with 36 Crazyfists - A Snow
Capped Romance by
Mark Hensch
..
Before you read this review, take maybe
ten seconds to ask yourself one question: Have you ever been to Anchorage,
Alaska? Regardless of your own personal answer, most readers will
most likely respond with a "no." Anchorage natives 36 Crazyfists
would like to hear the word "no" more then "yes."
The band attributes its strange and fresh
style of music to geographical isolation, and with good reason too; there
are few bands that sound like this.
Whenever a new artist needs to be reviewed
here at antiMUSIC.com, the band's album is posted with a genre to help
each individual reviewer choose an album that will match their musical
tastes more closely. When I was deciding what band to review for
this article, I wanted to do something odd for me, and I saw 36 Crazyfists
labeled simply as "nu-metal." Now normally the phrase nu-metal would
make my brain become overwhelmed with personal bias and refuse to pay the
band the nicety of a listen or two. Upon hearing 36 Crazyfists, I
was blown away and will never judge a so-called "nu-metal" band again;
Crazyfists possess a remarkable amount of talent and style that is not
generic nu-metal, and maybe not nu-metal at all. Picture a molotov
cocktail made from a slightly altered voice of Glassjaw frontman Daryl
Palumbo, elephant stomp guitar riffs, enticing and melodic hardcore screams,
tight drumming, and old school metal guitar solos (at times) and stir nicely.
Light it with a flame of passion intense enough to melt the snows of Mt.
McKinnley (the tallest mountain in both Alaska and the U.S.) and you've
got 36 Crazyfists.
The band formed in 1994, but didn't really
make much of a splash in the continental U.S. music scene until relocating
to Portland, Oregon and releasing Bitterness the Star in 2002.
With the release of A Snow Capped Romance, the band intends to further
define their unusual sound and it sounds to me like they know what they
are doing.
"At the End of August" simmers into
a taunting riff and a nice drumbeat before lead singer Brock Lindow speaks
a creepy little interlude under voice distortion. Next, this song
(apparently bemoaning a fading friendship) is peppered with hardcore-worthy
screams and Glassjaw-worthy soaring vocals, before closing with some sweet
driving riffs. Guitarist Steve Holt shines on "The Heart and the
Shape," his old-school metal notes busting out before a System of A Down
worthy riff infused with squealing metal strings. Lindow pulls an
alternating wavering Glassjaw falsetto and hardcore screams that is strangely
effective over the power riffs backing his vocals.
"Bloodwork" finds Holt playing a creeper
riff before bursting with some old metal jams and Lindow somehow takes
the Glassjaw voice and makes it almost Mars-Voltan during the chorus.
"Kenai" shrieks in with some major feedback, and then another set of chugging
SOAD riffs and hardcore screams that spread homesickness like an actual
disease as the band talks about missing Alaska (or do they?!). By
its powerful end, the song is back with the wailing feedback from the start.
"Skin and Atmosphere" is a more laid-back
song with a fuzzy guitar background allowing Lindow to sit back and vocally
coast. The cascading chorus and interludes have Holt experimenting
with some watery guitar effects. Towards the end more SOAD riffs
and metal notes flourish in harmony, and drummer Thomas Noonan keeps his
mellow to quick drumming nicely in check. "Song for the Fisherman"
is a short clean guitar and Linkin Parkish soul-search the album could
have done without.
"With Nothing Underneath" is loaded with
steady drumming and bass (by Mick Whitney the bassist), solid guitar (with
a some nice clean parts) and the vocals are soaring and screaming all over
again. "Destroy the Map" is a radio friendly soft rock jam.
The strange vocal stylings of Brock make the clean to distorted guitar
parts mesh well, and this is a more laid-back track. "Installing
the Catheter" starts with ominous notes into a quasi metal riff before
switching back again.
The vocals on this song again alternate
between radio friendly hard rock and underground hardcore acts. Some
female guest vocals spoken over a airy set of guitar notes next erupts
into a rapid-fire drum beat and solid metal riffs and a powerful rendition
of the chorus, making this song seem a little fresher towards the end of
the album then the last two songs. "Cure Eclipse" is a solid Nu-Core
fusion song that should please most fans of heavier music, yet is still
accessible to their more mainstream friends, and Brock still finds new
ways to alter his abnormal vocals on the song's verses. "Waterhaul"
has a beautiful, watery guitar start that invokes images of thawing rivers,
and then chugging riffs blast out full force with some nice start-stop
drum beats. This is an excellent close to the album, and it vaguely
reminds me a little of Tool's radio stuff for some reason.
Call it geographical isolation, or
call it unbridled artistic vision. This CD is wicked fun, and this
comes from someone who normally laughs at the worthless stylings of radio-friendly
nu-metal acts, opting instead to listen to bands like Shadows Fall or Avenged
Sevenfold. Though not ungodly in its technical guitar pieces, the
metal riffs are tight, exciting, and oddly invigorating. The drums
and bass are adequate, but not spectacular. The thing that caps this
album's place in my CD tower for me however is the vocals. Strange,
familiar, yet wholly unique, Brock Lindow's voice is odd and a true blessing
for a band that has typically not been able to be heard due to location.
I highly recommend this CD, and its well worth it; these Alaskans are thawing
out the dying genre that is "nu-metal."
CD Info and Links
36 Crazyfists - A Snow Capped Romance Label: Roadrunner
Records
Rating:
Tracks: 1. At the End of August
2. The Heart and The Shape
3. Bloodwork
4. Kenai
5. Skin and Atmosphere
6. Song for the Fisherman
7. With Nothing Underneath
8. Destroy the Map
9. Installing the Catheter
10. Cure Eclipse
11. Waterhaul
Posted by dudefromcanada:
Combining spiritual (emotion) and physical (sound), this band has the perfect balance.
There is no other band like them, and this album is in my CD player more than any other.
Posted by Clifford:
Their album"A snowcaped romance"kicks ass!!!
Posted by Jim:
Don't worry i'm sure the guys don't mind being called nu-metal, hardcore, punk, or even pop:p as long as you like dig the final product.they'r just head to head with my other fav band mudvayne.awesome albums especially ascr
Posted by Cameron:
Hardcore with a dash of emo and Destroy the Map proves it. I love 36CF, A Snow Capped Romance is by far my fave album of 2004
Posted by MIKE:
I LIVE HERE IN ALASKA AND I HAVE SEEN THEM EVERY SINGLE TIME THEY HAVE COME BACK
THEY PUT ON A MONSTER OF A SHOW AND I HUNG OUT WITH BROCK BEFORE CHRISTMAS
HE IS A GREAT GUY AND THE BAND IS GREAT TO
SCREW THE GENRE LABELING
JUST CALL THEM A HEAVY ASS BAND
Posted by egirl:
love this band. saw them in Chico earlier this year. met them afterwards - amazing musicians and even more amazing individuals. to see 36 CF live - a definite life altering experience.
Posted by BigAK:
I was just at the show last sunday at the egan in anchorage. ANchorage hasn't seen them since last year it was a warm hard earned welcome. They rocked hardcer then u can amagine they started the tour in anchorage last year and they ended it on Sunday It was F***in Awsome
Posted by murdog:
Just saw 36 Friday in Portland, they are rocking so f*ckin' harder than before they went on tour. They are playing faster and harder than evr. Does the guest Raithan have a band?
Posted by Sam:
Great band, awesome live shows. The energy they give off can burn you when you see them in concert. I don't care if you don't mosh, these guys will bring that out of you if you see them in concert. Both albums are wonderful, but I prefer Bitterness the Star...it seems more real to me and I can better connect to the message of the lyrics.
A must have, seriously.
