This week, Iím going back and reviewing four albums that somehow, due to excess workload, inability to track down the record, or sheer stupidity, I hadnít reviewed before now. First up on that list is Funeral For A Friend. These Welsh rockers are buzzing up something fierce in the UK and with good reason. A British band has finally done the fiery, blazing guitar emo thing on par with American bands. Casually Dressed & Deep In Conversation is a buzzsaw of guitars, a barrelful of hooks and up there with the best that Vagrant, Nitro, Victory or anyone else has offered up. From the first single, ìJuneau,î to the rifftastic album launcher ìRookie Of The Year,î this Welsh quintet shows their talent in spades. Each song, like ìEscape Artists Never Dieî or ìWaking Upî is laden with layer upon layer of 6-string mayhem, but all the while, melodies aplenty shine through. They get their screamo on a touch more than Iíd personally like, but with energy like this, songwriting skills making themselves painfull obvious and titles like ìShe Drove Me To Daytime Television,î the world is your oyster. 2004 may just be Funeral For A Friend’s year to go supernova, but if you get it now, then you were on ëem in 2003, now werenít you?

Funeral For A Friend
Infectious/Warner Music

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