BIOGRAPHY When it came time to record its third album, Bullet for My Valentine wasnt content to rest on its

already impressive laurels. While its second album, 2008s Scream Aim Fire, debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 and sold more than a million copies worldwide, went gold in the UK and Canada, the Welsh metal band mates had a fire in their collective belly to push themselves beyond what theyd ever accomplished. Declaring themselves hungry to create again, the band set about to create a hard rock, dark album with metal flashes, says lead singer/guitarist Matthew Tuck. We really wanted it to excel beyond anything weve done musically before. If the ferocious results on the groups third Jive album, Fever, out April 27, are any indication, the band has far exceeded its own rigorous expectations. Bullet for My Valentine, which also includes drummer Michael Moose Thomas, guitarist Padge and bassist Jason Jay James, has simultaneously made its most melodic yet raucous, relentless collection yet. Indeed, Fevers muscular riffs threaten to overpower the listener with their sheer unending intensity. Tucks lacerating vocals, once compromised by debilitating; possibly career-ending throat problems are stronger than ever. For Fever the idea was to keep it simple, says drummer Thomas, and focus on the steak, not the sizzle. Its really tempting to kind of push your limits and try to play a thousand miles an hour. But theres really no need for it. This album is powerful, more than just speedy. The group, named by metal magazine Kerrang! as Best British Band in both 2008 and 2009, formed 10 years ago in their Welsh hometown of Bridgend. After gigging around and honing their considerable live chops for years, the band signed with Sony in 2004; in the U.S., the band's music is released by Sony label Jive. The Poison, released, appropriately enough on Valentines Day in the U.S. in 2006, has been certified gold in the U.S., United Kingdom, Germany and Canada. The band quickly became a major draw known for its ceaselessly frenetic live shows. While still on tour supporting "Scream, Bullet for My Valentine began writing music for Fever in early 2009 in Wales. So great was their desire to create something beyond their previous efforts that the foursome retreated to a studio in Lincolnshire, England to get away from everythinghome, family and friends-and concentrate solely on writing. We just needed to be in our own space so we had no distractions, Thomas recalls. It was Bullet for My Valentine 24 hours a day. For Fever, the band recruited producer Don Gilmore, best known for his work with Linkin Park and Good Charlotte. He was confident that he could take us to the next level, Tuck says. He identified the strong points and the weak points. Because we kind of knew we were on the right track, we just needed him to keep us on the right track and push us hard and make it work. After the initial music was written, Tuck and Gilmore holed up in the studio to craft the lyrics and melodies, locking out everyone including the rest of the band.

The separation was hard for Tucks band mates, but all was understood once they started hearing the amazing results. We just left them alone, Thomas says. When theres lot of people in the room, it just gets messy. If there are just two people in the room, they can just bounce off each other rather than everyone shouting opinions. It just made life a lot easier for those two. The lyric writing sessions took place during an immensely intense period that left Tuck feeling exhilarated, but just as often battered and bruised. Every day, Id get up out bed and go into the studio and it was like, Fuck, here we go again, he recalls. I walked out a couple of times, I had to go and disappear for a few days to clear my head. It was all for the good of the cause. I got it about half way through the vocal sessions. Don and I clicked and bonded. Gilmore shoved Tuck harder than hed ever been pushed before. Previously, Id just write lyrics and melody and if it sounds good and feels good, it stays, Tuck says, but he made me write it again and change melodies until it was fucking amazing. And that was a difference. I was just settling in the past. Every drop of sweat is captured on Fever. Blistering first single Your Betrayal scorches the earth with its searing instrumental opening and bitter words of mistrust. The song is about being betrayed and then obsessing about it and wanting revenge and payback for whats happened to that person, Tuck says, noting the lyrics mark a return to the super dark tone of The Poison. The group also tackles drug addiction and how those around the addict often suffer just as much on The Last Fight. People think the person who has the addiction is the victim; no one ever thinks about the people who are helping them and trying to get them out and then are being pushed aside, Tuck says. So The Last Fight is about how its your last chance, I keep trying to help you and you keep trying to push me away. Fuck you. This is the last fight Im going to do for you. The band isnt afraid to turn tender on the sobering A Place Where You Belong, a sad, sorrowful tale about unresolved issues. You dont get a chance to make amends before someone passes away, you dont see someone again and you have to live with that, Tuck says. Its kind of taken from me and my girlfriend; we split up a year ago and shit happened. He clarifies that his girlfriend did not die. None of the stuff we do is that biographical, Tuck says. Ill take certain things and turn them into something else just because I think its more interesting. Things lighten up on the saucy title track which tackles the time-honored tradition of hot girl meets boy, or boys, in the band and, well, you know the rest of the story. Its the kind of song weve never done, Tuck says. The song is just party rock and roll. Its such a boys song. The boys are back on the road. Since the dawn of time, men just want to see naked chicks and fuck them; thats it. Speaking of the road, Bullet for My Valentine, renowned for its energetic live shows, cant wait to bring Fevers music alive on tour. I love the buzz and energy of the crowd, Tuck says. Its such a mad feeling. For Bullet for my Valentine, they want fans to feel about Fever the way the music from their musical heroes made them feel.

Fever sounds like something that if I were 16 and getting into rock music, I would just be going nuts and wanting to be in a band, just like Metallica did for me, Tuck says. Its just so timeless and real. Theres nothing fake about what we do.

Bullet for My Valentine

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Bullet for my valentine)

Bullet for My Valentine are a Welsh heavy metal band from Bridgend, formed in 1998. The band is composed of Matt Tuck (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Michael Paget (lead guitar, backing vocals), Jason James (bass guitar, backing vocals), and Michael Thomas (drums). They were formed under the name Jeff Killed John and started their music career by covering songs by Metallica and Nirvana. Jeff Killed John recorded six songs which were not released; two of these tracks were reworked later in their career as Bullet for My Valentine. Financial difficulties dictated the name change, which was followed by a change in music direction. In 2002, the band secured a five-album deal with Sony BMG. The band has stated that their music is influenced by classic heavy metal acts such as Metallica, Iron Maiden, and Slayer. The band is part of the Cardiff music scene. Bullet for My Valentine's debut album, The Poison, was released on October 3, 2005 in the United Kingdom and on February 14, 2006 in the United States to coincide with Valentine's Day hence their band name. The album entered the Billboard 200in the US at number 128. It was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America. The band made appearances at the Download Festival and Kerrang! XXV, and undertook a US tour with Rob Zombie. Bullet for My Valentine's second studio album, Scream Aim Fire, was released on January 29, 2008 and debuted at number four on the Billboard 200. The band's third album, Fever, was released on April 26, 2010 and debuted at number three on the Billboard 200. The band has sold over one million albums in the United States and nearly 2,500,000 albums worldwide and are the most-successful act in the Kerrang! Awards category of "Best British Band" with three wins.

[edit]History [edit]Jeff

Killed John and record deal (19982005)

Jeff Killed John was the forerunner band to Bullet for My Valentine and was formed in 1998 by Matthew Tuck, Michael "Padge" Paget, Nick Crandle, and Michael "Moose" Thomas while studying music at Bridgend College. Playing Nirvana andMetallica cover songs, the band released a two-track EP in

2002, You/Play with Me, which was produced by Greg Haver. The EP was financed through the Pynci scheme for new Welsh musicians and the release garnered radio airplay on BBC Radio 1's broadcast at Newport's T.J.'s.[2] Jeff Killed John's music followed the nu metal trend set by bands such as Korn and Limp Bizkit.[2] Bassist Crandle left the band on the eve of entering the recording sessions for You/Play with Me and was replaced by Jason James.[2] The band then changed their name to Bullet for My Valentine and reworked their musical strategy; they decided to play thrash metal songs with "harmony guitars and big angelic choruses" according to frontman Tuck.[3] Roadrunner Records showed interest in Bullet for My Valentine and offered the band a deal. The offer was ultimately turned down, and the band signed a five-album record deal with Sony BMG and a UK licensing deal with Visible Noise. According to Tuck, they chose Sony because, "We thought that a lot more doors would be open to us."[3] A self-titled EP was released on 15 November 2004 in the UK. Produced by Colin Richardson, it featured five tracks and marked the band's first official release.[2] A second EP, Hand of Blood, was released on 22 August 2005 through Trustkill Records and was only available in the US; the release contained one extra track than the self-titled EP, "4 Words (To Choke Upon)". Daniel Lukes of Decibel Magazine reviewed the EP by stating, "The worst part is that the music itself isnt all that bad, for the genre." He went on to comment that the band should be "embarrassed" about the release.[4] Zeromag's Josh Joyce complimented the band on "how technical they can get without confusing the kids".[5]

[edit]The

Poison (20052007)

Bullet for My Valentine at 2007's Earthday Birthday (depicted from left to right: Paget, James, and Tuck).

Bullet for My Valentine's debut album, The Poison, was released on 3 October 2005 in the UK and on Valentine's Day, 2006 in the US. It entered the Billboard 200 at number 128,[6] and attained number 11 on the Independent Albums chart.[7] On 30 January 2009, the album was certified gold by the RIAA after 500,000 copies were sold in the US.[8] Four singles were released from The Poison: "4 Words (To Choke Upon)", "Suffocating Under Words of Sorrow (What Can I Do)", "All These Things I Hate (Revolve Around Me)", and "Tears Don't Fall".[9] Bullet for My Valentine promoted the album by touring across the world. In 2005, with increased popularity, they played on the larger Download Festival Snickers stage;[10] in 2006, the band were moved to near the top of the main stage bill.[11] Other tours included opening for Metallica and Guns N' Roses in the summer of 2006,[12] the Vans Warped Tour, Kerrang! tour, and Earthday Birthday. The band's performance at the Brixton Academy in London on 28 January 2006, was filmed for their first DVD, The Poison: Live at Brixton.[13][14] During June 2007, Tuck suffered from laryngitis, which let to an emergency tonsillectomy in July.[15] Bullet for My Valentine were forced to cancel several shows, including supporting Metallica for three dates on their Sick of the Studio '07 tour on 29 June in Bilbao, 5 July in Vienna, and 8 July at the recently completed Wembley Stadium in London.[16] Unable to speak, Tuck wrote that as soon as doctors cleared him he would be in the studio working on the band's next album.[17]

[edit]Scream

Aim Fire (20072008)

Bullet for My Valentine's second studio album, Scream Aim Fire, was recorded at Sonic Ranch Studios and was produced by Colin Richardson.[18] Tuck commented at the time, "It's a lot more up tempo, a lot more aggressive".[19] The album was released in the US on 29 January 2008.[20] It sold 53,000 copies in its first week and peaked at number four on the Billboard 200.[21] Three songs were released as singles: "Scream Aim Fire", "Hearts Burst into Fire", and "Waking the Demon". In support of the new album, the band toured North America and Australia in the spring of 2008 for the Taste of Chaos tour alongside Atreyu, Blessthefall, and Avenged Sevenfold. Bullet for My Valentine cut short the Canada portion of the tour and flew back home to support the daughter of James who was in hospital.[22] The band performed in North America again in the summer of 2008 as part of the No Fear Tour with Bleeding Through, Cancer Bats, and Black Tide.[23] In late 2008, the band toured Europe, supported by Lacuna Coil, Bleeding Through, and Black Tide.[24] In December 2008, Scream Aim Fire was re-released with four bonus tracks that were recorded during the album's studio sessions, but with re-recorded vocallines.[25]

[edit]Fever

(20092011)

Michael Paget (left) and Matthew Tuck (right) at 2006's Roskilde Festival held in Denmark.