Posted by Child of Bodom (again):
Okay i just read Patricks comment and there is one thing i must say to him. That is 36 is so far from Christian it is not even funny. If you have ever heard Bitterness the Star, you would know that...
Posted by Child of Bodom:
This second album isn't as good as their first because you get better vocals from the first, but all around this album kicks ass
Posted by slappy:
I dont usualy randomly buy cd's but the guy at the music store recomended it and said I wouldn't regret it and he was right 36cf is easly one of the best bands ive ever heard. with there complex guitar riffs and there amazing vocals there shure to get your blood pumping.
Posted by vice:
i agree with rich.. nothing like glassjaw..
Posted by Vice:
hey guys. i just wanna see peoples opinions.. do u guys think slit wrist theory sounds like linkin parks style of music? coz i dont. linking park sucks..noob bands.. heopeless... so wat u guys think??
Posted by Rich t:
i've been a 36cf fan for almost three years. ascr is definatly my favortie album of all time.... i'm not very impressed with this review tho.... song for the fisherman is cool.... and how can u compare 36 to bands like soad and glassjaw... 36 is nothing like them... there is no band like 36cf they have they own awesome unique sound that no one can compare to...... and another thing they r not nu-metal! u cant classify 36cf.... they r unique
Posted by killbitch in berlin:
one of my all time favorite albums....JUST AWESOME!!
Posted by dana:
i saw these guys in anchorage the first time in 98 at an old place called gigs. ibeen a fan since and cant wait for them to get their asses back to anchorage.the show in april 04 was the best.come back boys
Posted by matt stinson:
36 crazyfists "A Snow Capped Romance" is my all time favorite cd! i come from alaska as well and am friends with steve holt's nephew, so i got to acctually meet the guys and they are AWSOME! i hope everyone picks up a copy1
Posted by Aaron Carpenter (again):
I just read the post about RAithan... yeah i want to meet him sometime, i know his family, i was hoping i could be introduced to brock and maybe i could get a word of advice about the industry.
Posted by Aaron Carpenter:
Dude... 36CF Kicks Bootay, I just discovered them recently. As A Fellow Alaskan i would like to say... Alaskans can be just as good as all you lower 48 people!!! ROCK ON!
Posted by Zer0:
36 Crazyfists is fuqqing awesome. Slit Wrist Theory is by far one of their best songs. So. Like. PwNeD?
Posted by JRF:
Well i think this something we can all agree on: If you can't listen to them LOAD then don't. LOAD & if possible LOADER is better. 36CF rule!
Posted by Erica:
I have no complaints about this band whatsoever. One of my favorites and they've definitely got a unique sound, which is such an awesome quality that many bands don't seem to have anymore. There's no defining or explaining their music, it's just them :-)
Posted by Patrick:
And lest we not forget, they are a christian based band.
Along with Norma Jean, The Bled, 12 Gauge Valentine; 36 Crazyfist fall under the genre Hardcore Christian.
Posted by Patrick:
Yeah, this isnt Nu-metal people.
Nu-Metal sucks.
36 doesnt.
They are hardcore, theres quite a difference.
Nu-metal uses synthesizers and the crap, sorta like techno and metal thrown in a blender with loads of suck.
Posted by Dave:
Wow damn I like this band its so awesome this is the best nu-metal band ever!!
Posted by Mark:
Thanks Daniele
Posted by Daniele:
Okay. so the main controversey (sp?) here is what genre they fall into. let me ask you this. does it matter? why not class them what you want, while respecting other's opinions as well. not all people have the same opinions. come to think of it... why class them at all? they are very talented musicians, who are enlightening the lives of many. including me.
Posted by Asaghon:
This is no damn NU-Metal. It's Hardcore. And it's damn good. Best cd I bought since Dead Blue Sky, wich is my favorite group.
