Multiple members of Bullet For My Valentine confirmed at this past weekend’s Download Festival that the band is shifting its full attention to their next studio album, with bassist Jamie Mathias revealing they already have a significant amount of new material prepared.
Speaking with the Mike James Rock Show, Mathias gave an update on the creative progress for the follow-up to their 2021 self-titled album. “Yeah, it’s good. We’ve got some pretty solid ideas knocking about. We’ve got, I think, about 12 demos knocking about,” he said (as transcribed by Blabbermouth). “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.” While producer and studio details are still being finalized, Mathias affirmed that the priority is to “get the songs finished so we can get into the studio [and] knock it out.”
His comments align with those of frontman Matt Tuck, who confirmed in a separate interview with Rock Sound that the band plans to “hit the studio for real” in early August and “be there until it’s done.”
This unified focus on the future comes as the Welsh metallers conclude their 20th-anniversary celebration for their landmark 2005 debut, The Poison. Tuck made it clear that this retrospective tour was a one-time event and that the band is eager to move forward.
“Once [the 20th-anniversary celebration of ‘The Poison’] is done, it’s done forever,” Tuck stated emphatically. “We’re not gonna do it again. We’re not gonna milk 25, 30, none of that s**t.”
This pivot to a new creative chapter recently led to the controversial cancellation of further co-headlining tour dates with Trivium, who were celebrating their own 2005 album, Ascendancy. While Trivium bassist Paolo Gregoletto publicly claimed that Tuck was the “sole decision maker” and “didn’t wanna do it,” Bullet For My Valentine issued a statement explaining the move as a collective band decision.
“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,” the band wrote. “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.”
The band concluded by promising fans their “best album to date” and that they are already planning extensive touring for 2026 and 2027 to support the new music.
