“We never thought that what we’ve achieved was actually attainable”. Ffion Riordan-Jones chats to Matt Tuck of Welsh metal forerunners Bullet for My Valentine about their long journey to stardom.
As a country, Wales is the home for a glut of bands that have become globally applauded and adored. Flying the flag for metal, there are few as cherished as Bullet For My Valentine. “We went from playing in a church in Ogmore Vale to touring the world with Iron Maiden. It’s one of those rock ‘n’ roll stories you couldn’t make up,” says lead singer Matt Tuck, reflecting on what the outfit have achieved.
Starting on the Bridgend circuit in the late ‘90s as Jeff Killed John, Bullet have since garnered a career spanning over a decade, a staple of the UK metal circuit since 2005. Breaking into wider recognition with their debut album The Poison, Bullet have since graduated to an international band. “We always dreamed of it,” Matt says as he sits on the other side of the phone in Detroit, half-way through their American headline tour. “I was never really the type of person who started a band for fun, I’m just too passionate about what we do. We never thought that what we have achieved was actually attainable.”
Their back catalogue at times has thematic changes, with recent LP Gravity taking a noticeable shift in musical direction. There’s a commercial quality that simultaneously allows Bullet’s metal ferocity to prevail whilst displaying refreshing anthemic qualities. Reflecting on the writing process of Gravity, which started in early 2017, Matt explains, “It became clear that technically, going down the hardcore and metal side of things felt like we were standing still creatively.”
As an air of nostalgia permeated, our conversation drifted to highlighting changes in the industry, from the reliance on playlists to Matt altering his own “narrow-minded” way of listening to music. “When Bullet started to break the scene, metal was massive, whereas now it feels like it’s gone into a bit of a lull at the moment.”
In a largely self-contained genre, this sense of stagnancy was a catalyst in Bullet finding a new style. “As creative songwriters, we need that struggle to produce new, rather than just going through the motions. We stood our ground and I think we’ve got a great record out of it.”
From the inception of Tears Don’t Fall in 2006 to a step into the accessible with Letting You Go, Bullet’s strength in songwriting continually lies in creating cathartic, resonant music. Discussing what lessons the band have learnt throughout their career, Matt says, “We’ve always done what’s right for us and that is something we live by. It’s served us well and sometimes got us into trouble, as we have always been so persistent in doing things our way.”
This persistence and Bullet’s longevity allows for experimentation with their sound. Although purists may have been slightly taken aback by this rejuvenated album, Matt tells of how the band fight for what they believe in. “I’d rather the band fold or fail because we have done things our way rather than it being at the hands of others.”
As the band embarked on yet another world tour, with just two UK dates, Bullet For My Valentine are still dominating. They are still able reach new audiences whilst keeping to their trademark metalcore roots. In a day and age where change can sometimes be met with disregard, Bullet keep growing in strength with limitless boundaries.
Bullet For My Valentine, Motorpoint Arena Cardiff, Sun 11 Nov. Tickets: £30. Info: 029 2022 4488 / www.motorpointarenacardiff.co.uk