Posted by Mark:
Thanks RJ for the compliments, and I do agree with your thoughts on "Destroy the Map's" guest vocals. I am really happy you enjoyed my review enough to buy the album, mainly because I like to convey through my writing how good (or how bad) a musical endeavor is, and help people find things that fit their styles, tastes, and interests. Whenever someone tells me that I helped, I am very grateful. Thanks again.
Posted by RJ:
I had Bitterness the Star and wasn't that eager to get this disc, then I read this review. I figured wtf, and picked it up. I am blown away. Definitely a huge hardcore influence on this disc as compared to BTS. The guest vocals of Raithon Clay, I guess a friend of Brock's, are awesome on "Destroy the Map." Good review.
Posted by Matt:
36 Crazyfists is indeed one of the best bands in their sub-genre, which is nu-metal. Lindow can sing like if he had a tremolo on his throath, which is hard to do, and hard to find in bands nowdays.
Posted by Mark:
Thanks for all the feedback you all.
Posted by Ashley..again:
ooook... No, I agree, they are DEFINITELY not punk! What punk are you listening to? I'm thinking 'punk' is ... AFI, Rancid; something like that. They do have a lot of metal influence. Whatever the hell these guys are, I like it.
Posted by Ashley:
I love 36 Crazyfists! I love the singer's voice, it's very unique and gives the music a great twist!
Posted by gm-ak:
p.s. - If you get a chance to see 36 CrazyFists in concert, DO IT!! You won't be disappointed. They definitely bring it when they play live.
Posted by gm-ak:
I've been a fan for a while (I'm from AK) and I LOVE this album. Clearly I'm biased, but the growth the Fists show on this album is evident when you compare it to Bitterness. Bitterness is also a good album and I recommend it to anyone that likes ASCR. As for the categorizing, they grew from their influences - metal, hardcore, whatever they were listening to. Their music is just that, theirs and I like it.
Posted by Mark:
For the record, I haven't...my dad has been to Russia though
Posted by GabdaG:
I'm from Russia and this is my favourite band even though I've never been to Alaska you sick skcuF! Have any of you been to Anchorage by the way...
Posted by Hobo:
Hey I've got nothing against you stealing reviews, provided that the band isn't someone I blindly worship. In my opinion, 36 CS are an aggressive, hardcore-influenced nu-metal band. Yeap, thats right. Nu-metal. But that doesn't HAVE to be a negative generic label, the reason why 36 CS took me by surprise is because they've found a way to escape sounding like a stale and generic nu-metal band. They've breathed some new life into the genre. They are not a punk band. The other interesting tid-bit I picked up while doing a bit of Crazyfist research was that the vast majority of the fans are those goddam obsessive nu-metal tards I hate ever-so-much. 'They R NOT numetal' 'I LUV 36CS AND THEY R THE BEST AND ANY1 WHO THINKS OTHERWISE IS A LOSER!' 'If yo dont liek 36 then u r just jealas' - all that. Asshat fans aside, not a bad album.
Posted by Mark:
Lol I am sorry Hobo!!! I didn't know I stole this review from you...if I ever start to do that again just tell me...by the way, what about them kept the band in your opinion kept them to a "3.5" rating? I'm interested to hear what the great Hobo has to say.
Hey Voice of Reason, thanks for the input...these guys are really good and I only wish I had followed up on them earlier I heard about them a while ago and I just never listened till later...which I now regret lol. I am sorry if I pigeon-holed them as "Nu-metal" as I don't honestly think they are of that genre; in my mind they seem to expand past it and give it a whole new dimension. The hardcore influences are definently there, and I hope you enjoyed the review!
Posted by the voice of reason:
crazyfists RULE. I'd heard about em, but didn't get to hear their stuff til like a year ago, since then they've been my faves. And no, they're not nu metal, they'er more of hardcore/punk band.
Posted by Hobo:
Damn Mark, I almost wrote a review for the band, but I was thinking more 3-3.5 instead of 4.5! But agreed, they are a numetal band that didn't bore me out of my mind. Good review too mate.
