While searching out bands to look out for, it's always so easy to take one look at one of the group's promo shots and decide they aren't worth a listen. At times, such judgements may be correct (Pantera's music is certainly as dumb as the actual band looks), but oftentimes, such decisions often lead to the listener missing out on a quality artist with tons of potential. Had I not come across Welsh rockers Funeral For a Friend by accident some three years ago, I most likely would have shrugged them off as naught but another pop-punk band wasting away in a clogged up scene And hell, a name as tacky as Funeral for a Friend would probably just add to my suspicions. Luckily enough, I suppose, I came across the band after some dumbass had labelled the song Red is the New Black as an Avenged Sevenfold song (not to say I wasn't all that smart either – it took me weeks to realize that the track wasn't written by Avenged Sevenfold). It was still a pretty kick ass track, regardless of which band played it, yet it wasn't until a couple of months ago until I actually made the effort to seek out the album (in this case EP) which featured the track, titled Seven Ways to Scream Your Name.
While these days Funeral For a Friend seems unable to put together an interesting set of tunes (Tales Don't Tell Themselves was indeed fairly mediocre) four years ago when Seven Ways to Scream your name was first released they had an excellent formula going for them. Based largely around the band's twin guitar attack and the vocal efforts of both lead singer Matt Davies and drummer Ryan Richards, Funeral For a Friend play a more metallic variant of post-hardcore, brimming with both melody and energy. Guitarists Kris Roberts and Darren Smith make use both simple, heavy riffs as well as softer, less prominent guitar lines. But the duo's greatest asset by far is their penchant for melodic harmonies. Perhaps slightly Iron Maiden-esque, such leads and harmonies are quite infectious and offer the group's sound a fresh edge. The EP's highlights, songs such as Red is the New Black and 10:45 Amsterdam Conversations, make rather exceptional use of Kris and Darren's melodic, yet fairly unflashy guitar work, and as result both tracks are two of the stronger offerings Seven Ways to Scream Your Name has to offer.
If Funeral For a Friend had a more important element to their music, than guitar harmonies in their early days, it would surely be the vocals. With Seven Ways to Scream Your name, the band utilizes both clean vocals as well as screaming. And while neither style is particularly strong (based on what can be heard elsewhere in the genre); it compliments Funeral For a Friend's overall sound exceedingly well. Take Red is the New Black for example. Davies and Richards trade off both harsh screams during the verses and melodic singing (which thankfully, save for in Getaway Plan, manages not to sound
too whiny) pretty much everywhere else, and essentially carry the song on their collective backs, or in this case vocal chords. Matt's singing itself is almost a third harmony to go along with the guitars, helps the band express its trademark slightly sombre sound extremely well.
Seven Ways to Scream your name is not without its fault however. With only seven songs and 28 minutes of material, the EP has no real room for weaker, filler tracks. Both Escape Artists Never Die (which happens to be the longest song on the album) and Getaway Plan are easily weaker offerings than even the likes of The Year's Most Open Heartbreak and The Art of American Football. Both songs are exceedingly different, with Getaway Plan being a heavier, more riff driven track and Escape Artists Never Die being a calmer, poppier offering, but both songs suffer similar downfalls. The song writing is rather weak, and neither of the tracks really ever get going. As a result, we're left with two highly unmemorable tracks devoid of interesting hooks or emotion, really. With five solid tracks to offset the EP's filler material, said weaker tracks don't have as much effect on the overall quality of the release. But it is rather unfortunate that nearly a third of the EP is poor.
Overall, Seven Ways to Scream Your Name is an excellent offering from a band that lately seems to have lost its way. The song writing is generally excellent, with plenty of melodic hooks, hard hitting riffs, sombre passages and fluctuating vocal styles over seven songs and 28 minutes. Particularly effective is the guitar interplay between Kris and Darren, who trade off leads and harmonies rather liberally throughout the record. Despite the fairly gloomy emotions which the EP conveys, the songs, particularly Red is the New Black and 10:45 Amsterdam Conversations, are rather fun to listen to and make the release definitely worth looking into.
Recommended Tracks:
Red is the New Black
10:45 Amsterdam Conversations
The Art of American Football
