Bridgend metal titans Bullet For My Valentine are kicking off 2025 – two decades after the release of debut album The Poison – with a co-headline tour alongside Floridian counterparts Trivium. It includes two dates at Cardiff’s Utilita Arena, so Sara Murphy is here to give us a snapshot of BFMV’s best material and get you pumped for these late-January shows.
1. All These Things I Hate (Revolve Around Me)
Arguably one of Bullet’s best songs, and a criminally underrated one at that. From debut album The Poison, released in 2005, All These Things I Hate is the perfect blend of stripped back melody juxtaposed against explosive metal instrumentation. The finely crafted lyrics and sense of self-deprecation reflect the brooding emo-landscape of the mid-00s; the music video comes with a sense of dramatic angst as Matt Tuck’s gritty vocals soar over the visuals. One of four singles released from that debut offering, this is a great starting point for any newcomers hoping to get a feel for the band’s vibe.
2. Scream Aim Fire
A more intense and high-tempo metal track, 2008’s Scream Aim Fire – the title track from their second album, which also featured the likes of headbanging, werewolf-featuring behemoth Waking The Demon – represents BMFV’s delve into a harder-hitting offering. Complete with a memorable chant of “over the top!”, the layered sounds of each instrument create a wall of powerful sound which works incredibly well. The video’s menacing vibe, with its ragged handheld camerawork, makes for a chaotic experience when twinned with a guitar breakdown and screamed vocal interlude as triumphant as this. Side note: for anyone who has tried to play this song on expert difficulty on Guitar Hero, I salute you; the finger action for that riff showcases the craftsmanship of Michael ‘Padge’ Paget’s guitar playing.
3. The Last Fight
The next one up was a firm Kerrang! TV playlist favourite upon its release in 2010. The speed of The Last Fight’s opening fretwork and ferocious drums sets the tempo for the song, and despite bearing resemblance to the Power Rangers theme (trust me), the track is a call to arms for rock fans everywhere. Whilst 2015 album Venom had some belters which were close to BFMV top-five status themselves, this single rightfully deserves its spot not only for being a top-tier tune, but for representing the group’s return to a more authentic sound with their third album, Fever.
4. Your Betrayal
A double whammy from Fever, then, with the album’s first single Your Betrayal. This track set a precedent for a reincarnation of Bullet: one of huge stature, which cemented their reputation in the rock and metal scene. This is reaffirmed by the artistically slick and fiery music video. The diversity and maturity of Tuck’s voice is on show with smooth transitions between clean vocals, an ominous whisper and the screamed title phrase. Following a killer intro, the axe-wielding frontman steers the melody over the distorted chugging of Jay James’ bass and the drum work of Michael ‘Moose’ Thomas.
5. Tears Don’t Fall
In saving the best until last, Tears Don’t Fall takes the crown. The familiarity of that opening riff, followed by the gutwrenching scream of “let’s go!” gives the song its emotional prominence. The yin and yang effect of the verse and pre-chorus creates a buildup nothing short of iconic; when paired with profound lyrics and a beautiful music video featuring the band performing in the rain, BFMV crafted their best and most loved song to date as early as their first album. We should also mention the breakdown and impressive guitar solos, which bring everything together to render Tears Don’t Fall a metal masterpiece.
Bullet For My Valentine + Trivium, Utilita Arena Cardiff, Sun 26 + Mon 27 Jan.
Tickets: £49.50. Info: here
words SARA MURPHY