Review by Rachel Jablonski
If the name 36 Crazyfists is in reference to the number of fists at one of their shows, the band must definitely be crazy. If you do the math, let’s see carry the one, that would only be 18 people in the crowd! After hearing their sophomore album, A Snow Capped Romance, I definitely know better than to expect that small of a draw. The latest release is a solid mixture of great rock jams and sincere emotion sure to capture a large audience.
“At the End of August” begins the album with steady progression in volume and musical attack. The song is full of well blended instrumentation, gruff vocal styling, and melody. The pleasant melodies among rough musical edges are consistent throughout the album creating a serene listening experience.
The song called “Bloodwork” is a great track. The song starts out with dominant bass, extremely gentle guitar, and a brisk drum beat. As the song picks up in intensity, penetrating vocals hook the listener. Crafty note sequences compose the chorus making it difficult to forget. The song is a burst of energy sparking unswerving emotion.
A far away sounding guitar provides an excellent backdrop in “Song for the Fisherman.” Distant echoed vocals add a feeling of reflection; internal thoughts of past times. With slightly more intensity, drums and bass break in drowning out the spoken words to some extent. But the message is clear. Intriguing is the story told by the song. As the words are spoken the listener drifts away with mental imagery. As the song reaches a climax the air becomes absolutely still, the music slows, guitar is again alone, and the vocalist’s voice drops as he says, “...and this is the song for the fisherman." It's a powerful piece that screams to be heard again and again.
A Snow Capped Romance gives off a positive vibe with effective, often soft guitar riffs, great melodies, screams, and heavy backdrops. The album starts off with great promise, but by the end all sounds starts to mesh leaving the final songs somewhat dull. Overall the effort is impressive and surely 36 Crazyfists will draw many more fists than 36 when on tour.