The Welsh riff-thugs Bullet for My Valentine are working hard to live up to the legendary status of their role models.
By Torben Thorsø
Translated by Frederikke Lindholm
Since performing at Roskilde Festival two years ago, Bullet for My Valentine has nearly achieved everything a young band can ever hope for. But even though they have performed with big metal names and won countless awards for their two albums, they still aspire to become bigger and better – reserving their respect for their source of inspiration.
“We just want to be a great band: to be in this business like a lot of our idols, Metallica, Iron Maiden, and hopefully be as big and great as they are. That is what got us into this business and the music, so we just want to show those guys, that we can do what they taught us”, says bass player Jason "Jay" James right before the band’s concert at Roskilde Festival.
“It is amazing to be back to a place where you have already been because the people want you back. And when you even get a good spot on the bill, it is just great”, he says while sounding genuinely pleased that Bullet for My Valentine will be kicking off Arena Stage.
Wanting to be better
Bullet for My Valentine swears by melodic metal as it was in the 1980s and holds a great respect for the heritage they are trying to pass on.
“Where we come from is also the place, where a lot of the great bands we love come from. It is a time and place we love, and without them we would not be here”, says Jay while drummer Michael ’Moose’ Thomas suggests what Bullet for My Valentine would like to add to the genre in order to make the musical expression their own and to make it more relevant for the new millennium crowd.
“We put all the music in a blender with refreshing ingredients to make it taste sweet”, he laughs.
Two-year tour
Their fans have been greeting the tracks from the newly releashed “Scream Aim Fire” with open arms. The band has been practising intensely to improve their sound, but it will not amount to new songs before they have finished a two-year world tour, and they hope that they will get to play as many places as possible.
“We are looking forward to having fun with the new songs from the new album and to getting to play them live. In the meantime while we are travelling, we begin writing for a new album which will be fun too” says Jay, and Moose adds that the band is hoping to gain a foothold with the American fans.
“America is a big party for us, but I think the biggest party for us is the whole planet. So we are going to try and break everywhere and be as big as we possibly can”, he says and is supported by Jay:
“Every territory we go to, we are going to do the best we can. It is hard to point out a special place that we are looking forward to, because we enjoy all cultures.”
“A really good, heavy set, and just a really good time with some British Heavy Metal”, Jay replies with a convincing smile when he is asked what could be expected from Bullet For My Valentine.
