36 CRAZYFISTS | Lanterns | Album Review

Alaska doesn't really seem to be a hot spot for many bands, let alone heavier bands that incorporate a bit of metalcore into their work, seeing as how one of the more notable ones comes in the form of 36 Crazyfists. Surprisingly, the band has gone on since the late 90's in the independent scene, but was signed to Roadrunner Records in the early 2000's resulting in two albums being made with the label, those albums being "Bitterness The Star" and "A Snow Capped Romance". Even though these were the only two discs produced on the label, it's amazing that these guys have gone on and produced albums even without the support of such a huge label for metal acts. There was a five-year hiatus between albums after 2010's "Collisions And Castaways", but this is a band that has been making music even though the style they played in was slowly shrinking in attention, and that is also taking into account the fact that these guys were never really tone of the flagbearers of the genre as was Killswitch Engage or Shadows Fall. It's also surprising to me considering that really those first two, maybe three records were the only genuinely good albums from this band. If you really examine albums like "Time And Trauma" or "The Tide And Its Takers", there is very little to offer with these albums other than choice moments due to it being so status-quo and at times offputting. And with their seventh major-label album, "Lanterns", the trend of them releasing unimpressive music continues. You would think that maybe there would still be at least a little bit of allure to help you get through the album, and to their credit there are a few moments here and there, but overall, it's undoubtedly more of the same. 

I'm going to be very blunt by saying that this album nearly had me falling asleep at points because there are multiple songs on this track list that sound so similar to tracks from their other albums, as seen on tracks like "Damaged Under Sun" and "Bandage For Promise". This record was stated to be a more personal record for the band by a few sources, but I'm not seeing it translating well at all on this record when there is so much that sounds utterly lifeless and generic. If you really listen to the riffs on songs like "Laying Hands" and "Below The Graves", or even the first single "Death Eater", and how they're structured, they prove my point very well. The songs start off with generic metalcore riffage which bleeds into the verses of these songs along with a poor vocal performance by lead vocalist Brock Lindow, and eventually evolve into a cluttered boring mess of ideas. There is nothing about any of the material recorded for this album that elicits any type of emotional response from the listener, even though some of these tracks do have sections within them that sound alright. But, they really don't expand upon those ideas because it feels like 36 Crazyfists are so focused on creating records that simply just go into one ear and out the other, with occasional aspects that will get on your nerves like Lindow's screamed vocals on tracks like "Old Gold", and even tracks like "Better To Burn" and "Death Eater". Really, his performance on the album pales in comparison to albums like "A Snow Capped Romance", and that includes the singing, which will only help in making the listener go to sleep faster at night if they need something to help them snooze. 

Now, I won't exactly say this album has NOTHING that shows promise, as there are two softer cuts on here entitled "Where Revenge Ends" and album closer "Dark Corners", and to be fair, the song "Wars To Walk Away From" isn't terrible either. But, overall, this album is really flat and contrived. They aren't necessarily going downhill, but are just moving on a very flat surface and I have high doubts that they will ever arrive back to the summit again. I guess you could say that this album isn't for me, but I know there is much better out there, even within 36 Crazyfists' own discography. This year itself has seen some good metalcore efforts that aren't so stale and unadventurous. If you like 36 Crazyfists and can somehow see the appeal in this album, you'll probably enjoy it fine, but that's the recommendation line really stops. For those looking for something good to listen to, avoid this at all costs. This album will not exactly make you angry or anything like that, but since it is so forgettable, that's really the saltiest wound of this album, and sometimes that is the biggest problem with any kind of music, not just this style of music. Overall, to sum things up in the best way I can, this lantern used to shine bright but now has burnt out and will stay burnt out for a long time. It's easily one of the worst albums I've heard all year.

RATING: 2/10

What did you think about the record? Was it good? Was it bad? Let me know in the comments below. And of course, these are only my opinions. If your opinions are different, awesome! If they're similar, then that's great, too. So, don't hesitate- comment to me about it down below. Take care.