Bullet for My Valentine, often abbreviated asBFMV, are a Welshheavy metal band fromBridgend, formed in 1998. The band is currently composed ofMatthew Tuck (vocals, rhythm guitar), Michael Paget (lead guitar), Jamie Mathias (bass) andJason Bowld (drums). Former members include Michael Thomas, Jason James and Nick Crandle; the latter were on bass. They were formed under the nameJeff Killed John and started their music career by covering songs byMetallica andNirvana. Jeff Killed John recorded six songs which were not released; two of these tracks were reworked later in their career as Bullet for My Valentine. A change of style from that of Jeff Killed John led the band to change their name.[1] In 2002, the band secured a five-album deal withSony BMG. The band has stated that their music is influenced by classic metal acts such asMetallica,Iron Maiden andSlayer. The band is part of theCardiff music scene.
Bullet for My Valentine's debut albumThe Poison was released in October 2005 in the United Kingdom and on 14 February 2006 in the United States to coincide withValentine's Day, in a nod to the band's name. The album entered the U.S.Billboard 200 at number 128. It was certified gold by theRecording Industry Association of America. The band made appearances at theDownload Festival andKerrang! XXV, and undertook a U.S. tour withRob Zombie. Bullet for My Valentine's second studio album,Scream Aim Fire, was released in 2008 and debuted at number four on theBillboard 200. The band's third album,Fever, was released in 2010 and debuted at number three on theBillboard 200. In 2013, the band released their fourth studio album,Temper Temper,[2] which peaked at number 13 on theBillboard 200. In 2015, the band released their fifth studio album,Venom, which peaked at number 8 on theBillboard 200. In 2018, the band released their sixth studio album,Gravity. Theirself-titled seventh studio album was released in 2021. The band has sold over one million albums in the United States and over 3,000,000 albums worldwide[3] and are the most-successful act in theKerrang! Awards category of Best British Band with three wins.
History
Jeff Killed John and record deal (1998–2005)
Jeff Killed John was the forerunner band to Bullet for My Valentine and was formed in 1998[4] by Matthew Tuck, Michael "Padge" Paget, Nick Crandle, and Michael "Moose" Thomas while studying music atBridgend College.[5] They started playingNirvana andMetallicacover songs.[5] In 1999, the band released their first ever EP,Better Off Alone. They released another two-trackEP in 2002,You/Play with Me, which was produced by Greg Haver.[5] The EP was financed through the Pynci scheme for new Welsh musicians and the release garnered radio airplay onBBC Radio 1's broadcast atNewport'sT.J.'s.[5] Shortly after, the band released another two-trackEP titledEye Spy. In 2003, their second EP was released titledDon't Walk Away. This was a promotional CD and was shipped to different record companies, as well as being given out locally in Bridgend. Bassist Crandle left the band on the eve of entering the recording sessions for the band's self-titled EP and was replaced by Jason James,[5] and the band changed their name to Bullet for My Valentine shortly thereafter.[6] In late 2003, they released their final EP before record labels actually began to notice their potential. This happened due to the sudden change in their strategy and sound, which the band claims came "directly out of their heads."[7] Their self-titled EP consisted of five songs; most of the songs became precursors of tracks fromThe Poison.
