THE front-cover of Welsh soft-rockers Funeral for a Friend's latest single is as beautiful and mysterious as the band.

In a field of rape-seed stands a woman with her face covered in a shawl holding what looks like an old fashioned radio.

That's the mystery. The beauty comes in the form of the band's relentlessly melodic rock songs as heard on the single itself - Juneau. From the ground up we have a tried and tested Metallica-like click from drummer boy Ryan Richards.

Gareth Davies is fairly inaudible on bass but Riyan Richards on vocals is extremely loud indeed.

On Juneau the guitars played by Kris Roberts and Darren Smith are mere courtesy calls.

But on B-side Getaway Plan they take the lead and play a caustic romp with inappropriate chord changes.

Such is emo - emotional rock - which has always tended to sound like a bummed out Chilli Peppers and latter-day Hetfield, Ulrich and co.

It's big news for Funeral for a Friend who have toured with the likes of Finch, Boy Sets Fire, Lostprophets and The Juliana Theory.

There have also been successful headline shows including a stuffed Garage (in London) and an appearance on the main at Download, plus there are T in the Park, Leeds and Reading festivals to look forward to.

Meanwhile, the video to the band's single This Year's Most Open Heartbreak, as directed by Darren Doane (Blink 182, Jimmy Eat World etc), will continue to play Sky TV's Scuzz channel.