Funeral For A Friend - Memory And Humanity

After originally planning to go into the studio to record an EP, welsh band Funeral For A Friend released their fourth studio album on October 13, 2008 and it reached #17 in the UK charts. The album features thirteen songs and shows the band returning to their heavier roots after their slightly mellower concept album, Tales Don't Tell Themselves. The CD either comes on its own, or you can buy a special edition with a DVD. The DVD features include an interview with Dainton from Dirty Sanchez, explanations behind all the album tracks and music videos for the tracks released so far.

The opening track of the album, Rules And Games, has strong vocals from the bands singer, Matt Davies, and features a syncopated double-kick drum riff which is something they haven't incorporated into an album since their second album, Hours.

The fourth track, Constant Illuminations, is a particularly strong track on the album, with well thought-out lyrics and an abstract guitar line that doesn't really follow the melody line but really fits within the song.

The fifth track, Maybe I Am, is one of the slower tracks on the album, and a track that Ryan Richards, the drummer, describes as a song with an indie-style beat and taken to the max with loud, abrasive guitars. The lyrics to this song are lyrics that you can really empathize with because they apply to a lot of people today. The lyrics contrast from Maybe I'm a pessimist to Maybe I'm a liar and Maybe I'm an atheist.

The eighth track, Beneath The Burning Tree is, in my opinion, the best song on the album. The guitar riff is catchy and the vocals are stunning. The video that accompanies this song captures the essence of the band very well, because it is mainly compiled of clips of them recording their album in a very relaxed environment.

The ninth track features back-up vocals from Jamie, Lee, Mike and Ilan of Lostprophets, but unfortunately it is one of the weaker tracks on the album.

The closing track, Constant Resurrections, is an excellent track to finish the album on, and it is a real contrast to Constant Illuminations. Whereas Illuminations was an angry attack of guitars and drums, Resurrections is a more restrained overview and is one of the lighter songs of the album.

Overall, I would highly recommend the album, because it is a very good listen and the lyrics particularly make you think.

Tracklisting
01. Rules And Games
02. To Die Like Mouchette
03. Kicking And Screaming
04. Constant Illuminations
05. Maybe I Am?
06. You Can't See The Forest For The Wolves
07. Building
08. Beneath The Burning Tree
09. Someday The Fire...
10. Waterfront Dance Club
11. Charlie Don't Surf
12. Ghosts
13. Constant Resurrections