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In their 11 years together, Welsh post-hardcore quintet Funeral For A Friend have flirted with the mainstream, but however well-produced, they’ve always had one foot planted firmly in the punk world.

But Conduit finds them sounding tougher and angrier than they have in years, new drummer Pat Lundy spurring them on with a merciless whip on lead single Best Friends And Hospital Beds, while frontman Matt Davies-Kreye has a good old existential rant: ‘How many friends can I lose before it all makes sense?’

It doesn’t get much more cheerful from there, with Death Comes To Us All swinging like a particularly melodic scythe. This is classic, turn-of-the-century-style emo for those old enough to remember the scene before the eyeliner and hairspray brigade came along and spoiled it all for everyone.

Emma has been writing about music for 25 years, and is a regular contributor to Classic Rock, Metal Hammer, Prog and Louder. During that time her words have also appeared in publications including Kerrang!, Melody Maker, Select, The Blues Magazine and many more. She is also a professional pedant and grammar nerd and has worked as a copy editor on everything from film titles through to high-end property magazines. In her spare time, when not at gigs, you’ll find her at her local stables hanging out with a bunch of extremely characterful horses.