Like opening a time capsule
One of the major attributes of the music industry as a whole is that it is ever-changing. From pop to country and everything in between, the landscape of the industry is anything but constant. With the nature of change so prevalent in the industry, it is all too common to see bands and artists try to capitalize on current trends by incorporating them into their music, many times resulting in a great outcry from their fan bases. What sets Bullet For My Valentine apart with Gravity was that they chose to remain constant. Like opening a time capsule, the listener is transported to the early ’00s when bands like Bullet For My Valentine were first hitting the scene and capturing the hearts of listeners en masse.
The smooth vocals over heavy guitar breakdowns have been a staple of their music in the past and are ever-present in songs like “Letting You Go” and “Piece of Me” for example. The balance between the two extremes alternates toward the heavy and lighter sides equally adding a great amount of depth and personality to each composition.
Another remarkable example of this sense of balance would be the track “Under Again,” with the extremes pushed farther apart but still meeting in the middle in a manner that still has a very balanced feel. The track opens up with a simple keyboard and drum pattern that pushes the vocals to the forefront. There is a gradual build up throughout the track that leads to an intense breakdown sequence around the two-and-a-half-minute mark, then gradually winds down to a close.
As a whole, the album is composed incredibly well. The production quality is top-notch, the instruments and vocals throughout are incredibly cohesive, and the fact that even though the material is new, it still carries the same vibe as Bullet For My Valentine’s previous works through and through.
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