Matt Tuck spoke to Daniel Marez of Metal Hammer in March 2009 about the band's progress on writing and recording their third album. Tuck stated that there were four or five songs that were finished and that "usually we write and record 14 tracks that I then have to write vocal lines for, but this time Im trying to write the vocals as I write the music".[25] Bullet for My Valentine confirmed in August 2009 that they were aiming for an early 2010 release for the new album, while Tuck stated that the upcoming record is "a lot more mature-sounding, it's a lot more classic. It'll stand the test of time [more] than both the previous things we've done".[26] In a January 2010 interview with Rock Sound, Tuck stated explained details for the album; it would be titled Feverand that the 11-track record would have a sound closer to The Poison rather than Scream Aim Fire and would be absent of ballads.[27] During the summer of 2009, Bullet for My Valentine toured across the United States as part of the Mayhem Festival,[28] alongside Killswitch Engage, Slayer, and Marilyn Manson on the main stage;[29] they also appeared on the UK leg of the Sonispheretour at Knebworth, headlining the second stage.[30] The band will be headlining the second stage at the Download Festival 2010 on the Friday night.[31] The band has also been confirmed for Nova Rock,[32] Metaltown,[33] Rock am Ring,[34] Rock on the Range,[35] The Bamboozle,
[36]

Bilbao Live Festival,[37] Fortarock[38] and Graspop.[39] In addition, they will be playing alongside the Big

Four on the Greek leg of Sonisphere.[40] Fever was released on 27 April 2010.[41] A free download of a new track called "Begging For Mercy" was released on the band's website on 14 February, 2010 as part of a Twitter promotion.[42] The song "Your Betrayal" was chosen as the lead single for the album and was set to release on 9 March 2010, but, unexpectedly, was released earlier on 2 March 2010 as a digital single on iTunes Store. The second single is called "The Last Fight" and was released on 19 April. The

album artwork for this studio album was released on the official website on 5 March 2010.[41] Bullet for My Valentine announced the start their US tour in support of Fever. It began on 30 April with the bands Airbourne and Chiodos as support.[43] On 12 March the band released the music videos for "The Last Fight" and "Your Betrayal".[44] The band revealed the track listing on their website on March 15, as well as other various sources that include an email to all of their subscribers on the mailing list.[45] On 26 April the band played a secret show in London to celebrate the release of Fever. This was their only UK headline show until the end of the year.[46]

[edit]Fourth

studio album (2011-present)

On 28 January 2011, Michael Paget stated that the group had already drawn proportions for the next studio album and will sound a lot like Fever. He followed-along with stating that the band plans to have the songs for it written within 2011 and will begin recording the album by the end of the year. A couple tracks left from the Fever sessions might be redone, re-arranged and re-recorded for the new record.[47] The band will play at Uproar Festival 2011, after which they intend to begin writing material for a fourth studio album. The band hopes to release the album sometime in 2012.[48] On October 7, RCA Music Group announced it was disbanding Jive Records along with Arista Records and J Records. With the shutdown, the band (and all other artists previously signed to these three labels) will release their future material (including their next studio album) on the RCA Recordsbrand. [49] [50]

[edit]Musical

style and influences

Bullet for My Valentine are primarily deemed as a contemporary metal band. With detailed statements, their music has been described by critics as heavy metal,[51][52] metalcore[41][53] and thrash metal.[54][55] The band has cited being influenced by bands such as Metallica, Annihilator, Pantera,Machine Head, Iron Maiden, Guns N' Roses,[56] Testament, Stuck Mojo, Slayer, Judas Priest, and Megadeth.[57] These bands inspire Bullet for My Valentine's "catchy vocals, aggressive riffs and melodies," according to Thomas.[58] The band describe two of their albums, The Poison and Fever, as having a "super dark" tone,[59] Tuck went on to state that "we're a hard rock band with metal influences, and Ive said that from Day One.[27] Kirk Miller of Decibel Magazine praised the band for the effort in synchronised song structures.[60] When asked of their views on their looks, members of the band have stated that they would not change their sound or image for a commercial approach; Tuck also commented that, "Without sounding harsh, we're more interested in what our music sounds like than what our fucking hair looks like."[61]

