Music reviews. CD reviews. Critically hip!

After their exceptionally successful debut, The Poison, British band Bullet For My Valentine is set to release their much anticipated sophomore effort entitled Scream Aim Fire later this month on the Jive Records label. After enjoying their first album, which sold more than a million copies worldwide, I was one of those who couldn’t wait to hear this one.

Bullet For My Valentine is a throwback metal group, similar to early versions of some of the all-time best metal bands. But they also have a progressive sound. That combination creates an interesting dichotomy, and the result is great music. Most of the material on Scream Aim Fire is more up-tempo than the previous album and the new sound fits the band well. They have a very consistent sound throughout the record, and it is a great listen from start to finish. Bullet may have already earned a boatload of awards and numerous accolades and they deserve it. They are truly talented, and their music is both enjoyable and stimulating.

Deliver Us From Evil is a slower and more methodic song, and it’s one of the best on the record. The ballad Say Goodnight is a truly great Metal love song -- you can tell there is some true emotion there. Forever and Always is also a good song. The guitar riff at the end is amazing.

Being a metal or rock band from Britain comes with a lot of pressure to live up to all of the greats from past eras, but Bullet doesn’t try to live up to bands like The Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, and Iron Maiden. They just try to create their own sound, and they have excelled in doing so.

Do yourself a favor -- go out and pick up a copy of Scream Aim Fire on January 29. This will not only be an excellent addition to your collection, but you’ll listen to it over and over. This is one of the best Metal albums from one of the best Metal bands I have heard in a long time!