The New British Classics (Bullet For My Valentine, Bring Me The Horizon, While She Sleeps Feature)
Tuesday, 12 March 2013
Written by Heather McDaid
It may be biased to think your own nation has a thriving musical scene, so to pre-empt my point I would like to refer to a nice quote from comedian Steve Hughes:
"America? They're too far gone - doesn't matter about them. But you! What are you up to? You can't watch the X-Factor. You made Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Venom, Motorhead, Def Leppard, Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, The Who, The Beatles, The Smiths, The Cure, The Damned, The Jam, The Police, The Sex Pistols, The Clash, Peter Gabriel, Kate Bush, Jarvis Cocker, David Bowie, Queen, Pink Floyd, Radiohead, Supertramp, Chemical Brothers, and the Prodigy. And if you're watching the X Factor after a resume like that then I'm telling you... You are a bit of a bastard."
And, I guess, you can appreciate this fact every day if you so choose. But why am I appreciating it right around now? Well, a few weeks ago one of the UK's biggest names in the current generation released an absolute doozie. Yes, I'm looking at you Bullet For My Valentine (main pic). Sure, you might not be to everyone's taste, you might be a bit too clean cut for some, but you're pulling out the big guns with your venue sizes and bringing metal music to a huge amount of people - the least you could do was make it good.
It may seem harsh, but Bullet seem almost complacent in their work. I even read a quote somewhere where Matt Tuck said the band don't consciously seek to top their previous work, they do what compels them. Great - go wherever your heart takes you, but you should always seek to reach a new level with your work.
Take Bring Me The Horizon. They split the crowds as much as any name out there. Amidst the likes of DevilDriver and Machine Head in December 2011, the band found themselves booed and bottled across the country. They have their loyal fanbase, yes, but they took it upon themselves to change the game, to make their music bigger and better and - crikey - have they done it. Even from the mere snips of the pending 'Sempiternal', this is a new Bring Me The Horizon. Many magazine big-wigs and radio presenters tell you to cast off all your preconceptions because this album is simply a game changer. There is little doubt that, for those who choose to cast off negative thoughts of Oli Sykes' bad attitude and the Drop Dead clothing range (something I'm still coming to terms with myself), there is something great nestled in here, and it's down to a band willing to push themselves above and beyond what is expected of them.
2012 held one of those game changing records for Sheffield's own While She Sleeps (small pic). And yes, I use almost every given opportunity to slip in the brilliance of 'This Is The Six', but it's a more than worthy addition. Taking the band above and beyond where they comfortably nestled, the record catapulted the band into wide acclaim, from the die-hards to the mass of newfound fans. The evolution is visible in a live setting - seeing them open the Kerrang! Tour in 2012 and sub-headlining on the Asking Alexandria run earlier this year, it was startling to see how much they've grown. And why? They pushed themselves.
It's easy to big up the UK for its musical heritage - the same can be said for every country based on their musical exports - but the real challenge is finding that new generation of classics. Look at metal music today - who, realistically, will be the classics in years to come? Who will be the next big four, if there is such an equivalent? It's hard to say. One I'd punt for is Machine Head, but that doesn't exactly fly with the UK's flag.
And if the Big Four is the goal, then Yorkshire-based thrash metallers Evile are as fair a bet as any. When I was able to talk to them back in 2011, comparisons to Metallica, Slayer, Anthrax and Megadeth were rife, especially following the release of 'Five Serpent's Teeth', their comparative game changer. This was, in their words, treated as if it was their first record and they tackled it accordingly, without preconception and one goal in mind: to make it the best they can.
Of the comparison, Joel noted, "It’s weird. I’m 50/50 on this because you think yeah, it’s great to be mentioned in link to those classic, great thrash bands but at the same time it’s like the Big Four is kind of bubbling around just to give it a tag. These bands have been going forever and there’s more than the big four out there that are also great. It should be the big fifteen or something. But to be mentioned in the same sentence as Metallica, Anthrax, Slayer and Megadeth is a privilege; it’s quite nice.”
And while there's always something to be said for a band who can continuously push out new releases, there's just as much to benefit from a band who take time to hone their work. Bury Tomorrow's 'The Union of Crowns' played sophomore three years after their debut, and three years proved entirely worth the wait. The evolution of the band, the sheer presence the album possessed - shall we create a drinking game out of how many times there's been a reference to a band upping their game?
See, with rock 'n' roll and metal music and everything in between, there's so much more to choose from now. Not to say there wasn't a multitude of X-core bands in the 70s who couldn't snag limelight from Sabbath, but now music is so much more accessible, so much so bands need to tackle every work with the intention of making it their best yet. It might not always pay off, but if you don't bother your ass over it, it'll most likely show.
And that's a mantra so many British bands are currently living by when it comes to their music: push the boundaries, push themselves, create something new, bigger and better. And that's the reason complacency will result in nothing more than being overtaken by your contemporaries who try so much harder, which seems to be happening to Bullet more than most.
I can't say with certainty there will be another Steve Hughes-esque resume from this generation's bands, but I can say that there's a string out there willing to give it a fair punt.
Bullet For My Valentine play a handful of UK dates this month, kicking off tonight in Birmingham.
Tue March 12th 2013 - O2 Academy Birmingham, Birmingham
Wed March 13th 2013 - O2 Academy Glasgow, Glasgow
Fri March 15th 2013 - Apollo Manchester, Manchester
Sun March 17th 2013 - Roundhouse, London
We don't run any advertising! Our editorial content is solely funded by lovely people like yourself using Stereoboard's listings when buying tickets for live events. To keep supporting us, next time you're looking for concert, festival, sport or theatre tickets, please search for "Stereoboard". It costs you nothing, you may find a better price than the usual outlets, and save yourself from waiting in an endless queue on Friday mornings as we list ALL available sellers!
2012 held one of those game changing records for Sheffield's own While She Sleeps (small pic). And yes, I use almost every given opportunity to slip in the brilliance of 'This Is The Six', but it's a more than worthy addition. Taking the band above and beyond where they comfortably nestled, the record catapulted the band into wide acclaim, from the die-hards to the mass of newfound fans. The evolution is visible in a live setting - seeing them open the Kerrang! Tour in 2012 and sub-headlining on the Asking Alexandria run earlier this year, it was startling to see how much they've grown. And why? They pushed themselves. 
