Funeral for a Friend are one of the many underground bands that have taken it upon themselves to break through in the UK. Their skillful blend of post-hardcore and emo styles have won them legions of fans and shot their debut album to the giddy heights of Number 12 in the UK Official Album Chart, not bad for a band who have only been together for just over a year and had little, if any Radio airplay.
I first heard them on MTV2, with their debut video This Years most Open Heart Break (Track 5 on this EP)and was instantly impressed with them and tried to catch the video as often as possible. From their the band have built up astonishing momentum with their next single Juneau, taken from their First EP, Between Order and Model, becoming a hit and entering the UK Singles chart at.....
I have been to see them live twice and both gigs were astonishing for such an inexperinced band, but their busy tour schedule means they have had a lot of time to practice and shows their solid work ethic.
In the UK the band started with 2 EPs, Between Order and Model and Four Ways to Scream Your Name, and basically this is those two EPs put on to one CD and repackaged for the American market.
The Welsh quintet show their subtle beginnings and slightly immature sound on a few of the tracks from Between Order and Model and it is possible to hear how they have grown between the two EPs

Funeral for a Friend are:
kris roberts-guitar
ryan richards-drums, microphone (aggresion)
darren smith-guitar
gareth davies-bass
matt davies-microphone (melody)

Seven Ways to Scream Your Name:
1 10:45 amsterdam conversations
2 red is the new black
3 the art of american football
4 the getaway plan
5 this years most open heartbreak
6 kiss and make up
7 escape asrtists never die


10:45 Amsterdam Conversations (Originally on BOAM)
The first song FFAF wrote as a band is still a favourite at Live Gigs and features Richards vocals heavily which creates the wrong impression for the rest of the EP but offers up some of the finest lyrics on the EP:

Eternaly, the sun has set to mourning
and contoured are the backgrounds
on the canvas to which our lives are painted

Being an example of how much talent as writers this band really has

Red Is The New Black (Originally from BOAM)
Initially starts with a showcase of the melodic vocals of Davies but quickly the band join him in what feels like a tame selection of riffs and beats, this however does'nt take away from the overall song. The way Davies' and Richard's vocals are intertwined during the verses is a perfect way to allow each to create their mark on the song.

the art of American football (Originally from BOAM)
Again heavy on Richard's vocals, as much of the BOAM EP is, there is little room in he song for Davies to show off his vocal versatility, Especially as the song is short, only 2:30secs long. But the song would have dragged and so the song is a great piece of high energy in a short burst.

The Getaway Plan (Originally A Demo Track)
Davies shines here as Richards vocals are not used in the song and the repetitive riffs create the perfect background for him to shine. The drum beats are light, but in-fitting with the style of the song. One area the song lacks is in its bass hooks, it is hard to make out the
deep tones of Gareth's bass.

this years most open heartbreak (Originally from FWTSYN)
The first Single/video from the band and the song that convinced the fans that this band were going to be huge. Richard's vocals are less heavy here and more focus has been puton heavier hooks and faster drum beats. With a catchy sing-a-long chorus the band shows how far they have moved on from BOAM.

kiss and make up(Originally from FWTSYN)
Heavy on the drums and with slightly "poppier" riffs the song uses and echo to great effect to make the song song dramatic. Lyrics dealing with deep issues (as in most Emo bands) add to the serious feeling of the track and the chant of "Hearts, never really loved you anyway" makes for a great live track but doesn't work as well on the CD.
The end features solo guitar and Davies sounding genuinely emotional as he sings.

Escape Artists Never Die(Originally from FWTSYN)
The best song on the EP features one of the bands now infamous phrases "we'll start some fires and burn some bridges". The guitars play hard and fast and both vocalists combine to add another layer to the song, Richard's is solid on drums, providing a superb baseline for the song to overlay. The song is hard, fast and charged until about2 and a quarter minutes in when suddenly the instruments slow and rebuild again with Davies singing one of the most classic examples of emo lyrics ever recorded "please someone help me, I'm dying here in front of you"
The song kicks off again for the big finally and the rollercoaster of a song draws to an end leaving the listener wanting more.


This EP is proof UK bands can hang up there with the best the US can offer, with undeniable talent and a great future ahead of them, I recommend this CD to anyone with an ear for bands like From Autumn to Ashes, Thursday, Thrice, Fallen To and Coheed and Cambria.
Buy this CD and your eye on FFAF, with a support tour for Iron Maiden tacking them to arenas all over Europe it is only a matter of time before they themselves are heading up venues such as Wembley arena and hopefully similar venues in the US.


The Bottom Line
Buy this EP, you won't hear a finer Emo short Player this Year