At this past weekend’s Download festival at Leicestershire, United Kingdom’s Donington Park, bassist Jamie Mathias of Welsh metallers BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE was asked by Mike James Rock Show how the “creative process” is “going so far” for the follow-up to the band’s latest, self-titled album, which came out in 2021. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): “Yeah, it’s good. We’ve got some pretty solid ideas knocking about. We’ve got, I think, about 12 demos knocking about. So I think the plan is to finish this European tour now and then just crack on, get in the studio and crack on with it.”
Asked if he and his BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE bandmates already have studio time booked and a producer selected, Jamie said: “Yeah, [we’re] still in talks [about all] that, but I think the main thing is just to get the songs finished so we can get into the studio, knock it out, and then, obviously, next year, crack on [with more touring].”
Also at this year’s Download, BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE frontman Matt Tuck, whose band has spent the first half of 2025 celebrating the 20th anniversary of its debut album, “The Poison”, on tours of Europe and North America, spoke to James Wilson-Taylor of Rock Sound about BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE‘s plans for the group’s eighth album, tentatively due in 2026. Matt said: “We haven’t had a lot of opportunity to get back and focus on it, ’cause since I [last] saw you, we just haven’t stopped playing. It’s been really intense, but a good intense.”
He continued: “There’s a lot of love around the world for the band, and we’re just trying to kind of make the most of this opportunity, ’cause once [the 20th-anniversary celebration of ‘The Poison’] is done, it’s done forever. We’re not gonna do it again. We’re not gonna milk 25, 30, none of that shit.
“But, yeah, I listened to [the new ideas we have come up with so far] a lot when we were [touring] in the States [earlier this year], and, yeah, when I hear it, it still gives me the vibes,” Tuck added. “And I think the beginning of August, we’re gonna hit the studio for real. And we’ll be there until it’s done.”
Released in 2005, “The Poison” propelled BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE to unimaginable heights. That year saw the Welsh metallers graduate from supporting FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND on their U.K. run in the summer, to ending the year headlining the very same venues just months later. Dropping in October 2005, “The Poison” hit number 21 in the U.K. album charts, becoming a late contender in end of year polls, placing at number seven on Kerrang!‘s “Albums Of The Year” list, and since achieving gold status.
BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE and TRIVIUM were on the road together earlier this year to celebrate the joint 20th anniversaries of their respective albums “The Poison” and “Ascendancy”.
Last month, TRIVIUM revealed that plans were scrapped to have the two bands hit other territories around the world as part of “The Poisoned Ascendancy” tour. Details surrounding the cancelations were unclear, although TRIVIUM bassist Paolo Gregoletto said in a livestream that Tuck had pulled out of the tour early as he “didn’t wanna do it.” Gregoletto also claimed that Tuck made the move because he is “the sole decision maker of [BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE] and he has no respect for us or our crew.”
The members of BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE later shared a statement on social media saying that they were “grateful” to the fans who wanted to see them live but explained that they had decided to focus their efforts on making a new album instead.
“We’re incredibly grateful to have been given the chance to look back at a pair of life-changing albums for us & TRIVIUM, who we have nothing but respect and admiration for,” they said. “With that being said, the four of us collectively feel that the time is right for us to divert our full attention towards the next chapter of BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE.”
They added: “We can’t wait to get back in the studio later this summer and finish what we promise you is our best album to date. To go along with this, we are already starting to make plans for the 2026 & 2027 touring cycles, hitting every corner. We are super excited to drop new music for you all. We value our fans above all else and are forever grateful for your support. We’ll be back with all of you very soon.”
BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE released the deluxe version of its latest, self-titled album in August 2022 via Spinefarm/Search & Destroy. This extended release featured four brand new tracks, plus “Stitches”, a song previously only available as a Japanese exclusive. Following the CD and digital releases, a vinyl pressing launched in November 2022.
