Review by Shadowdoom9 (Andi) for Bullet for My Valentine - The Poison (2005)
During my original epic metal taste a few years ago, I found the music video for the song "Riot" by Bullet for My Valentine (from the album Temper Temper) on TV, then about a year later, the friend I keep telling you about introduced me to a heavier modern side of metal. I really loved that song back then, and I knew I had to listen to more of that band. I was blown away by more of their songs. The song has great guitar solos and harmonized guitars and fantastic drumming. It's just...great! The guitarists use lots of effects, the drummer really kicks it, and the vocalist has the best singing I've heard in a long time at that time.
The lyrics are interesting, about love and breakups in different ways. The lyrics are metaphorical in a way that sounds good. Matt Tuck is one of my favorite singers and has the best singing I've heard during my transformation into heavier modern metal. His voice is unique, sounding like a Welsh punk teenager (he IS Welsh, but not a teenager), and when he screams, he has great range and knows his timing. Kudos to his ability to sing and play riffs at the same time!
The album begins in the same manner as the first two Trivium album, with an orchestral "Intro". Finnish cello masters Apocalyptica contribute their slow depressing violins for the first 45 seconds before distorted clean guitars and a lead solo comes in. Beautiful intro but slightly misleading. "Her Voice Resides" is a great start to the metalcore action. It can catch listeners off-guard when the soft intro gets cut off by the sudden heaviness. Great riffs, great lyrics, great solo! The heaviest song of this album and an outstanding discography beginning. "4 Words (To Choke Upon)" is another really good song. Excellent lyrics, amazing drums, and a good solo! "Tears Don't Fall" is a definite highlight here for a couple reasons. First off, my brother was listening to this song during the beginning of my heavier modern metal phase and it reminded me of "Riot", NOT similarly, but made me think of that song I was interested in about a year prior. The other reason is the instrumentation; very good riffs and great lyrics like in previous songs. The bridge gets much faster and worth headbanging, then in comes the blazing solo. Best song by the band ever!
"Suffocating Under Words of Sorrow (What Can I Do)" is another song that's so good, that the only thing in the song worth mentioning is the good solo. "Hit the Floor" is another one of the heaviest songs here. There are naturally harmonizing riffs and...no solo. Yeah, that's one of only a few songs in the album without a solo. "All These Things I Hate (Revolve Around Me)" another good song. Still no solo, but still amazing! "Room 409" is a really great song, trust me. Everything's really great including the lyrics, harmonies, solo, and breakdown. I love it so much! Why isn't the title track more popular? It's a very good song that deserves to be a single! It has a good riff and the best solo on this album. The breakdown is better than other breakdowns here but not as awesome as the solo.
"10 Years Today" is never really the best song of this album. No solo, OK riffs, and a slower tempo than most other songs. The lyrics are still good though. "Cries in Vain" is way better! After a phaser intro, the distortion hits you hard. There's also a harmonic ending solo. That's a great song! It is sandwiched between two of the album's worst songs. The second of the two slight downers is "Spit You Out". It's definitely never too bad because of the catchy chorus and awesome breakdown. I really love the ending track "The End". It's a great end to this metalcore journey. More mellow and depressing but still stands out well. The guitar riff is so simple, Matt can focus on more emotion in his vocals in the cleaner verses. I wish he could keep doing that emotional technique but that would mean he would have to drop the guitar full-time. The song gets heavier but once again, there's no solo. Then it returns to the intro riff used as the outro with soft guitar harmony over it as it all fades out. Another personal album favorite!
Overall, The Poison is a great album and part of the start of my heavier modern metal phase. BFMV has made a metalcore masterpiece, and they were just getting started!
Favorites: Her Voice Resides, 4 Words (To Choke Upon), Tears Don't Fall, All These Things I Hate (Revolve Around Me), Room 409, Cries in Vain, The End