Roadrunner Records showed interest in Bullet for My Valentine and offered the band a deal. The offer was ultimately turned down, and the band signed a five-album record deal withSony BMG and a UK licensing deal withVisible Noise. According to Tuck, they chose Sony because, "We thought that a lot more doors would be open to us."[6] Aself-titled EP was released on 15 November 2004 in the UK. Produced byColin Richardson, it featured five tracks and marked the band's first official release.[5] A second EP,Hand of Blood, was released on 22 August 2005 throughTrustkill Records and was only available in the U.S.; the release contained one extra track than the self-titled EP, "4 Words (To Choke Upon)." Daniel Lukes ofDecibel Magazine reviewed the EP by stating, "The worst part is that the music itself isn't all that bad, for the genre." He went on to comment that the band should be "embarrassed" about the release.[8]Zero Magazine's Josh Joyce complimented the band on "how technical they can get without confusing the kids."[9]
The Poison(2005–2007)
Michael Paget (left) and Matthew Tuck (right) at 2006'sRoskilde Festival held in Denmark
The band's headline performance at Kerrang XXV, a one-off gig atBrixton Academy in London on 28 January 2006, was filmed for their first DVD,The Poison: Live at Brixton.[17][18] During June 2007, Tuck suffered fromlaryngitis, which led to an emergencytonsillectomy in July.[19] Bullet for My Valentine were forced to cancel several shows, including supportingMetallica for three dates on their Sick of the Studio '07 tour on 29 June inBilbao, 5 July in Vienna, and 8 July at the recently completedWembley Stadium in London.[20] Unable to speak, Tuck wrote that as soon as doctors cleared him he would be in the studio working on the band's next album.[21]
Scream Aim Fire (2007–2008)
The band's second studio album,Scream Aim Fire, was recorded at Sonic Ranch Studios and was produced byColin Richardson.[22] Tuck commented at the time, "It's a lot more uptempo, a lot more aggressive."[23] The album was released on 28 January 2008.[24][25][26] It sold 53,000 copies in its first week and peaked at number four on theBillboard 200.[27] Three songs were released as singles: "Scream Aim Fire,"[28] "Hearts Burst into Fire,"[29][30] and "Waking the Demon."[31]
In support of the new album, the band toured North America and Australia in the spring of 2008 for theTaste of Chaos tour alongsideAtreyu,Blessthefall, andAvenged Sevenfold.[32][33] Bullet for My Valentine cut short the Canada portion of the tour and flew back home to support the daughter of James who was in hospital.[34] The band performed in North America again in the summer of 2008 as part of theNo Fear Tour withBleeding Through,Cancer Bats andBlack Tide.[35] In late 2008, the band toured Europe, supported byLacuna Coil,Bleeding Through, andBlack Tide.[36][37] In December 2008,Scream Aim Fire was re-released with four bonus tracks that were recorded during the album's studio sessions, but with re-recorded vocal-lines.[38]
Matt Tuck spoke to Daniel Marez ofMetal Hammer in March 2009 about the band's progress on writing and recording their third album. Tuck stated that there were four or five songs that were finished and that "usually we write and record 14 tracks that I then have to write vocal lines for, but this time I'm trying to write the vocals as I write the music."[38] Bullet for My Valentine confirmed in August 2009 that they were aiming for an early 2010 release for the new album, while Tuck stated that the upcoming record is "a lot more mature-sounding, it's a lot more classic. It'll stand the test of time [more] than both the previous things we've done."[39] In a January 2010 interview withRock Sound, Tuck stated explained details for the album: it would be titledFever, and the 11-track record would have a sound closer toThe Poison rather thanScream Aim Fire and contain noballads.[40]
During the summer of 2009, Bullet for My Valentine toured across the United States as part of theMayhem Festival,[41][42][43] alongsideKillswitch Engage,Slayer andMarilyn Manson on the main stage;[41][42][43] they also appeared on the UK leg of theSonisphere tour at Knebworth, headlining the second stage.[44] The band headlined the second stage at the Download Festival 2010 on the Friday night.[45] The band was also confirmed forNova Rock,[46]Metaltown,[47]Rock am Ring,[48]Rock on the Range,[49]The Bamboozle,[50]Bilbao Live Festival,[51][52] Fortarock[53] andGraspop.[54] In addition, Bullet for My Valentine also played alongside the Big Four on the Greek leg ofSonisphere.[55]Fever was released on 27 April 2010.[56] A free download of a new track called "Begging For Mercy" was released on the band's website on14 February 2010 as part of a Twitter promotion.[57] The song "Your Betrayal" was chosen as the lead single for the album and was released to radio on 8 March 2010.