Roses For The Dead (Hours: Parental Advisory - Funeral For A Friend)

Member Name: rleigh

Product:	Hours: Parental Advisory - Funeral For A Friend
Date:	27/02/08 (46 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Some hugely impressive post-hardcore music is present on this album.

Disadvantages: There are a couple of disappointing offerings here, the vocals are not always great.

Funeral For A Friend released their 'Hours' album in June 2005. It was about this time that I saw the band headline at the first held 'Give it a Name' festival and after emptying out of the Alexandra Palace the streets were riddled with posters advertising the release of this album. With thousands of people having just watched the band perform live, it should come as no surprise that the posters did not last long and were soon snapped up by the bands legions of fans. The guerilla tactics used to promote this album increased my interest in it no end, and as soon as the album was released I rushed straight out there and bought it. I was not as impressed with the album as I wanted to be, but it is still a decent offering from the band and one that I do quite enjoy listening to. There are some tracks here that aren't greatly effective, but then there are others that are excellent and alone were well worth the money I spent out on this release. I paid out around £10 for 'Hours', but that was of course a few years ago now and it can be found at Amazon now for the low price of £4.97; a bargain in my opinion.

'Roses For The Dead' is my favourite track from this release. There is a greatly loveable quality about it, and the video for the track is truly moving. Beginning with a soaring guitar riff, never at any stage do the band show any signs of turning down the quality on this one. I can't speak highly enough of 'Roses For The Dead', the vocals are excellently sung out by front man Matt Davies. Everything about the track comes together perfectly and makes for a well rounded and expertly executed Emo anthem of epic proportions.

It has to be said that some of the tracks from this album are really quite whiny and irritating. I'm not exactly the biggest fan of post-hardcore in the world, and it doesn't take much to put me off music of this sort. To me, 'Drive' for instance just sounds incredibly messy and weak, with very little going for it at all in fact. It doesn't even sound as though it should have been included on the album at all, it has no strength to it whatsoever and coming at the albums centre is greatly disappointing to hear. 'Monsters' follows it and is again not greatly powerful. The guitars are strong, but the vocals are lacking and therefore come as a bit of a let down.

Whilst the two tracks outlined are quite weak, that still leave nine tracks from this album that are extremely effective. The bands post-hardcore music is for the most part strong, and tracks from this album such as 'All The Rage' and 'Recovery' are hugely powerful and massively appealing to listen to. The guitars are what make the music of Funeral For A Friend stand out, they are very much at the forefront and the rest of the music in the bands sound tends to take a bit of a back seat. This is a shame as the drums are also brilliant throughout the album, but it does help to cover up a few vocal flaws. At times Matt Davies is confident and powerful in his vocal transmission, however there are a lot of times here when the vocals are greatly lacking and largely disappointing. No matter how loud the guitars are made, his vocal weakness can still be heard coming through and at times this does detract from the overall listening experience. It is not with all tracks that he disappoints, but certainly with some.

'Hours' is definitely an album that I would recommend listening to. Admittedly, a couple of tracks do not come through particularly well, but there is plenty on this album to keep you entertained and occupied. From the growling of 'The End Of Nothing' right through to the softly spoken tones of 'Roses For The Dead', there should be something here for everyone and I fail to see how anyone could not enjoy at least one of the tracks that are present here on this album. Funeral For A Friend are sure to have their fare share of haters out there, what with them being a post-hardcore band and all, but the truth is that much of their music is greatly enjoyable and their guitars at least are never short of exceptional. Give 'Hours' a go, it perhaps wont be the best album that you have ever heard but I'm sure you'll be able to find some great enjoyment in what you hear here. Funeral For A Friend are a talented band and prove so with this album I feel.

Summary: Nine decent tracks out of eleven isn't too bad at all, give 'Hours' a listen some time.