[edit]Band

members

Current members

Michael Paget lead guitar, backing vocals (1998present) Michael Thomas drums (1998present) Matthew Tuck lead vocals, rhythm guitar (1998present) Jason James bass guitar, backing vocals (2003present)

Former members

Nick Crandle bass guitar (19982003)

[edit]Timeline

Since their inception in 2003, the Welsh quartet Bullet for My Valentine have been taking cues from '80s metal bands and the punk-infused metal of the new millennium to make melodic, metallic, dark rock songs. Originating from Bridgend, South Wales -- a breeding ground for likeminded groups like Funeral for a Friend and LostProphets -- the group consists of childhood friends Matthew Tuck (vocals/guitar), Michael Padget (guitar/vocals), Jason James (bass/vocals), and Michael Thomas (drums). Everyone in the group, with the sole exception of James, previously performed together for a few years in Jeff Killed John. One day before entering the recording studio, though, Jeff Killed John's original bassist abruptly walked out, effectively breaking up the band with his exit. Regrouping under the new name Bullet for My Valentine (with James on board), the guys reworked their sound and were signed at their second gig by London's Visible Noise. They released a selftitled EP in the U.K. in November 2004, and their debut album, The Poison, appeared that next fall. One year later, they partnered with an American label, Trustkill, to begin releasing their material in the U.S. As a result, Hand of Blood -- essentially a deluxe version of the band's first EP -- was issued to American audiences in August. That same year, Bullet for My Valentine won Kerrang!'s Best British Newcomer Award and headlined the magazine's XXV tour. The U.S. release of The Poison followed in early 2006, as did a nationwide tour in support of Rob Zombie, and the album eventually sold more than 500,000 copies in America alone. Meanwhile, Bullet for My Valentine headed back to the U.K. in June for a third appearance at the annual Download Festival. Scream Aim Fire appeared in 2008, marking the band's second full-length album and cracking the Top Ten in multiple countries (including the U.K. and U.S., where it peaked at numbers five and four, respectively). After touring, the band headed back into the studio, this time choosing Linkin Park producer Don Gilmore to helm the recording sessions. The result was 2010's Fever, another high-charting album with a slightly more mainstream sound than the band's previous releases. Corey Apar, Rovi

The Poison
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article is about the Bullet for My Valentine album. For other uses, see Poison (disambiguation). The Poison is the debut album by Welsh heavy metal band Bullet for My Valentine. The album was released on October 3, 2005 through Visible Noise Records in the UK, and on February 14, 2006 in the United States through Trustkill Records. The album included 11 new songs and two previously heard songs, "Cries in Vain", which was previously heard from their self-titled UK EP and from their US EP, Hand of Blood, as well as from "4 Words (To Choke Upon)" was previously included on the same US release. Different editions of the album contain the song "Hand of Blood", previously heard from these EPs, replacing "Spit You Out".[1][2] The album debuted at No. 128 on the Billboard 200[3] and No. 2 on the Heatseekers Chart,[3] and as of January 30, 2009, the album has sold 1,200,000 copies worldwide[4] and 500,000 copies in the US.[5] It's the first album released through Trustkill Records to be officially certified gold by the RIAA.[6][7]

[edit]Reception
The album has received generally many favorable reviews from the critics. Corey Apar of Allmusic awarded the album 3 stars out of 5, stating "Overall, The Poison is a well-produced, solid effort but seeing as they're now trying to take over American hearts, it would be nice to see future attempts to distinguish themselves more from the new-school pack."[8] The Poison[3]

Yea r

Chart

Peak position

2006 The Billboard 200

128

2006 Top Heatseekers

2006 Top Independent Albums 2 [edit]Track

listing

All lyrics written by Matthew Tuck, all music composed by Bullet for My Valentine.

No. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

Title "Intro" (featuring Apocalyptica) "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"

11. "Cries in Vain" 12. "Spit You Out" 13. "The End"

Scream Aim Fire

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For the song of the same name, see Scream Aim Fire (song). Scream Aim Fire is the second studio album by Welsh heavy metal band Bullet for My Valentine, released on 28 January 2008 in the UK and the preceding day in the US. Since its release, Scream Aim Fire has sold over 1,000,000 copies worldwide, with 500,000 copies being sold in the US alone.[3]

[edit]Background
Before the release of Scream Aim Fire, the band stated that it album would be considerably heavier than The Poison. Scream Aim Fire has fewer screaming vocals than its predecessor, partly because of the problem lead singer Matthew Tuck had with his tonsils. Scream Aim Fire went straight to number 5 in the UK album Charts and number 4 in the Australian album charts. Additionally, the album hit No. 4 on the Billboard 200, with first week sales of about 53,000. Since its release, Scream Aim Fire has sold over one million copies worldwide and over 500,000 copies in the US. The title track "Scream Aim Fire" is featured in the video game Guitar Hero World Tour. The track "Waking the Demon" is available for download for both Rock Band and Rock Band 2 for the price of $1.99 (160 Microsoft points). The track "Hearts Burst into Fire" is featured in the video game NHL 09.

[edit]Writing

and recording

Recording of the album was complete in November 2007 with vocalist/guitarist Matthew Tuck telling Kerrang! magazine he was looking forward to be working with guest producer Alec Cartio again.[citation needed]

[edit]Release

and promotion

At midnight on the 28 January, Bullet for My Valentine were present in Cardiff to do an album signing to go with the release of the album. At 18:00 the same day, they did a 20 minute performance at HMV in Oxford Circus with 300 present to get their album signed.[citation needed] A 15-minute album commentary was released on the US digital single for "Scream Aim Fire", released on 18 December 2007, along with the track "Eye of the Storm",[citation needed] which was also released on a free Kerrang! CD and as a free download for signing up to the Sony BMG mailing list.[citation needed] The second single from the album, "Hearts Burst into Fire", was announced by the band during their UK tour. Matt Tuck said that the band recorded the song live for the music video.[citation needed] "Waking the Demon" is the third single of the album.

[edit]Track

listing

All songs written and composed by Bullet for My Valentine.

No. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11.

Title "Scream Aim Fire" "Eye of the Storm" "Hearts Burst into Fire" "Waking the Demon" "Disappear" "Deliver Us from Evil" "Take It Out on Me" (feat. Benji Webbe) "Say Goodnight" "End of Days" "Last to Know" "Forever and Always"

Fever (Bullet for My Valentine album)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Fever is the third studio album by Welsh heavy metal band, Bullet for My Valentine. Containing eleven tracks,[4] the album was released on 26 and 27 April 2010 in the UK and in the US, respectively. The album sold 71,000 copies in the US and 21,965 in the UK in its first week of release to debut at position No. 3 on The Billboard 200 and No. 1 on Billboard's Rock and Alternative charts, making it the band's most successful record to date.[5][6][7] Since its release, Fever has sold over 500,000 copies worldwide.[8][9][10][11]

