The Tide And Its Takers Review

Release Date: May 27, 2008
Label: Ferret Music
Genres: Metal, Metalcore
Number Of Tracks: 11
Metalcore journeymen return rejuvenated, with a new record label and their strongest effort to date.

Sound:	9.3
Lyrics:	9
Impression:	9.3
Overall rating:	9.2
Users rating:	9.1
Comments:	30

overall: 7

Featured review by: UG Team, on may 27, 2008

Sound: Metalcore has almost become a bad word at this point. When the genre first started sprouting its wings years back, it injected much needed virility to both the metal and hardcore scenes. The problem is, too many younger bands started popping up everywhere who didn’t have a deep understanding and/or respect for the respective sounds involved. What we have been left with is way too many bands bastardizing the style. 36 Crazyfists originally came out of Alaska (yes, an unlikely place) and hit the scene with their Roadrunner Records debut album, Bitterness the Star in 2002. While the band went out an admittedly “nu-metal-ish” sound on their earlier material, they started infusing their output with a harder, metalcore style. The Tide and it's Takers is the band’s latest effort and it proves to be the quartet’s brightest moment. // 7

Lyrics and Singing: Brock Lindow has always had a powerful voice and he’s done a formidable job on the earlier albums but his performances here are a completely different animal. His clean delivery has come along a long way showing off power and melodic charm with every line. His crooning on songs like “The Black Harlow Road” and “Clear the Coast” tempers the heavier sections perfectly. This brings me to his more traditional death shrieks. Years of relentless touring seems to have paid off for Lindow as his screaming delivery has never sounded as damaged and potent. Walls of Jericho’s Candace Kucsulain joins the front man on “Vast and Vague” and the pairing turns out to be a nice mid-album change of pace. The album follows a storyline about a ship in peril but you can just pick up at any point and the lyrics are just as intriguing. With lines like “Let’s just pretend for a second that nothings wrong and we’ve grabbed horizons by the throat and moved along,” you know Lindow has definitely read his share of Hemingway. // 7

Impression: The choice of the always dependable Andy Sneap (Testament, Nevermore) as producer was a wise move by the musicians. On top of the exciting performances he coaxed from Lindow, he lends the guitar and bass parts enough bottom end to cut through the arrangements but not outshine them. This is the kind of balance a band like this really benefits from. Steve Holt lays down the best riffs of his career. He twists and turns single note passages creating cascading figures that keep songs like “Absent Are the Saints” forceful yet musical. Sneap captures Holt’s thick tone better than any other previous producer they’ve been in the studio with. it's funny how many albums that come across my desk are lacking in this aspect. But this isn’t just the “Andy Sneap Show” and the band should get the credit they’ve justly earned here. Just when I was about to count them out for good, they’ve gotten past the setbacks and focused all their energy on actually improving every single thing they do. That is the mark of a veteran band who knows what they are doing. A lot of people will probably shy away from this album because of pre-conceived notions but 36 Crazyfists deserves your attention this time out. // 7

overall: 10

Reviewed by: Slinov, on may 30, 2008

Sound: This album is perfectly constructed and produced. Every song fits in with the other, and the instruments are balanced to give you a full sound experience. This album is up there with the rest of how well they have performed with their other albums. There isn't a bad song at all, be it from the kick-ass screamed songs to the soft spoken acoustic songs. // 10

Lyrics and Singing: The album altogether is a sort of concept album, talking about a boat at sea going to war (from what I've been told). The lyrics are warming and well written, being able to take you through different moods with Brock's vocal ability. As usual, not a bad lyric, and there's something worth quoting in each song. // 10

Impression: This album is a must buy. I've been anticipating it for months, and it's anticipation paid off. I have known this band for a short time (only a year or so) but I can tell you hand on heart this has to be some of their best work yet. I know what you're thinking, "He's a fan, he's asskissing", but even if I wasn't a fan, I think I would enjoy this album. Metalcore may be a dying genre, but the crazyfists are there keeping it alive. // 10

overall: 9.7

Reviewed by: Kieran-Clinch, on june 02, 2008

Sound: 36 Crazyfists are a band that over the past year I have grown very fond of. There sound is, I have to say, some of the best out their. "the Tide And it's Takers" is the best sounding album to date. it's a album that has broken out of their usual liner ways. The band has matured and have found a very stable sound which can bring a tear to your eye or just make you want to mosh till your back breaks. The Bass, Guitar and drumming is a standard up from what it used to be. This is present in the songs "The Tide And it's Takers", "Only a Year or so" and "Absent Are The Saints". From the slow acoustic guitars to their metalcore roots the whole album isn't far off perfect. The only complaint is that I can see someone getting a bit bored of a few of the songs very quickly // 10

