try, this band is really worth it.

See also review of: Venom , Temper Temper

Production	Vocals	Compositions
9	8,5	8,5

Summary
8,5 chalices of 10 - Hawk