[edit]Writing

and recording

In early 2009, about a year after Bullet for My Valentine released their second studio album, Scream Aim Fire, the band started writing new material. In a March 2009 interview with Metal Hammer, Matthew Tuck stated that on previous albums he had written lyrics for the songs after the band had completed writing instrumental parts; but for Fever, Tuck had been writing both at the same time.[12] Bullet for My Valentine originally entered the studio in April 2009 with producer Don Gilmore (best known for his work with Linkin Park and Good Charlotte) at Monmouth, Wales, and cancelled tour dates in South Africa to continue recording.[13] The band took time off from recording in mid-2009 to perform on various tours including the 2009 Mayhem Festival. During the Mayhem Festival, Bullet for My Valentine included a new song to their live setlist.[14][15] Following their tours, the band returned to studio to finish Fever. Recording was completed in December 2009, and Gilmore began tracking the album shortly thereafter in Malibu, California.
[16]

In a 12 March 2010 interview with UK's Metal Hammer magazine, Matthew Tuck stated about the writing and recording process for the new album:

We wanted to do something fresh and exciting, but that was still us. Having Don Gilmore was a very conscious decision. We didn't want him to change us as musicians, just help with the vocals and get the best possible performances out of us. [...] It's a weird thing singing in the studio; you don't get the adrenaline, the energy, the buzz, it's you in front of a microphone looking at a guy staring at you. To get the performances out in the studio was hard, but Don was amazing. We rewrote the lyrics and melodies up to five times on some songs because he didn't think they were strong enough. We worked insanely hard to get the vocal lines different but still Bullet. The vocals

took longer than everything else on the album put together. It was brutal work, but I personally thought I had a huge point to prove so thats why I stuck at it. [...] Everyone's buzzing about this one. We just tried to get that energy and excitement and vibe back into the band because the Scream Aim Fire [2008] sessions just ripped our hearts out of wanting to be in a band.[17]
Guitar Edge had an interview with some members of the band where Matthew Tuck talked about Fever:

[...] The main objective on this album was to please ourselves rather than pleasing other people and critics. We wanted to go into making this album as innocent as you do making your first record, with no expectations and no pressure. Just do what you do. That formula made our first album [The Poison] explode. So even though Scream Aim Fire was successful, we did stray away from that formula that made us who we were in the first place so we wanted to go back and recapture the moment. [...] There was a lot of experimentation in trying new techniques I'd never tried before, but ended up resulting in a better product. I always thought that I knew what was best, but I think I was internally trying to understand that I don't always know what's best and think of the better product. [...] The recording process was tough, but challenging and rewarding. The end result really speaks for itself and I adore it.[18]

[edit]Release

and promotion

On 14 February 2010, the band offered a new track, "Begging for Mercy", for free download from their official website for a limited time.[4] The first and lead single for the US, "Your Betrayal", was set for release on 8 March 2010 to the radio;
[14]

and, unexpectedly, was released early as a Digital 45 on iTunes along with the track "Begging for Mercy"

on 2 March 2010.[19] The second and lead single for the UK, "The Last Fight", was released on 19 April 2010 to the radio[20] and a limited edition 7" single on 17 April 2010 with "Begging for Mercy" as a B-side.[21] On 24 February 2010, Bullet for My Valentine were on a trip to Los Angeles to shoot a pair of videos: One clip is for the US lead single "Your Betrayal" (released on 12 April 2010[22]), while the other is for the UK lead single "The Last Fight" (released on 12 March 2010). Director Paul R. Brown (best known for his work with Slipknot and Korn) handled both shoots.[23][24] In September 2010 on Australian radio, Tuck announced that videos would be in production for the title track and "Bittersweet Memories" The music video for "Bittersweet Memories" was released on 25 November 2010. In a phone interview with drummer, Thomas during February 2011, he stated that the original music videos for "Bittersweet Memories" and Fever were scrapped and that Matt Tuck and Himself wrote the screenplay for what is now "Bittersweet Memories" and that the "Fever" video will not be released because the band felt that it was not suitable enough in quality for the song.