[58] The second single is called "The Last Fight" and was released on 19 April 2010.[59][60] The album artwork for this studio album was released on the official website on 5 March 2010.[59] Bullet for My Valentine announced the start their US tour in support ofFever.[61] It began on 30 April with the bandsAirbourne andChiodos as support.[61] On 12 March 2010, the band released the music videos for "The Last Fight"[62] and "Your Betrayal."[63] The band revealed the track listing on 15 March 2010.[64] On 26 April the band played a secret show in London to celebrate the release ofFever. This was their only UK headline show until the end of the year.[63][65] The third single is called "Bittersweet Memories" and was released on 25 November 2010 with a music video.[66]
Temper Temper (2012–2013)
On 28 January 2011, Michael Paget stated that the group had already drawn proportions for the next studio album and will sound a lot likeFever. He followed-along with stating that the band plans to have the songs for it written within 2011 and will begin recording the album by the end of the year. A couple tracks left from theFever sessions might be re-done, re-arranged and re-recorded for the new record.[67] The band played atUproar Festival 2011, after which they began writing material for a fourth studio album.[68][69]
Bullet for My Valentine at Ursynalia 2013 Warsaw Student Festival, Poland
On 7 October 2011,RCA Music Group announced it was disbandingJive Records along withArista Records andJ Records. With the shutdown, the band (and all other artists previously signed to these three labels) will release their future material (including their next studio album) on theRCA Records brand.[70][71] Also in October, frontman Matt Tuck announced that he will be working on a new side project which he has described as "metal as fuck", influenced by bands such asPantera andSlipknot.[72][73] On 1 May 2012 it was revealed that the project would be calledAxeWound, and featuredLiam Cormier (Cancer Bats), Mike Kingswood (Glamour of the Kill),Joe Copcutt (Rise to Remain), andJason Bowld (Pitchshifter).[74][75] In May 2012, it was announced that Bullet for My Valentine would be playing at the South African music festivalOppikoppi,[76] as well as a once-off gig in Cape Town alongsideSeether andEnter Shikari.[77] They were slated to play in the country for the Coke Zero Fest of 2009, but pulled out at the last minute to record Fever.[78] It was confirmed on 6 August 2012 that the final recording session of the band's fourth studio record was complete, and that the album would be out sometime in late 2012.[79] Later that month on the 17th, the second line-up for the Australian music festivalSoundwave was announced, containing Bullet for My Valentine.[80][81]
Bullet for My Valentine released the track "Temper Temper" on 22 October 2012.[82] On 12 November 2012, the band released a music video for the song.[83] The release date was confirmed to be 12 February 2013.[84][85] The band premiered the song "Temper Temper" at Radio 1 Rocks where they were the headlining act.[84] On 17 December 2012, the second single, "Riot" was released.[86] On 24 May 2013, "P.O.W." was released, the album's third single.[87] On 7 June 2013, "Breaking Point" was released, the album's fourth single.[88]
The band began touring in support ofTemper Temper on 10 February 2013, and finished the tour on 3 November 2013.[89][90] The tenth show of the tour, held at Birmingham's O2 Academy, was filmed by music video website Moshcam.com.[91]
Venom (2013–2015)
Bassist Jason James, pictured in 2013, left the band shortly before recording sessions took place forVenom.
In an interview, Matt Tuck said that Bullet for My Valentine were going to start work on a new album before the Rule Britannia Tour, which took place between 1 and 6 December 2013 in which the band played arenas in Britain supported byYoung Guns andAsking Alexandria.[92] In the interview Matt also said that they were strongly considering working withTerry Date, who has worked with bands such asPantera andDeftones. He also said the band would bring back thethrash metal elements fromScream Aim Fire.[93][94]
In November 2013, Bullet for My Valentine revealed though their Facebook page they were working on a new song. A short snippet of the song, titled "Raising Hell," was released on Matt Tuck'sVine profile on the 15th. The song was first played three days later viaBBC Radio 1's Rock Show.[95] It was made available for streaming and a music video for the song was released a week later.[96]
In an interview withKerrang! on 21 January 2015, Matt revealed that Bullet for My Valentine will be hitting the studio next month with producer Colin Richardson who produced bothThe Poison andScream Aim Fire, rather than Terry Date, who was the suggested producer initially. Tuck also said that their fifth album will be their heaviest album yet.[100]On 9 February 2015, Bullet for My Valentine announced the departure of bassist Jason James, adding that they would announce a replacement when they felt "the time was right." They went on to say that until the announcement, they'd be busy and focused on recording their new record.[101]
