Teen rockers the world over will be overjoyed to learn that Bullet For My Valentine are releasing their fourth studio album. The Welsh band are arguably one of the most successful metal bands of their generation, though they may not be winning over too many new fans with Temper Temper. The band decided to write the album in the recording studio, rather than taking pre-written songs with them, as they had done before. The result, however, has fallen flat, for many critics. It seems that the rage and fiery emotion you’d expect (especially with song titles such as ‘Breaking Point’ and ‘Riot’) isn’t quite as prominent as we have come to expect.

Their last two albums, Scream Aim Fire (2008) and Fever (2010) were both top five hits in the US and in the UK and its likely that the band’s fiercely loyal, young contingent of fans will stand by them, regardless of the opinions printed in UK papers such as The Guardian.

Watch Bullet For My Valentine discussing Temper Temper

 

Darwin Deez’s second effort, Songs For Imaginative People is also released this week. The quirky alternative songwriter and his band dominated the airwaves in 2010 with ‘Constellations’ and ‘Radar Detector’ and will be trying to capture the public’s imagination once more. So far, reviews are looking good for Deez. NME were charmed by the image of the “neurotic overthinker, sat a mixing desk in his bedroom,” though BBC Music stumbled over the album’s incoherent nature.

As for our own review of the album, Songs For Imaginative People just seemed to be trying to hard, unlike the effortless pop gems that Darwin had provided us with on his debut. A case of the difficult second album, it seems. 

Read our review of the Darwin Deez album

American hardcore punk band Pissed Jeans are on album number four, released on Sub Pop and entitled Honeys. They’ve a reputation for being brief and brutal and Honeys does not disappoint. The Fly’s reviewer may have deemed the album “often inaudible,” fans of the band may well argue that the ‘point’ has been missed, here. Consequence of Sound’s review is a little more on point, with its “approachability be damned” take on the album.

Opening track ‘Bathroom Laughter’ starts with the goading “you’re in the kitchen crying… you’re in the hallway screaming,” followed by a bout of trademark guttural roaring from vocalist Matt Korvette. What follows is 11 more equally frank and unforgiving punk songs. Heavy on noise, light on melody. Very much the whole ‘point’ of Pissed Jeans. 

Listen to 'Bathroom Laughter'

Somewhat at a different end of the musical spectrum to Pissed Jeans is Matt Costa, the 30 year-old song-writer, specialising in melodic pop songs, the likes of which have earned him tour slots with Jack Johnson and Death Cab For Cutie. It’s another fourth album release, from Costa, the Californian whose track ‘Mr. Pitiful’ became something of a profitable venture when it was snapped up by Apple’s advertising bods, as well being included on a number of movie soundtracks. He’ll be hoping that the increased exposure will be able to bump this eponymous release up the charts. 

Watch Matt Costa's 'Good Times'