B4MV - Scream Aim Fire : Sequels are never as good as the originals are they? (Scream Aim Fire - Bullet For My Valentine)

Member Name: ParadoxTheory

Product:	Scream Aim Fire - Bullet For My Valentine
Date:	30/11/08 (75 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Technically Bullet have evolved, better riffs and drumming

Disadvantages: Lyrics seem to have gone down, moderate at best

Bullet For My Valentine's second full length release, Scream Aim Fire certainly set mouths watering when it came out, but how good is it really?

First things first, the title track is an absolute belter of a tune, beginning with punishing drum rolls, followed by riffs aplenty by the Bridgend boys. The technical skills on display by the band in this opening song suggest that this album is going to be a world beater.

Eye of the Storm is very disappointing however, as the whole song sounds similar to Scream Aim Fire, and while a few similar songs are alright, surely they would have done better to have pushed this further down the track listing.

Hearts Burst Into Fire opens with a suggestion that it is going to be a ballady type of song, but I was soon proved wrong when the guitars kicked in and massaged my ears with a sound so brilliant that for a moment at least, I prepared to forget that Matt Tuck sounds so much like a Metallica tribute nowadays.

Waking The Demon is the first Poison-esque song on the new album, with a great thrashing snarl, coupled with guttural vocals, that when turned high enough, make your ears shout for mercy. (This song is a surefire winner live)

Disappear is another song in the mould of Scream Aim Fire, however it is executed a lot better than Eye Of the Storm, hence making it one of the better efforts on the album.

Deliver Us From Evil is simply awful, the worst song Bullet have done, it sounds so cheesy in comparison to the rest of their material, I would be embarassed if it was a B Side, due to the lyrics being laughably poor. (see : 'Whats happening to me, I'm dying from the inside')

Take it Out On Me is a better effort, more standard bullet fare but with a surprise appearance from Benji Webbe of Newport rockers, Skindred. His vocals on the second verse fit perfectly with the song, although the lyrics again do neither vocalists no justice at all.

Say Goodnight is the BEST song on this album, there, i just said it. I find it difficult to describe how good the song is, Matt Tuck shows passion in his voice, that many a metaller would be proud of, whilst keeping it distinctly Bullet. The screamed vocals towards the climax even fail to ruin the mood of the song.

End Of Days is rather forgettable, its another in the bracket of Deliver Us From Evil, although it it nowhere near as cheesy or plain awful, instead just suffering for coming after the best song on the album.

Last To Know is a good solid Bullet track, again evoking memories of the Poison album for myself, with screamed vocals accompanying Tuck's best Hetfield impression again. In my opinion, if Bullet are to top The Poison, he REALLY needs to sort his voice out.

Forever and Always is The End (geddit?) of Scream Aim Fire, showing of the group's melancholy side, with a slow burner eases the listener into the end of the record, and onto one of the numerous bonus tracks, depending on which version you have.

This album is not as good as The Poison, by a long stretch, but i feel B4MV are mirroring Trivium, and hopefully, a potential 3rd album will turn out to be the resounding success(see: Shogun) that British metal needs and deserves.

Summary: A decent album, whilst still being the best Britain has to offer, hasn't lived up to its potential