Q&A;: Bullet For My Valentine frontman Mathew Tuck
Welsh heavy-metal rockers Bullet For My Valentine are set to unleash their "Army of Noise" on Monday at Socorro Entertainment Center. The band just recently released their latest LP, "Venom," earlier this month. It marks a return to a heavier, more aggressive sound reminiscent of their 2005 debut "The Poison."
Frontman Mathew Tuck took some time from the band's current tour for a quick phone Q&A; last week.
Q: Do you feel like the new album is a big step in a new direction for the band?
A: I wouldn't say a different direction, just a more focused direction of something we did in the past. We knew how we wanted to sound and it came out very aggressive, very heavy. We stuck to what we kind of did on our first couple of records. Things were super heavy and energetic and we have become more focused on our metal influences. We wanted to make something more exciting and not worry about critics and fans just make something we were excited about.
Q:
What inspired that?
A: We've been very lucky. We've had incredible success around world. We went into this album not thinking and just knowing what we do. There's always expectations from fans and things for what we should do but this time we let those inhibitions go and made an album for ourselves. It's turned out in our favor because it's blown up again. We werent htinking about things, we were just doing what we loved when we started.
Q: What inspired you to make heavy music in the first place?
A: It's a love of hard rock and metal growing up as kids, finding your own music taste when I was 13 or 14. Listening to Metallica. I've always been around rock music, from Queen to Led Zeppelin, even Dire Straits. We got those bands from our parents . The love of music and getting in to our own style. Even Guns N' Roses and grunge. We were immersed in this cool buzzing music at that age. Nu-metal was also a cool time period of music.
Q:
It's interesting that you bring up grunge because its not something people might associate with your band's sound but you've brought up Nirvana and Kurt Cobain's influence on you in past interviews.
A: It was a timing thing. We were all at a very young age when Nirvana came around. I think that they were very unique and they were rock 'n' roll. It was an interesting thing to watch. We all wanted to be like Kurt. I had the long hair and ripped up cardigans. It was a good time.
Q:
All the bands you've mentioned have made some timeless music. Do you set out to make timeless music?
A: I think its something that initially kind of happens but we don't necessarily think about it when we make music. Of course, we want to preserve what we have and have longevity. I think we've achieved that because we are focused on writing good songs. We wanted to go back to our heavy roots but the key to success is writing a good song. That's what keeps a band going further.
Q:
You have a new bass player in the band, Jamie Mathias. What does he bring to the band that past bass players haven't?
A: It's more apparent in the live setting. We wrote the album as a three-piece. He's been on this tour for five-six weeks so its definitely apparent live. There's a new dynamic on stage, especially with his vocal abilities. It adds another level to our live sound that we were lacking, having album quality backing vocals.
Q:
The lyrics on the new album seem to be a lot more personal. Was that a conscious choice?
A: It was something I thought was lacking on the last couple of records. Something I wanted to do again . It's important as a lyricist that I say something and make a concious effort to write something that would connect with fans ... talk about things that aren't necessarily comfortable to talk about in song. Thats when songs become powerful. The darkest songs lyrically are the most potent songs we've done. "Tears Don't Fall" is probably our most popular song and it's about adultary. Those dark songs, oddly enough, are the ones we seem get the most response from.
Q:
Will there always be a place for metal music in the pop arena? Do you guys make music for pop success?
A: We've never looked to do that. The most popular albums we've made are the heaviest and non-pop but somehow they creep in to radio. It gets accepted but it's not something we ever strived for and when we did try it's when people turned off the most.
Q:
You've been critical in the past to some of the press' reaction to your music. How much attention do you pay to bad reviews or negative things written about your band?
A: People can have their opinion. The thing that pisses me off in a way is when someone writes something that is harsh and insulting and the most ridiculous. People have their opinions and I get that, but it's when they are d---s about it they are only doing it to make a name for themselves.
I wanted to make a website to review reviews and see how they like it. It's their job but its uncalled for a lot of the time. If you have an opinion, thats awesome, but be respectful. A lot of time and tears goes in to making music.
Make plans
Who: Heavy-metal band Bullet For My Valentine performing live with special guest Motionless In White
When: 5 p.m. Monday, Aug. 31
Where: Socorro Entertainment Center,11200 Santos Sanchez
Ticket: $10 via eventbrite.com
Information: