Customer Reviews

Hours

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(20)
3 star:		(12)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

...and here us fans stand yet again, fallen victim to another dreaded *sell-out* album by a promising band. However, where so many others have failed (ie: A Static Lullaby, Finch, From Autumn to Ashes), Funeral for a Friend has succeeded, barely.

In midst of the many 'Casually Dressed..', et al comparisons, I won't sit here and judge the record paragraph after paragraph for what it isn't, such as "Where's the screaming?!?" -- but rather judge it for what it actually is, I'm being completely unbiased and open-minded to a very different FFAF.

Let's not get ahead of ourselves, 'Hours' lacks a lot of raw energy, but it's transitions are smooth and simple to adjust to. If this record was a debut for any another band, it would've gotten much higher praise than it's already received. The overall beauty of 'Hours' however, is that it's mixed well even though better studio production does tends to destroy the sound of a band, it paid off in this case. Plus, Matt's vocals are perfectly matched this time around, I don't care if he's singing 90% of the time, atleast it's not Coheed material.

Instrumentally there's a noticable slow down, call it a *progression* if you will of catchy riffs, but there was nothing that blew me away in that department..if anything the drumming was still commanding in some parts throughout, I'd say worthy enough of mention.

Another thing I was especially impressed with was the solidity of the individual tracks themselves -- we know it's not the norm (or desired for that matter) from FFAF, but 'Hours' holds its own ground as a very well crafted piece of work. Come on, give these guys more credit than the underrated perspective of utter dissapointment. Not all sell-outs have to be unbearable, and for a UK band to pull off this type of stuff is rare, soak it up.

The strong points surely outweight the weak, demonstrated in (shockingly) more than one or two songs:

- All The Rage (what an opener ought to sound like, I'm sure I stand corrected)
- History
- Drive (whoa, very suprised by how amazing this was)
- Hospitality
- Monsters (solid, probably contends as the best track)
- The End Of Nothing (semi-reminiscent of old FFAF, kinda sorta, may very well be the most aggressive of the album)
- Recovery

I've noticed that people have a hard time accepting what bands put out if it doesn't even come close to their previous work. Run through 'Hours' a couple times and let it grow on you, sticking to intimidating impressions is all too predictable. It's still FFAF, whether you agree or disagree, they made it because they like it, the least we can do is listen and make a total judgment when it's all said and done.

This band is from Wales? Could've fooled me the first time I heard them, and I'm probably not alone.

"Hours" finds Funeral for a Friend sacrificing some of their tendency towards me-too sounding, chunky, ham-fisted hardcore guitars plus token cheese curdling hardcore screams in favor of melody and harmony, and I swear, if I see one person declaring "They've sold out!" because of it, I won't be surprised, but that one person will still be an idiot.

The record realizes what I would call perfect balance between technical showmanship and the punk KISS ("Keep It Simple, Stupid") philosophy. Standout tracks like "Red is the New Black" from last year's "Casually Dressed & Deep in Conversation" LP were menacingly aggressive, wielding pared down, punk-flavored rhythm parts juxtaposed with squealing metal lead guitar. "Hours" delivers more of the same but with more varied and unpredictable rhythm guitar, the result being a unique and energized blend of two loud, blood-pumping styles of rock music. "Hours" is the sound of a band possessed, and as you know, that usually sounds pretty good.

The band earn their In Flames merit badges with pummeling onslaughts the likes of "Absence," "Roses for the Dead," and "Alvarez," which feature some very In Flames/Atreyu/Euro metal fingertapping moves to great success. "Absence" in particular is a beautiful nuclear explosion of melodicism, opening with an evolving riff that frankly only the deaf could ignore convincingly. The chorus adds a repeating tapped lead guitar line and the song goes on to wrap things up with a stop-start bridge that actually manages to sound unforced and unique in its own right, before digging the spurs back in for the grand exit.

Track after track of relentless riffage can come off sounding tiring (or even tired, by now) to many. Funeral for a Friend skillfully inject enough variety into these tunes to make one hell of a rollercoaster ride, again striking a balance -- this time between consistency and unpredictability. There are no crazy, off-the-wall, oddball tracks that could be used as lead-off singles (pun intended) here, but the songs don't sound all the same, either. There are also breaks from the overall sheer intensity of "Hours" in bits like the beginning of "Hospitality"; the closer "Sonny," which proves that this band can write a tune which can stand without savage and intemperate use of volume; and the middle-of-the-record break of "Drive On," which proves that Funeral for a Friend's singer is capable of overpowering what was supposed to be a slower song.

Where other recent releases from bands like Armor for Sleep have fallen short in the inspiration department, one listen of "Hours" just might leave you breathless as in the aftermath of a tornado which has left you all ruffled and swept away from the herd.

Here it is: if you're still sitting on the fence as far as this whole "hardcore" thing goes, this might be the band to win you over. For real. And they're Welsh. Don't pass this one up.

After going through a few of the reviews on this site for "Hours", I felt like I had to add my two cents. I can not comprehend how someone who's followed FFAF since the beginning can complain about this record. Its maturity was expected...just look at how different Casually Dressed is to 7 Ways to Scream your Name. With Hours, it sounds like FFOF have learned how to balance melodies with their aggressive style.

I bought Hours the day it came out and I haven't stopped listening to it ever since. On all these other reviews, people seem to just keep whining about how there's "no screaming" and how Matt's (shuddering) s-i-n-g-i-n-g his lyrics. That's absolutely ridiculous, to criticize a band for growing talent.

I'll put it this way...if you love songs like "Juneau" and "Bend Your Arms to Look Like Wings" and "Rookie of the Year", I guaren-damn-tee you you'll love Hours. Let's face it, FFOF is maturing and it's only making them better.

Well, I was introduced to Funeral For A Friend through Hours this past summer. I was not a fan of much other than mainstream alternative, or anything rock for that matter. The first time I listened to Hours, I immediatly fell in love with All The Rage. I don't understand why more reviewers don't mention that song as one of their favorites, it's absolutely great. Anyway, the rest of the album grew on me.

After a while, I bought Casually Dressed and Deep in Conversation. And WOW. I could not believe that there could be such an amazing album. In my opinion, CDADIC is MUCH better an album than Hours. It completely blew me away. I love the ENTIRE record.

Looking back at both albums, they are completely different. It's like comparing teenage angst (CDADIC) to matured emotion (Hours). I love anything Funeral For A Friend, but nothing will ever top CDADIC. Now I understand why fans of the previous album were dissapointed. I'm sure that if I hadn't listened to this one first and then been blown away by CDADIC I would feel the same way.

Old fans will absolutely love The End of Nothing though, Matt's vocals are STUNNING and all in all, it's still the Funeral For A Friend sound. So you have to love it.

With UK post-hardcore music, there's one thing you're pretty much guarentee - good Funeral For A Friend albums. That's not saying that they come correct on every song they put out, but they come damn close. Since their debut EP, "Seven Ways To Scream Your Name", the band matured into "Casually Dressed And Deep In Conversation" and has put out their best work to date in 2005 with "Hours". I sincerely hope that in times to come I'm not forced to eat my own words by saying that Funeral For A Friend releasing quality albums is a guarentee, because it's always good to know that when a band put out an album you'll enjoy it. That's not saying that they stick to the same formula every time round either - that's one of the best things about the band. They seem to be constantly evolving, not allowing their music to get stale for a second, always maturing into another stage of their career.

"Hours" certainly does have a more mature feel about it, pieced out with great instumentals and well sung, thoughtful lyrics. Songs like the albums opener "All The Rage", "Roses For The Dead" and especially the lead single "Streetcar" are all very catchy tracks that any fan of this style of music should be able to enjoy, but at the same time you can appreciate where the band is coming from with what they are tyring to convey. The album deals with thoughts and feelings, but as well as evolving with their lyrics, they've evolved with their playing to find music that fits with the moods of certain songs. "End Of Nothing" is a fast paced song as the lyrics are full of frustration, whereas "History" is slightly slower paced, more insightful song. There's something for everyone with this album, songs that'll get you motivated and songs that will make you think. And if all else fails, the music itself is brilliant. Make this a must purchase from the year 2005 if nothing else in this genre.

Funeral for a friend have definately changed since their Seven Ways EP. What used to be a post-hardcore **** you B**** band has now matured into a lyrically strong band that shares music traits with some of the popular emo bands. Their excuse for the change in style is that after they got on tour with "casually dressed" they realized that songs about girls and hating life are not all that matter. They began to enjoy other types of music and also formed more mature oppinions about the world that show in "hours."

I first heard this and thought, well they have taken their sound and given it a more mainstream sound. But the more I listened the more I realized how much of a natural change it was. Many fans are going to label this as something like Selling out or trying to pull off an alternative rock hit. I completey dissagree. FFAF was basicly the first and still best UK post-hardcore band. They have competed with the likes of Alexisonfire and Lost Prophets. They created a mind numbing EP that outdid any other I've heard. Seven songs of total awesomeness. Which was followed by the full length release which was just as good but more melodic. But, with Hours...FFAF have totally gone into the do or die attitude.

So basicly, FFAF have grown up. They no longer scream in anger but that's not totally bad. The awesome guitarwork we have come to love is still here for the most part. And vocals are as good as ever. This CD may not be as heavy but it does have a good feel to it. No doubt, the hardcore fans of 7 ways EP will be dissapointed, but maybe if we concentrate more on the deeper substance, we will come to better understand the new approach the band has taken.

Songs like history will have skeptics turning away but those like Streetcar and End of nothing will definately prove to be classics. I think the real explanation is innovation. The band has taken all their artistic prowess and lyrical talent to make one monster of a rock album that's going to blow your head off with it's skill.

The second single, Monsters is a definative rock song with a punk fused chorus. The riff and vocal melody is an obvious sign of progression in sound.

Like I said earlier, the lyrics are much more well thought out now. No longer is Matt whining about lovelorn days or hatred. He's preaching his on sermon here. There's a lot of lyrics that sound personal, social, and political. It's a maturity grab bag.

It still amazes me though, that through all this FFAF keeps the metal and hardcore emelements. very much so in End of Nothing.
That's enough to please even the most procrastinating of fans.

All the rage---7/10---It's a strong opener. It has that great guitarwork.

Streetcar---8.5/10---This is probably one of my favorites. I don't care if it's a single and it's poppy. the video is awesome.

Roses for the dead---7/10---I can't say it's really good, but it's certainly not the best track on here.

Hospitality---6/10---they slow down the pace on this one. It's a little different than past FFAF.

Drive---6.5---this is another slow one. It's a bit better than the former.

Monsters---7/10---I believe this is the new single. I don't really like it though. It's too repetitive and poppy.

History---8/10---This is a major change for the band. It's almost a slow emo song. Very sad but I like it.

Recovery---7/10---the CD finally speeds up again with this song. The guitarwork is really good.

End of Nothing---8.5---this might be the only song on here that sounds like the old FFAF. It's quite good.

Alvarez---6/10---The guitars are pretty cool but thats it.

Sonny---4/10---it's a sucky slow techno song.



conclusion===I would have given this a 3 star if it weren't for a couple of standout tracks that keep this good. If your a fan of the old FFAF and don't accept their new sound, go download end of nothing and streetcar and know that you didnt miss anything else. Otherwise, you might want to pick this up if you have an open mind.

Casually Dressed was a great album so expectations were very high wen Hours was released. Sadly, it doesn't quite meet them.

The screaming parts are all but gone - apart from the end of nothing, which is probably the best on the album. The riffs are now slow, and supporters of this new album call it more "melodic" - but they were even more melodic in Casually dressed!! Listen to bend your arms and novella...

The vocals aren't so good, because the music is so slow. His voice was more suited to faster songs.

In short; this wasn't the time for change. However, the album does have some good songs, but they are good in a different way to the old album.

