36 Crazyfists are a group that hail from the wilds of Alaska and formed in Anchorage in 1994.  This is their 3^rd studio album, previous releases being “Bitterness the Star” in 2002 and “A Snow Capped Romance” in 2004.   

The first track of the album, “I’ll Go Till My Heart Stops”, is introduced with full blooded barking vocals from vocalist Brock Lindow, in true Aggressive Metal style, that managed to distort all my synaptic pathways, ruptured both eardrums and left me a gibbering wreck for at least 10 minutes.  Once I had managed to calm myself down I took the cowards line and turned the volume down a bit so I could at least try to listen to what they had to offer. 

Based on the opening lines I wasn’t really looking forward to this album, because I am not a huge fan of aggressive metal.  But as the album plays out it becomes apparent that they are not sticking to the stereotype that is Metal Rage, but manage to intersperse the scathingly hurtful Rage Metal with some very fine Melodic Metal which results in an exciting batch of high energy songs.  The rhythms and vocals surge like a tidal wave washing over you, swamping you firstly with aggressive rage and then gently patting you dry with some very fine melodies.  The closing track to the album, “The City Ignites”, is the only track that is slightly different.  A lot slower, more acoustic guitar with gentler vocals, almost as if they are letting you calm down, slow your heartbeat, wipe the sweat from your brow because when the music finishes you will be entering normal time and space again. 

I am still not a fan of the Aggressive Metal genre, but this album crosses certain boundaries and has made an impact on me. This is an album with attitude.  An album that is full of powerful emotions ranging from all out anger all the way down to heart wrenching grief.  An album that is bound to be a hit with Hard Core/Metal/Nu Metal/Rock fans.