The band released the song "No Way Out" on 18 May 2015.[102][103][104] The band also revealed their fifth studio album to be titledVenom and their new bassist was going to be Jamie Mathias, formerly of metal band Revoker.[105]Venom was set for release on 14 August 2015,[102][103][106][107] the same day an expansive UK tour was announced.[102] It was also revealed that Bullet for My Valentine will headline London's Camden Rocks festival which takes place on 30 May 2015.[106] On 29 June 2015, the band released the third single from the album "You Want a Battle? (Here's a War)".[107] On 16 October 2015, the band released a video for the song, title track.[108] On 8 February 2016, the band released a video for the song, "Worthless".[109]
In 2016, Bullet for My Valentine announced that drummer Michael Thomas would sit out for a few months to be with his wife as they were expecting their first child. Jason Bowld, former drummer ofPitchshifter and Tuck's bandmate from AxeWound, became Thomas' replacement.[110] In April, they signed a new worldwide deal withSpinefarm Records.[111][112] Matt Tuck later tweeted "Here we go again. #BFMV6" which implied the band had started working on their sixth effort.[113] Later in the year, the band released a new single titled "Don't Need You". A music video was released with the video as well.[114] At the end of 2017, Michael Thomas was replaced by Jason Bowld full-time.[115]
On 1 April 2018, the band debuted a new song, "Over It", on BBC Radio 1. The song was the first single off their sixth studio album,Gravity, which was confirmed for release on 29 June 2018.[116] On 26 April 2018, the song "Piece of Me" was released.[117] On 18 May 2018, the band released another new song, "Letting You Go",[118] and released a music video for the song on 3 June 2018.[119][120][121] On 15 October 2018, the band released a music video for the track "Not Dead Yet".[122]
Self-titled seventh album (2020–2023)
On 19 May 2020, in an interview withRock Sound, Tuck announced that the band was in the process of writing a new album.[123][124] After several mixed-to-negative reviews by critics onGravity, they decided to working on a new record which would be 'heavier' compared to the latest album.[124] However, the production of the upcoming release, confirmed to be once again produced by Carl Bown, has been delayed due to theCOVID-19 pandemic.[125] Tuck commented about the upcoming album: "So it's not ideal, and we did have a lot of plans for the rest of the year for writing and making the record, which are on the backburner now until further notice. [...] It's pretty brutal, to be honest. It couldn't be more of a contrast withGravity in a ferocious style. It's very technical. [...] The riffs are crushing. There's probably 60 percent aggressive vocals, 40 [percent] clean, which is a ratio we've never really dabbled with before. [...] It's very heavy, it's very technical. For the Bullet fans out there that kind of like that side of this band, it's very cool and very exciting. It feels good."[123][124][125][126]
On 11 June 2021, Bullet for My Valentine unveiled a newPatreon page, The Army of Noise, posting that it is "the only place to get the latest BFMV news, early tix, BTS, merch discounts and exclusive items, signed gifts and more. Plus, a portion of each sub goes to the Teenage Cancer Trust."[127] On 15 June 2021, ahead of their headline slot at this weekend's Download Pilot, the band announced that they are planning to release new music on Friday, 18 June, with a 30-second video teaser hinting at some potentially heavy new music.[127][126] On that day, the band officially released the new single "Knives" along with its music video. At the same time, they officially announced that theirself-titled seventh studio album was set for release on 22 October 2021 while also revealed the album cover and the track list.[128][129] On 23 July 2021, the band released the second single "Parasite" and its corresponding music video.[130][131] On 10 September 2021, the band released the third single "Shatter" alongside an accompanying music video.[132][133] On 20 September 2021, due to the ongoingCOVID-19 pandemic and manufacturing delays, the band announced that they pushed back the release of the album to 5 November 2021.[134][135] On 1 October 2021, one month before the album release, the band released the fourth single "Rainbow Veins".[136][137] On 8 April 2022, the band released the fifth single "Omen" while also announcing the deluxe edition of the album which is set to be released on 8 July 2022. At the same time, the band officially revealed the album cover and the track list.[138][139] On 30 April 2022, the band delayed the release of the deluxe edition from 8 July 2022 to 5 August 2022.[140] On 27 May 2022, the group unveiled another single "Stitches".[141][142] On 29 July 2022, their seventh single, "No More Tears to Cry", was released.[143][144]