[edit]Reception
Upon its release, Fever, received positive reviews from critics, as reflected from the achieved score of 63/100 based on 11 critic reviews Metacritic.[33] Allmusic states that on this third disc, the band "consolidate their style and split the difference between their two previous discs" and describes the album as "a solid disc by a group that knows its own strengths".[27] Fever, also, received positive reviews from Kerrang! ("The

'5 K-rated' Fever"[29]) and Rock Sound ("[...] There's not a single track here that would create an unpleasant contrast"[30]). Conversely, The New Review gave the album 2.5 out of 5; disappointed of the band's new record, commented: "[...] As a fan, I'll wait to hear what direction the band takes next, while letting this Feverpass and move on".[34] PopMatters classifies it as a decent album, as it "[...] maintains the level of quality that Scream Aim Fire had, but doesnt advance back to their prior level of excellence. [...] There are more good songs than bad [The Last Fight,Pleasure and Pain and Dignity], but the bad songs are very seriously flawed, and will likely stand out more than the positive aspects of the good songs".[35] Guitar Edge, on their June 2010 magazine, described Fever as one of Bullet for My Valentine hardest hitting albums to date. "[...] It combines the infectious melodies and brute force that listeners expect, but with a new, albeit classic, feel. The album is a sonic masterpiece that showcases the band's phenomenal range of talent".[18] Noisecreep did a brief review talking about Fever's favorable side:

The Welsh blokes have skyrocketed in recent years, thanks to adept riff displays that fall somewhere along the spectrum between Avenged Sevenfold and Trivium. BFMV and Fever are all about the shred. The choppy first single Your Betrayal rages with the heat of a thousand suns and the album boasts a crisp, clean production where every note is experienced. The Last Fight and the title track marry melody with metallic bluster in a way that never waters down either element.[36]

Among all Fever tracks, one of the most recognized songs by the critics is "Alone". BBC describes it as "[...] the brightest standout, which rocks to a rampaging riff that courses all the way to its core it's sure to give any listener shivers, such is its magnitude".[37] Billboard fully enjoyed it, saying that "[...] [Alone] offers six minutes of epic ebb-and-flow orchestration";[38] and among many other critics strongly recommends to listen.
[39][35][40]

Even critics like AbsolutePunk, who really disliked the album, recognized "Alone" as "the standout

track" which its "[..] chorus is sing-along-able and the guitar solo is harmonized and completely brutal!"[40] Other impressive songs are the two first singles, the "strong opening of the album",[34] "Your Betrayal" ("[...] The military drumming of Your Betrayal opens the album with infantry intensity and then some wonderfully crisp riffing gives way to Matt Tuck whispering about insanity"[37]) and "The Last Fight", they both "[...] demonstrate as much from the outset, presenting fast-paced passages before parrying the momentum into upswings of melody";[30] and, along with the title-track "Fever", create "a brilliant opening trio".[37] One song, "Bittersweet Memories" did not seemed to be as welcomed as all the other tracks, as critics such as BBC classified it as a song "[...] with lyrics of childish despair and forlorn desire, the weakest track here".[37] Or PopMatters, who also disliked the song, credited it as "[...] absolutely terrible, having more in common with My Chemical Romance than any other band".[35] The song, however, made one of Allmusic's track picks.

[edit]Track

listing

All lyrics written by Matthew Tuck, all music composed by Bullet for My Valentine[41][42][43].

Standard edition No. Title 1. "Your Betrayal" 2. "Fever" 3. "The Last Fight"

4. "A Place Where You Belong" 5. "Pleasure and Pain" 6. "Alone" 7. "Breaking Out, Breaking Down" 8. "Bittersweet Memories" 9. "Dignity" 10. "Begging for Mercy" 11. "Pretty on the Outside" Total length: [show]iTunes pre-order bonus track [show]Japanese version bonus tracks[44][45] [show]Japanese version DVD[45] [show]Australian tour edition bonus CD [show]UK tour edition bonus tracks [show]UK tour edition DVD[45] [edit]Release [edit]Chart

history

positions
charts

[edit]Year-end