The Poison

The Poison is the debut studio album by Welsh heavy metal band Bullet for My Valentine. The album was released on 3 October 2005 through Visible Noise Records in the UK, and on 14 February 2006 in the United States, through Trustkill Records. The album included 11 new songs and two previously heard songs, "Cries in Vain", which was previously heard from their self-titled UK EP and from their US EP, Hand of Blood, as well as from "4 Words (To Choke Upon)" was previously included on the same US release. Different editions of the album contain the song "Hand of Blood", previously heard from these EPs, replacing "Spit You Out".[3]

This article is about the Bullet for My Valentine album. For other uses, see Poison (disambiguation).

The Poison
Studio album by Bullet for My Valentine
Released	3 October 2005 (U.K.) 30 January 2006 (Japan) 14 February 2006 (U.S.)
Recorded	March–June 2005
Studio	Chapel Studios, Lincolnshire Nott in Pill Studios, Newport[1]
Genre	Metalcore,[2] heavy metal
Length	53:26
Label	Visible Noise Trustkill
Producer	Colin Richardson
Bullet for My Valentine chronology
Hand of Blood (2005) The Poison (2005) Rare Cuts (2007)
Deluxe edition
Singles from The Poison
"4 Words (To Choke Upon)" Released: 28 March 2005 "Suffocating Under Words of Sorrow (What Can I Do)" Released: 19 September 2005 "All These Things I Hate (Revolve Around Me)" Released: 3 February 2006 "Tears Don't Fall" Released: 17 June 2006

The album debuted at number 128 on the Billboard 200[4] and number 2 on the Heatseekers Chart,[4] and as of 30 January 2018, the album has sold 1,600,000 copies worldwide[5] and 500,000 copies in the US.[6] It is the first album released through Trustkill Records to be officially certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[7][8]

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[9]
Big Cheese
Drowned in Sound	9/10[10]
Kerrang!
Metal Hammer
Q
Total Guitar
PunkNews.org	[11]
Blabbermouth	6/10[12]
Ultimate Guitar Archive	(9.1/10)[13]
Sputnikmusic	[14]

Corey Apar of Allmusic awarded the album 3 stars out of 5, commenting that the album showed a "melodic metal-meets-emo aesthetic" peppered with "powerful riffs and classic metal". Apar concluded that the album "is a well-produced, solid effort – but seeing as they're now trying to take over American hearts, it would be nice to see future attempts to distinguish themselves more from the new-school pack."[9] Sputnikmusic also gave the album a 3 out of 5 with the explanation that it is "fun to listen to, and the guitar work sure is nice. The vocals are good as well, as main singer has a good voice, melodic and screamed, well supported by the screaming of the bassist."[15] Music Emissions said the album contained very catchy songs, with clean and fast guitar sounds, and "an undertone of pop" which fits with the drumming. Despite its positive points, the reviewer said that the album would not attract people from outside the metalcore subgenre.[16]

Stylus Magazine gave the album a C− (below average) and said that The Poison album appeared to be made for provincial 15-year-olds to get violent with each other. The reviewer noted two songs that were indicative of the band's "A-game": "The Poison" and "Suffocating Under Words of Sorrow (What Can I Do)".[17] Punknews.org wrote that the album was "drab", leaving the reviewer bored with the slow pace, and frustrated that the screaming loud passages were delivered without a sense of anger or attitude.[11]

Track listing

All lyrics are written by Matthew Tuck; all music is composed by Bullet for My Valentine.

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Intro" (featuring Apocalyptica)	2:22
2.	"Her Voice Resides"	4:17
3.	"4 Words (To Choke Upon)"	3:43
4.	"Tears Don't Fall"	5:48
5.	"Suffocating Under Words of Sorrow (What Can I Do)"	3:35
6.	"Hit the Floor"	3:30
7.	"All These Things I Hate (Revolve Around Me)"	3:45
8.	"Room 409"	4:01
9.	"The Poison"	3:39
10.	"10 Years Today"	3:55
11.	"Cries in Vain"	3:56
12.	"Spit You Out"	4:08
13.	"The End"	6:48
Total length:		53:28

Limited digipack edition (alternate track listing)[18]

