Review; Bullet For My Valentine - Temper Temper

Track Listing;

1. Breaking Point
2. Truth Hurts
3. Temper Temper
4. P.O.W.
5. Dirty Little Secret
6. Leech
7. Dead To The World
8. Riot
9. Saints & Sinners
10. Tears Don't Fall (Pt. 2)
11. Livin' Life (On The Edge Of A Knife)

The first word that comes to mind as I listen to the new Bullet For My Valentine is 'predictable'. Having listened to all of BFMV's albums, the only thing that's seemed to happen to their sound is that it's gotten more sterile and safe. This isn't entirely a criticism; some of the longest running bands have stuck to one sound and appealed to their existing fan-base (Cannibal Corpse, Motorhead, Overkill, for example) but the thing that makes it a different deal to me is Matt Tuck's frequent claims that his band would "Be the next Metallica or Maiden". When a band intends to get to that level, and even when they're enjoying the media frenzy that BFMV have enjoyed since the release of 2010's 'Fever' album, they should be pushing themselves to justify their lofty position in metal's upper echelon.

This album simply does not showcase the attitude of a hungry band. Tracks like 'Truth Hurts' and the wimpy ballad 'P.O.W.' show real complacency. Some of the guitar work is impressive, but no riffs that are particularly memorable. The band IS capable of such things! Who will forget the riffs of 'Scream Aim Fire' or 'Waking The Demon', after all? As such, to hear them resting on their laurels like this is very frustrating to this listener.

Vocals; safe and predictable singing with scattered screams. Lyrics; very twee, and reminiscent of pathetic teen poetry (Most sickeningly shown in 'Dirty Little Secret'! Seriously, it's vomit-inducing!) Some of the music behind all the 'Matt Tuck Band' showcasing is decent, often catchy and shows signs of the talent that we know the band has.

The one thing I heard about before I got this album was the inclusion of the song 'Tears Don't Fall (Pt. 2)' and that caught my curiosity, as I liked the original song. Upon listening to it, it's somehow been able to come across as more of a teeny-bopper heartbreak anthem than its predecessor. It's far inferior to the original tune. Feels a shame that they've pissed on the legacy of their own song.

I will say this much; The die-hard Bullet For My Valentine fans, and the countless girls that just like to gawp at Matt will likely enjoy this band, but contrary to what Kerrang! Magazine has printed; this is no rebirth for BFMV. If anything this lives up to my expectations that all of the aggression in Bullet's sound was siphoned off into the Axe Wound side-project, and that Bullet would make themselves an arena rock band, rather than the metalcore stand-outs that they had once been. By no means unlistenable; the closing track is solid, but overall the record disappointing and washes over this listener, leaving me wondering if Bullet will ever be a big deal again.

Rating: 3/10