Funeral For A Friend - See You All in Hell

by Kelly Smith

published: 12 / 11 / 2011

Funeral For A Friend - See You All in Hell

Label: Distiller Records
Format: CDS

intro

Fantastic combination of new tracks, re-mixes and live performances, this is a welcome on nine track EP from Funeral For A Friend, which serves as an appendage to their recent @Welcome Home Armageddon' album

I haven’t done any kind of primary research on the subject, but I’d say that on average, an EP usually has less than nine tracks on it. Quite a few less, I’d wager. I think FFAF are being liberal with their definitions of new offering ‘See You In Hell’, released as “an expansion to their ‘Welcome Home Armageddon’ album”. A mix of new tracks, re-mixes and ridiculously brilliant live performances, this is a welcome addition to the FFAF catalogue. I listened to this all the way through in the car without checking the track listing first, so I felt a bit short changed when I realised that some of these songs had appeared on ‘Welcome Home Armageddon’ as well. That soon changed when I realised that these tracks (the excellent pop-punk ‘Sixteen’ plus ‘Broken Foundation’ ‘Man Alive’ and the hardcore epic ‘Front Row Seats to the End of the World’) were actually LIVE versions, recorded LIVE in a radio studio, LIVE. Seriously, if you are into you live music sounding better than anything you could imagine being recorded by most artists, you need this EP in your life. Based on this they are an unmissable live act, which is ironic since I missed the chance to see them last month due to some poor planning on my part. Next time, I’m first in line. New song ‘High Castles’ opens the EP with speed and intensity – both characteristics which were present in abundance on their previous album. It’s the kind of track you could easily hear being performed live and the more I hear it, the more I think it will soon slot effortlessly into FFAF’s regular set. If you think the live performances are something special (which you should, because they are), the two acoustic tracks which close the EP will make you fall in love all over again. ‘Old Hymns’ and ‘Welcome Home Armageddon’, as you might guess, are again from the full length album released earlier this year. The acoustic versions are quietly beautiful, allowing the vocal and the lyrics to take centre stage in what proves to be an emotionally-charged ending to the EP. ‘Old Hymns’ in particular is gorgeous, the new acoustic version completely changing the tone and implied meaning behind the track. Again, and quite boringly, Funeral For A Friend have left me with nothing to complain about. Probably more of a must-have if you are already a FFAF fan (would that make you a FFAFF?), I’m not sure if there’s that much here for you if you have never heard them before. Having said that though, I can think of no better introduction to this band than the acoustic ‘Old Hymns’, so give it a go if you’re unfamiliar with their music. If I’m being hyper-critical, the only thing I’m left wanting is an entire album (or ‘EP’, as they would nonsensically describe it) of acoustic tracks. Until then, though, this is completely wonderful enough.

Track Listing:-

1 High Castles
2 Will To Die
3 Medicated
4 Sixteen
5 Broken Foundation
6 Man Alive
7 Front Row Seats To The End Of The World
8 Old Hymns
9 Welcome Home Armageddon

Band Links:-

http://funeralforafriend.com/
https://www.facebook.com/funeralforafriend
https://twitter.com/ffaf
https://www.youtube.com/user/FuneralTube
https://plus.google.com/107881021928826489295

Label Links:-

http://distillermusic.com/
https://twitter.com/distillermusic
https://www.facebook.com/distillerrecords
https://www.youtube.com/user/livefromdistillery
https://plus.google.com/+DistillerMusic
https://www.instagram.com/distillermusic/

interviews

Interview (2005)

Funeral for a Friend have had five Top 40 singles and two bestselling albums, but success has not come entirely smoothly. Guitarist Darren Smith talks to Ana Grabov about their new album 'Hours' and the reality of life on the road

Interview (2004)

live reviews

Rescue Rooms, Nottingham, 8/2/2013

Dave Goodwin finds Welsh hardcore band Funeral for a Friend to be on thunderous form at a gig in front of an enthusiastic crowd at the Rescue Rooms in Nottingham