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Bullet for My Valentine’s Scream Aim Fire will make you scream, which, if you’re into metal, is a good thing (I guess).

It’s not their fault they get played in Hot Topics around the country, and I guess it’s not lead singer Matthew Tuck’s stylist forgot to point out that with his hair dyed black and in his face, he looks a little too much like Nathan Explosion. But nonetheless, Welsh BFMV is here with another album that makes your ears bleed a little and rehashes some of the feel of eighties metal while adding in their own touch.

The album kicks off with “Scream Aim Fire”, the title track and by far the most solid song on the cd. Serious guitar and drums pour out of your speakers 9or earbuds, as was my case) and instantly jar the brain with a wall of metal, making an excellent first impression. My first thought, once again, was of Dethklok – and since I am queen geek, that’s as high as my praise gets.

“Eye of the Storm” continues the feel of the first song, while “Heart Burst into Fire” slows down the cd just a little with some fantastic riffs, then builds speed. This song doesn’t have the same blunt end as the others, rather it slows and bleeds until “Waking the Demon” bursts in with harsh precision (and props to the video for werewolf fun). “Disappear” continues the loud, harsh yet very stylized and produced sound of the album, and are we seeing a pattern yet? I sure was, and could only think that fans of BFMV would be very happy with the driving flow of the album, the unwavering constant sound.

“Deliver Us From Evil” is a song that I’m more fond of than the others. It’s not as harsh but still very metal, still very good. “Take it Out on Me” has excellent slower, softer guitar on the bridge, and is, perhaps, the most unique moment in the whole of the cd, while “Say Goodnight” opens with overly dramatic rain sounds. Emo much? I know you guys are Welsh, but still (Just kidding, folks. I heart the Welsh). 

“Forever and Always” has a very Van Halen-ish opening, but it’s the very end that is the best. “Road to Nowhere” begins slow, but gears up fast and hard, while “Watching us Die Tonight” continues the driving rhythm. The CD ends with lots and lots of screaming (yes, more than in the rest of the songs, though there is a lot of screaming all about the album) and a big finish. It definitely leaves your ears ringing.

The CD comes with a cool little booklet and, even better, a DVD containing a few videos and footage of the band drinking hard. All in all, it’s a tidy little release, well done and clearly the band worked very hard, with good success. Metal isn’t my strong point, but my husband, who delights in my love of Metalocalypse, summarized the CD in terms I do understand – brutal.

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