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Intro" (featuring Apocalyptica)	2:22
2.	"Her Voice Resides"	4:17
3.	"4 Words (To Choke Upon)"	3:43
4.	"Tears Don't Fall"	5:48
5.	"Suffocating Under Words of Sorrow (What Can I Do)"	3:35
6.	"Hit the Floor"	3:30
7.	"All These Things I Hate (Revolve Around Me)"	3:45
8.	"Hand of Blood"	3:35
9.	"Room 409"	4:01
10.	"The Poison"	3:39
11.	"10 Years Today"	3:55
12.	"Cries in Vain"	3:56
13.	"Spit You Out"	4:07
14.	"The End"	6:48
Total length:		57:01

Limited digipack edition enhanced material

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Hand of Blood" (music video)	3:34
2.	"4 Words (To Choke Upon)" (music video)	3:51
3.	"Behind the scene" (video)
4.	"Wallpaper"	N/A

Japanese bonus tracks

No.	Title	Length
14.	"Room 409" (live)	4:00
15.	"Spit You Out" (live)	4:03

UK deluxe edition bonus tracks

No.	Title	Length
14.	"7 Days"	3:24
15.	"My Fist, Your Mouth, Her Scars"	3:52
16.	"Spit You Out" (live at the Brixton Academy)	4:16
17.	"All These Things I Hate (Revolve Around Me)" (live at the Brixton Academy)	4:03

UK deluxe edition bonus DVD

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Hand of Blood" (music video)	3:34
2.	"4 Words (To Choke Upon)" (music video)	3:51
3.	"Suffocating Under Words of Sorrow (What Can I Do)" (music video)	3:26
4.	"4 Words (To Choke Upon)" (live at Club Quattro, Shibuya, Tokyo)	3:47
5.	"Suffocating Under Words of Sorrow (What Can I Do)" (live at Club Quattro, Shibuya, Tokyo)	3:41
6.	"Cries in Vain" (live at Club Quattro, Shibuya, Tokyo)	4:17

US deluxe edition bonus tracks

No.	Title	Length
14.	"7 Days"	3:24
15.	"My Fist, Your Mouth, Her Scars"	3:52
16.	"Welcome Home (Sanitarium)" (Metallica cover)	6:13
17.	"Tears Don't Fall" (acoustic version)	4:37

US deluxe edition bonus DVD

No.	Title	Length
1.	"4 Words (To Choke Upon)" (live at Club Quattro, Shibuya, Tokyo)	3:47
2.	"Suffocating Under Words of Sorrow (What Can I Do)" (live at Club Quattro, Shibuya, Tokyo)	3:41
3.	"Cries in Vain" (live at Club Quattro, Shibuya, Tokyo)	4:17
4.	"All These Things I Hate (Revolve Around Me)" (live at Brixton Academy, London, England)	3:53
5.	"Her Voice Resides" (live at Brixton Academy, London, England)	4:26
6.	"Hand of Blood" (music video)	3:34
7.	"4 Words (To Choke Upon)" (music video)	3:51
8.	"Tears Don't Fall" (music video)	4:40
9.	"All These Things I Hate (Revolve Around Me)" (music video)	3:58

Personnel

Bullet for My Valentine Matthew Tuck – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, additional lead guitar, bass guitar (uncredited) Michael "Padge" Paget – lead guitar, backing vocals Jason "Jay" James – bass guitar, backing vocals (credited but doesn't perform)[19][20] Michael "Moose" Thomas – drums, percussion Additional musicians Eicca Toppinen – arrangement (on "Intro") Apocalyptica – cellos (on "Intro")