Lyrics and Singing: Brock Lindow is one of the finest singer on the scene at the moment. "The Tide And it's Takers" really shows this. Out of the whole band I really think Brock deserves the most credit. his voice has got deeper and more (again) mature. He brings this out in the songs "Absent are the saints" and "The Back Harlow Road". The lyrics are tasteful and suit 36CF very well, for example "Only A Year Or So" (which is my favorite song) the contrast between such a heart wenching subject of being away from home and going to war and then it to break it up with harsh machine gun beat makes this one of the most lyrically perfect song on the album. Th only problem is some of the songs lyrics are very predictable. // 9

Impression: Overall I love this album. It really brings about the emotion and feelings from the bottom of my soul but at the same time just makes me want to see them live. The best thing about this album is how Brock has matured in a lyrical sense and how his voice has changed, not too much but in a way that makes me want to just go and see them live again. In my opinion this album is up there with "Bitterness The Star", every 36CH fan and too be fan with love this album. // 10

overall: 10

Reviewed by: unregistered, on may 28, 2008

Sound: 36 Crazyfists return with their latest album The Tide And it's Takers, and I have to say it is nothing short of astounishing. Every song is beautifully crafted and demonstrates each members' ability incredibly well. Brock's voice has, in my opinion, never sounded better, Steve is certainly branching out with his guitar skills, Mick holds down the low end really well and Thomas' drum fills are absolutely brilliant. As a bassist, I would have liked a little more audible bass on some tracks, but that is really just my own preference. Heavier than their last two albums, The Tide And it's Takers is sonically breathtaking and will be on constant repeat for weeks to come. The guest vocalists from Twelve Tribes and Wall Of Jericho and the female vocals on Only A Year Or So really give this album a whole new depth and just make it so much more than many albums being churned out these days. // 10

Lyrics and Singing: Many singers and lyricists in metal these days just seem to spout the same kind of "I hate you, I love you, I'll kill you" lyrics which has made the genre a bit clichéd of late. Brock Lindow as both a singer and lyricist is, in my opinion, one of the best the world may ever see. The Back Harlow Road is possibly one of the best examples from this album of how he crafts riddles and poetry and then delivers them with a voice that is truely unique. The lyrics really do sell this record as they deal with varied topics including war, love and optimism, and reflect the band's isolated backgorund. // 10

Impression: I've been waiting for this album since the day the title was anounced, and I have to say that the wait has been well worth it. 36 Crazyfists have never made a bad song, let alone a bad album and this latest effort keeps their 100% record well and truely intact. The Tide And it's Takers is a fantastic album, never once leaving you bored or wanting more. Musically, it is one of their heaviest works to date, but with all the usual melodic brilliance that we all come to expect from them. The All Night Lights is a bludgeoning opener, which sets the pace for We Gave It Hell to fit perfectly. The heavy songs such as The All Night Lights, Clear The Coast (featuring Adam Jackson from Twelve Tribes) and Absent Are The Saints complement the slower like the poignant Only A Year Or So and the closing title track, giving the listener a varied aural assault which guarentees repeat listens. If I had to name favourites, they would probably be The Back Harlow Road, Vast And Vague and Northern November. This album will no doubt divide opinion, as Brock's voice has become harsher and at time makes them seem very samey. Trust me though, this will be a passing thought and you'll soon forget about that as you are sucked into one of the best albums you'll hear this year and even several years to come. // 10

Comments

[Slinov]

This album arrives for me today

I'll be writing a review for it.

[t3h guitar n00b]

Got the album, really does top their previous efforts. Screaming is great.

[evil_in_you]

Andy mixed, but Steve Holt, their guitarist produced

[sgt. shaft]

i'm from alaska, i'm surprised. i mean, i'm not into metal but i've heard of these guys, everyone knows them, but i'm surprised they got so big

[Fecker]

STEVE HOLT!!!

[RUSTDOGG666]

well idk about the whole metalcore thing. sounds something made up like screamo and shit like that. i do like the tones in the guitars thats really good. lyrics are good and the singing and screaming are pleasing to the ear. the samples on "in a year or so" is deep. theres a good impression and also in places it sounded like these guys or some of them went through a bad relationship and they're writing about it which is good to get those feelings out in music. i also like the heaviness on this album. its a job well done for 36 crazyfists and I give it a strong 9.

[ChrissyChiChi]

The thing that kills me about most metalcore bands is they just sound identical nowdays. Try this out..pick a random as i lay dying song through guitar pro, then pick one of it dies today or august burns red or anterior or any of the other dozens of completely generic metalcore bands and look at the guitar parts. Its a complete joke, they are 99% all in c minor (provided they are in drop c, if its drop d then its d minor) with pedal note riffs based around frets 5 7 8, with the pedal progression being 0 to 8 to 7/5. Most riffs are played once on their own, then a second time with a third harmony. Its actually soul destroying to see that little originality. You could take a bar from one bands song, a bar from anothers and a bar from anothers and it would sound exactly the same.

I accept coming up with something completely original is hard, but learn more than one ****ing scale! Mix it up a bit! Its like bubblegum pop, very very easy listening to its easy to get stuck in your head and easy to write (hence soo soooo many of those bands) but gets very very repetitive quickly..oh look another screamed verse followed by a clean chorus..what a suprise!

Ahem that said i have a soft spot for 36 crazyfists as they were one of the first heavyish bands i got into, although the new stuff i heard from this album i did not dig, starting to sound like all those other bands, Brocks voice has lost alot of its uniqueness too by the sound of things.

[undeaded]

You can't just not say I don't believe in metalcore.

Screamo is a made up genre, Screamo is just mainly post-hardcore stuff anyway.

I got a preview of Absent are the Saints from Metalhammer. Much 'heavier' than Rest inside the flames. Still not convinced.

[Vermal]

FUCKING AWESOME ALBUM
Mine and slinov's arrived today and we've listened to it ALL DAY!

Deserves more than 7 imo ¬¬

[WangmasterHizzl]

Best effort since Bitterness the Star, instantly got into the album, awesome live act.
36cf, its like sex in my ears.

[Spoony_Bard]

This is a good album, but no 36CF album will top A Snow Capped Romance. Anyway, THIS BAND ROCKS.

[farhan_zul]

metalcore or post-hardcore??
the older stuff is post-hardcore rite??

[kornball82490]

This album is easily a 9 to my likings, recently was introduced to 36 crazyfists and i love em. every song that plays on my zune is marked as a favorite within the first 30 seconds. not many bands do that for me these days. great piece of music here.

[Rhitard]

I LOVE this band
This review sounds like it's an album worth listening to, so I can't wait to hear it now.

[kryptonite22]

undeaded wrote:

Screamo is a made up genre

absolute bollocks. i guess every genre is technically 'made up', but real screamo has much more history and depth than a lot of people can be bothered to find out.

[Craigo]

Screamo is a made up genre, Screamo is just mainly post-hardcore stuff anyway.

There is a screamo group on UG who beg to differ.

I listened to this album after recommendations. I was sick of chug chugs throughout, it got boring quick.

[S.D.M.F.]

36 Crazyfists... "Screamo" or "Metalcore" i'm gonna buy it because ^ THEY made it!

[Spacessj]

This is great! I'm going to see them at Graspop

[ItWillDo]

This album kind of ruined 36 crazyfists for me. This sounds like some shitty hardcore band. Not even 1 song which I really like, while Rest Inside The Flames had tons of good songs.

What a shame, I was really looking forward to this one.

[smive]

Fecker wrote:

STEVE HOLT!!!

+1

okay album but not their best imo

[Spacessj]

This album is great! ANyone care to make a back harlow road tab?

[TheAmenCorner89]

One of the few metalcore bands I quite like (others being Lamb of God, Trivium and Shadows Fall). Haven't heard this album yet, but Thier last 2 albums have been good listens, hope this one has moved away from the metalcore aspect a little.

[Mihyaeru]

All subgenres are made up as in itsd just a word used to try and describe the sound....but tbh i find they get a lil redicluous I mean you eventually get to the point where your saying something so specific the name is about 5 words long! Trying to pigeonhole music is annoying tbh imo.

[Mihyaeru]

but as far as the album goes I quitel iked Snow capped romance and the songs ive heard off bitternes the star were good too so hopefully this is jsut as good

[thebigal]

What can i say, i think this CD is fantastic.
I had never heard of these guys until reading the review. I went out and bought the CD it sounds great.

yeah so they use G tunning, but i love that sound.

[Langerz1991]

Fecker wrote:

STEVE HOLT!!!

GARY HOLT! > steve holt =D

[Conor360]

thebigal wrote:

What can i say, i think this CD is fantastic.
I had never heard of these guys until reading the review. I went out and bought the CD it sounds great.

yeah so they use G tunning, but i love that sound.

they use drop c tuning actually like every other metalcore band out there

[Conor360]

i will have a review up soon since i have nothing else to do during this summer.

[the agony scene]

i thought this was better than rest inside the flames i didnt like it upon the first listen but its really grown on me, a sign of good music in my opinion.A snow capped romance is their best dont think theyil ever surpass that

[=Roach=]

-UG
A spot on review here, you've definately done your research aswell it seems.
This album, like the past three surpasses any expectations I may have had. The Tide And Its Takers definately opens your eyes widely to a band I think is MOST deserving of the recognition most bands today lack.