36 CRAZYFISTS - THE TIDE AND ITS TAKERS [CD]
 

What can I say, I got this CD with no thought of it being anywhere near as good as it is. Not saying that I expected it to be bad, I just didn’t think it would be this good. This is a very hard-hitting album! This album hits the ground running, with the immediate opening track sounding like something you would expect from a band like Unearth or As I lay Dying. There is a lot screaming on this album, which is very well executed. There are also a few death growl’s thrown in there. Maybe there will be some pig squeals on the next release.

This album is a heavy album and does fit very snugly in to very popular genre of metalcore. There are beat downs, tasty riffage, large drums and some top screaming. But the thing is that it still retains everything that people like about the band, strong melodies, catchy sing along choruses and a nice level of contrast and diversity across the album. The album develops as you listen. The album starts off very heavy and hard hitting, but after a few songs you get to hear those big epic melodic choruses, especially on the track “The Black Harlow Road”.

The difference between this album and a lot of other metalcore albums is that everything seems to glisten with simplicity and perfection. They don’t need to have any massive wanky guitar solo’s or tech/math time signatures, their sound is just so in the pocket. They really know how to create that monster groove, which you’d have to be dead to not want bang your head along with their thunderous riffs.

None of this is really that surprising considering that these boys having been together for 14 years! That’s a long time and it clearly shows that they really know each other and know how to create musical perfection. The album is so easy to listen straight through and the slightly more chilled out “Only A Year Or So” and the title track “The Tide And Its Takers”, give it that contrasting edge that gives the heavy songs that extra power, by not having an album that is heavy all the way through.

This album proves that 36 Crazyfists are really on top of their game and that they have truly progressed as a band. I really cannot wait to hear the next instalment, as I know it’s going to be something even more special.