Production details All lyrics by Matt Tuck All music by Bullet for My Valentine Except "Intro" cellos by Apocalyptica, arrangement by Eicca Toppinen Except "Welcome Home (Sanitarium)" by Metallica Published by Harmageddon Publishing Ltd / Universal Music Publishing SAS All tracks Produced & Mixed by Colin Richardson Except "Hit the Floor" Produced & Mixed by Colin Richardson & Andy Sneap All tracks Mixed at The Chapel, Lincolnshire Except "4 Words (To Choke Upon)" mixed at The Sonic Ranch, El Paso, Texas Except "Hit the Floor" mixed at Backstage Studios, Derbyshire Engineered by Dan Turner Engineering assistance by Will Bartle, Matt Hyde & Justin Leigh Recorded at The Chapel (Lincolnshire), Backstage Studios (Derbyshire), Notting Pill Studios (Newport) & SUSI Studios (Finland) (p) & (c) 2005 20-20 Entertainment, LLC released under exclusive license to Visible Noise in the UK A&R – Martin Dodd A&R UK – Julie Weir (www.VisibleNoise.com) Worldwide Management – Paul Craig at Supervision Management Ltd ([e-mail]) Agent – Paul Ryan at The Agency Group (excluding USA) Artwork by S2 at www.LaBoca.co.uk Video footage filmed and edited by Dan Fernbach at Static Films Band photographs by Patrick Ford

Charts and certifications

Singles

Year	Title	Peak chart positions
		US Mainstream Rock	US Modern Rock
2005	"4 Words (To Choke Upon)"	—	—
2005	"Suffocating Under Words of Sorrow (What Can I Do)"	—	—
2006	"All These Things I Hate (Revolve Around Me)"	13	30
2006	"Tears Don't Fall"	24	32

Album

Chart (2005–2013)	Peak position
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[21]	25
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[22]	43
UK Albums (OCC)[23]	21
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[24]	37
US Billboard 200[25]	128
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[26]	2
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[27]	9

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[28]	Gold	100,000^^
United States (RIAA)[29]	Gold	500,000^^

References

1. Welch, Ben (4 February 2016). "Chapter Eight: The Poison". Bullet for My Valentine: Scream Aim Conquer. Music Press Books. p. 38. ISBN 1784189812. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
2. Colgan, Chris (12 May 2010). "Bullet for My Valentine: Fever". PopMatters. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
3. "The Poison by Bullet for My Valentine". 3 October 2005.
4. "The Poison - Charts & Awards (Billboard Albums)". Allmusic.
5. McAlpine, Fraser (19 January 2008). "Bullet For My Valentine- 'Scream Aim Fire'". BBC. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
6. "Biography". Facebook. 14 April 2011.
7. "The Poison - Our First Official RIAA Certified Gold Record!". Trustkill. 16 December 2009. Retrieved 12 February 2010.
8. "Bullet For My Valentine - The Poison Review". justpressplay. 9 June 2011.
9. "The Poison - Overview". Allmusic.
10. Rauf, Raziq (3 November 2005). "Album Review: Bullet For My Valentine - The Poison". Drowned in Sound. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
11. Punknews.org. "Bullet for My Valentine - The Poison". www.punknews.org.
12. blabbermouth
13. "Bullet For My Valentine: The Poison - Reviews @ Ultimate-Guitar.com".
14. "Bullet for My Valentine The Poison". Sputnikmusic. 3 October 2005.
15. "Bullet For My Valentine - The Poison (album review 16) - Sputnikmusic". www.sputnikmusic.com.
16. "Bullet For My Valentine - The Poison Review from Music Emissions". Music Emissions - Indie Music.
17. "Bullet For My Valentine - The Poison - Review - Stylus Magazine".
18. "Digipack". SCM Soundcrave Magazine. Archived from the original on 11 August 2014.
19. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAWrGjS48Xk
20. https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/bullet-for-my-valentine-drummer-former-bassist-jason-jay-james-never-really-contributed-anyway/
21. "Austriancharts.at – Bullet for My Valentine – The Poison" (in German). Hung Medien.
22. "Longplay-Chartverfolgung at Musicline" (in German). Musicline.de. Phononet GmbH.
23. "Bullet for My Valentine | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart.
24. "Oricon – Bullet for My Valentine – The Poison". oricn ME inc.
25. "Bullet for My Valentine Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
26. "Bullet for My Valentine Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard.
27. "Bullet for My Valentine Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard.
28. "British album certifications – Bullet for My Valentine – The Poison". British Phonographic Industry. Select albums in the Format field. Select Gold in the Certification field. Type The Poison in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
29. "American album certifications – Bullet for My Valentine – The Poison". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH.