Funeral for a Friend: Your History is Mine : 2002-2009
Funeral for a Friend: Your History is Mine : 2002-2009
Also In The News
|
Madonna has topped the UK album chart with her third greatest hits album, Celebration. |  |
Monday, 28, Sep 2009 05:44
Atlantic, out September 28th.
In a nutshell...
Welsh rockers get the greatest hits treatment
What's it all about?
Your History is Mine: 2002-2009 is the first singles collection to be released by Welsh rock behemoths Funeral for a Friend.
As well as including all of the hits from the band's four studio albums, the compilation includes the new songs No Honour Among Thieves, Built to Last, Wrench and Captains of Industry.
Who's it by
Hailing from the same Welsh town as fellow rockers Bullet for My Valentine, Funeral for a Friend emerged a few earlier than them and shaped up to become serious contenders in the rock world very early on. Initial EPs showed a high amount of promise that was carried through into excellent first album Casually Dressed and Deep in Conversation.
Sophomore effort Hours didn't much too push on the band's sound but continued to show their strengths of hard rock with an emotional undercurrent. In contrast, the quasi-concept album Tales Don't Tell Themselves - about a sailor stranded at sea - failed to convince despite the brilliant lead-off single Into Oblivion (Reunion).
The release of Memory & Humanity was somewhat overshadowed by the departure of bassist Gareth Davies due to family commitments. He was replaced by Gavin Burroughs and the new songs on Your History is Mine: 2002-2009 are the first to feature his writing input.
Matt Davies, Ryan Richards, Darran Smith and Kris Coombs-Roberts complete the line-up.
As an example...
"Tied to the testing of wills/Where my heart breaks and spills/Left to the sight of the sky/In your arms I'm defined." - Juneau
"Find in me the home that you have never known/Find in me the faith to bring you home." - Into Oblivion (Reunion)
Likelihood of a trip to the Grammys
Despite being critical darlings of the heavy rock world and having a huge fanbase, such support has never really translated into mainstream success. However, this compilation has got some corking tunes on it, so probably deserves a bit of attention.
What the others say
"A perfect compilation for newer fans and a reason to be excited about what's to come in the future." - Kerrang
"In the last seven years they've refined both their songwriting and performance abilities and while they've come a long way, their older material has stood the test of time." - Punktastic
So is it any good?
Definitely. This record is a great reminder as to why so many people love Funeral for a Friend while, more importantly, its chronological tracklisting also helps to define how the band's songwriting has become more refined and skilled over time.
While a tad rough-hewn, openers 10:45 Amsterdam Conversations and This Year's Most Open Heartbreak highlight the band's early prowess of fusing melodic, anthemic choruses with tough riffs and the occasionally shouty turn from drummer Ryan Richards. The singles that immediately follow on, from their debut, are the first really breathtaking examples of band's power.
There are many that would probably argue that they've never bettered the likes of Juneau, She Drove Me to Daytime Television, Escape Artists Never Die and Red is the New Black. While this may not be true, they do create a line-up of singles that most band would kill for.
Streetcar and Roses for the Dead from Hours pass muster, but the arguable highlight of that album is the big-hearted ballad History, where the band displays a much gentler side and a lot less distortion.
The same can be said of Walk Away, which joins the excellent Into Oblivion as a representative from the rather ropey Tales Don't Tell Themselves. The past singles are completed by Kicking and Screaming, which is an assured blast from the underrated Memory & Humanity.
As for the new songs, each of them follow the band's previous template and suggest there is probably a lot more quality to come in the near future. Matt Davies sings as powerfully as ever on each of the tracks, with No Honour Among Thieves and single Wrench particularly impressing.
All in all, Your History is Mine: 2002-2009 highlights how Funeral for a Friend are a band that deserve to be appreciated by rock fans the world over. A great band with both a brilliant past and an exciting future.
8/10
Rob Dixon