All The Rage - Pretty good opener.
Streetcar - Very catchy
Roses for the dead - another good one
End of Nothing - best song on the album, similar to old ffaf
History - slow, but good.
Monsters - another catchy one

The brightside; They're still an awesome live act. Come back to Cardiff soon!

I'd suggest fans of the old album listen before buying, because it's very different. Pehaps we're being a bit harsh on them since they had to follow up a classic. This album will grow on you a bit, but you will listen to Casually dressed more... i can gurantee that.

I know a lot of people have been complaining about Funeral for a Friend getting rid of the screaming but really...I thought the vocalist screaming was a damn shame seeing how much vocal talent he has when he sung and not scream...besides his screaming was whiny and at least for me, detracted from the music. The vocals are clean, the guitar riffs of the older heavier Funeral for a Friend are back...basically the formula that makes them stand out from the rest of the hardcore/screamo garbage out there. I understand why people are upset that the screaming element is gone but really, everyone is screaming nowadays so why single out THIS band for not screaming...the hardcore/metal/emo scene is starting to get washed out as much as mainstream music since you "fans" cry about everything. While mainstream music is washed out lyrically and musically, the underground scene is washed out vocally and musically.

Overall - 5/5
Creativity - 4.5/5
Replay Factor - 5/5
Lyrical - 5/5
Production - 5/5


It's been about 3 months since I first heard this CD, and I still listen to it like I bought it yesterday. I feel like you don't even have to be a "rock" fan to enjoy it. Best rock album of 2005 is a bold statement (especially with some of the quality discs that came out this year), but I feel its accurate. It was a close battle with "Say Hello To Sunshine" by Finch, but this record edges it out.

I was not a avid Funeral fan before this album, so maybe that will allow me to give an unbiased opinion of it. It instantly cuts out that "it doesn't sound like what I'm used to" stuff that seems to constantly flood any review.

Basically what it comes down to is that I can not find anything negative to say about this CD. This band has found a way to harness incredibly catchy emo/metal/electronic metal riffs and mix it with melody in a way that hasn't been done this well before. The production on this record is incredible, as the guitars and drums compliment each other perfectly. It takes really well written songs to the next level. With the 2 guitars, there is more emphasis on the "lead" guitar, and its really what makes each song standout from everything else out there. A lot of the songs actually have 2 riffs going on at once, and it just sounds awesome. Not to mention the song structure has no formula, which is what gives it the high replay effect. The best part about it all is that despite not having a defined song structure, they still managed to make the songs very accessible. It's because at no point on this record does a song let up. There is something catchy about every second of music. It's pretty amazing that you can jump in at any point of any song and stay interested, and its not a "commercial" record.

While being completely sucked in by the sound, its easy to lose track of the lyrics. But don't worry, the band didn't. Just as much attention was put into the words as the music. They also did something I tend to really like - the title's of the songs aren't necessarily the lines that get repeated 20 times throughout. It fits in with the rest of the music, because most of the songs don't have any clear "chorus." It also pretty much proves that the band didn't "sell out," because having an easy to remember song title that you can associate with a chorus is rule #1 to making commercially successful music.

The only reason I gave "creativity" a 4.5 instead of 5 was because its not a record that is creating a new genre of rock (Finch's new record), its just taking an existing one to the next level.

I have an account with a subscription music site, which means I can basically listen to anything, and I listen to this CD the most by far. It is just an awesome record and I'm not even close to getting sick of it. It is 100% worth buying.

I will admit I have become a recent fan of "Emo/Screamo." I bought funeral of a friend by doing some research on the internet, and listening to some song samples. I became a fan of them right away. Highly anticipating their new release of "Hours," I had high expectations for the new album. To my suprise this ablum was a lot different then their last album, casually dressed. Although they do not have a lot of "scremo" to this ablum, it's still an awesome album. And I think that any fan would agree this album is a must buy. Please feel free to play the samples that they have on cdnow.com, and as always give this album a little time to grow on you, because it will. This album will not only appeal to emo fans, alternative fans, but music fans in general.