20th anniversary ofThe Poisonand upcoming eighth studio album (2024–present)
In celebration of the 20th anniversary ofThe Poison, the band released a 20th anniversary edition of the album and announced 'The Poisoned Ascendancy' Tour withTrivium co-headlining for 2025, with Trivium celebrating the 20th anniversary ofAscendancy.[145] Bullet for My Valentine also announced that they are in the studio to record their eighth studio album, with hopes to get the album out by 2025.[146] The band pulled out of The Poisoned Ascendancy tour in May 2025, finishing the North American leg, despite initial plans to continue into regions such as South America and Australia into the end of 2025, with Trivium bassistPaolo Gregoletto putting the blame on Matt Tuck.[147] Bullet for My Valentine released a statement expressing that they decided to focus on the "next chapter", heading back to the studio in the summer to finish their upcoming album and planning to tour in 2026 and 2027, "hitting every corner".[148][149] In July 2025, the band announced a three-day Australian tour in October forThe Poison's anniversary, headlining alone.[150]
Musical style and influences
Bullet for My Valentine has been described asmetalcore,[56][139][151][152][153]heavy metal,[151][154][155][156]melodic metalcore,[157][158]thrash metal,[159][160]hard rock,[161][162]emo,[163]screamo,[8] andpost-hardcore.[8] According toDecibel, Bullet for My Valentine's music consists of " 'heavy metal' leads" and " 'post-hardcore' vocals".[8] According toAllMusic, Bullet for My Valentine blend "muscular riffs and emo harmonies" and also "take cues from '80s metal bands and punk-infused metal to make melodic, metallic, dark rock songs."[164] The band describe two of their albums,The Poison andFever, as having a "super dark" tone.[165] Before they were known as Bullet for My Valentine, Jeff Killed John's music followed thenu metal trend set by bands such asKorn andLimp Bizkit.[5] The band then changed their name to Bullet for My Valentine and reworked their musical strategy; they decided to play heavy metal songs with "harmony guitars and big angelic choruses," according to Matthew Tuck.[6]
Tuck personally said of the band's sound that "...we're a hard rock band with metal influences, and I've said that from day one."[40] Kirk Miller ofDecibel praised the band for the effort in synchronised song structures.[166] When asked of their views on their looks, members of the band have stated that they would not change their sound or image for a commercial approach; Tuck also said, "Without sounding harsh, we're more interested in what our music sounds like than what our fucking hair looks like."[167] Matt Tuck toldExclaim! : "A lot of people already think we're more of an emo band just because of the name of the band. People need to give the music a fair listen musically before they decide to judge it. I say we're a melodic metal band, really. That's how I'd describe us."[168] Tuck said he prefers people call Bullet for My Valentine a heavy metal band instead of categorizing the band under specific subgenres.[169] Jeff Treppel ofMetalSucks described the band's first two albums as "solid examples ofpoppy metalcore."[170] In an interview with Robert Gray fromUltimate-Guitar in 2010, Tuck said that when making the albumScream Aim Fire, Bullet for My Valentine were bothered by critics and journalists who criticized the band and said the band aren't "real metal". Tuck said that the band tried to please people like critics and journalists withScream Aim Fire. Tuck said: "Scream Aim Fire was an album we wrote to try to prove people wrong, and wasn't an album we made for ourselves.Fever is an album that was a hundred percent us; we didn't listen to anyone's opinions, what critics' opinions were, or what people thought we should do, or how we should sound."[171] Tuck also said aboutScream Aim Fire: "Some of it was written a hundred percent for us, but we tried a little bit too hard to be metal when we should've just carried on doing what we did really - like we did on all ofThe Poison material."[171] When Tuck was asked if he defines Bullet for My Valentine as a heavy metal band or a hard rock band, Tuck said:
I dunno. I could say both, to be honest. Regardless of what I say, people are gonna think differently, so it doesn't really matter. People label us in genres all the time which aren't accurate, or a true representation, which shows that some people aren't really paying attention. People can call it whatever they want, whether they like it or don't like it.[171]
