Despite the state of today's tumultuous world, the Alaska-bred, melodic metal band 36 Crazyfists are inspired to look beyond the negative and aggressively emphasize the positive. They are able to distance themselves from the pack by never resorting to stereotypical metal rage while maintaining their heavy roots. Whether front man Brock Lindow addresses road fatigue, self-worth or accountability, the music is fueled by a contagious enthusiasm and optimism in the face of frustration.
The band's third album Rest Inside The Flames is a record of this and comes across as an energized batch of modern anthems built upon a pyre of swarming emotions, stomping, surging rhythms and vocals that seesaw between scathing rage and melodic regret. And the band's universal, contemporary sounds are earning them an army of fans across the world, especially in Europe, where they have been embraced by thousands of people, playing main stages at some of the biggest rock festivals on the continent. It's easy to see why. Rest Inside The Flames offers a fresh take on aggressive music that simultaneously revels in strength and vulnerability, while carving a path of self-reliance and personal expression as wide as an ocean basin.
"I'll Go Until My Heart Stops" begins with a barked verse that builds into a climactic roar before leveling off in a contagious chorus. "Elysium," is a colossal slab of brutality filled with dense, chugging breakdowns, yet buoyed by unexpected blasts of melody. And "The Great Descent" opens with a plangent guitar arpeggio and pain-stricken vocals before building into a hailstorm of slamming beats and angular riffs. In addition to being more lyrically revealing the album is also more musically developed and heavier than their previous work. "There's a lot more double-bass than before and a lot more mosh parts," Lindow says. "We've always been pretty heavy live, but it hasn't really translated on record before. So, with this one, there was more of a focus to make sure the songs would rock as hard on the record as they will in concert." A perfect juxtaposition to the thematic heaviness of some tracks, "Aurora" is about the magnificence of the Northern Lights and how they reflect the magic of love and life. "On Any Given Night" addresses the quest to stay upbeat when thousands of miles away from friends and family and "Midnight Swim" is about having the strength to take advantage of second chances. "We live in a country where you can chase your dreams and have more than one chance to make them happen," Lindow says. "The song is about the people who chase dreams and the journey that goes along with that."
36 Crazyfists started working on Rest Inside The Flames in February 2005, less than two months after they stopped touring behind A Snow Capped Romance. By September they had most of the songs written and in October they entered the studio with producer Sal Villaneuva, who has worked on albums by bands like Thursday and Taking Back Sunday. Lindow says. "He is very melodically in tune, but he also knows how to get killer metal tones, so it was awesome working with him." While the sessions were long and sometimes grueling, the band generally enjoyed the recording process -- especially when friends came over to help them out.
Former touring partner and Killswitch Engage singer Howard Jones fulfilled an old promise to collaborate with the band by adding guest vocals to "Elysium" and Only Living Witness singer Jonah Jenkins pitched in on "We Cannot Deny." "Only Living Witness was one of our favorite bands growing up, so we really wanted him to be on the record," Lindow says. "Over the years, I made friends with him online, which is a little weird. But he lives in Boston so he came down to New Jersey when we were recording, and that was awesome."
Formed in Anchorage, Alaska in 1994, 36 Crazyfists named themselves after a Jackie Chan film, and immediately created a buzz coming out of the frigid scene. When their original bassist died in a car accident in 1996, they moved to Portland, Oregon and persevered. They soon made friends with propulsive thrash band Skinlab, who passed their demo to the A&R department at Roadrunner Records. They were signed in 2000 and immediately entered the studio to work on their debut album Bitterness The Star which came out in 2002 established the band as a powerful new force. Lindow grew up quite a bit since then and his new lease on life shone through 36 Crazyfists' 2004 album A Snow Capped Romance, which showcased positive lyrics with accompanying heartrending melodies that shared elements in common with emotionally expulsive performers like Thursday and Thrice. The band supported the disc on tours with Killswitch Engage and Poison the Well and remained on the road until December 2004. A month later, the band started writing songs for Rest Inside The Flames.
From the ominous arpeggios and ecstatic, distorted ring of "Felt Through a Phone Line" to the skewed chug and harmonized chorus of "On Any Given Night" to the tumbling beats and barbed licks of "Midnight Swim," 36 Crazyfists gives a new twist to familiar themes and leaves listeners energized with fists clenched. "We have fun making music and I think that comes across," concludes Lindow. "Hopefully, at the same time, we can connect with people and help them deal with whatever's going on in their lives so they can have a good time as well. That's what it's about for me, trying to connect with people and hopefully everybody's enjoying themselves and having a good time."
06/06/2008 - DRAGONFORCE - ZP Theart Is Hard To Please! By Chris HarrisAnyone who's ever played "Guitar Hero" knows full well that one of the game's most challenging tracks belongs to DragonForce, the British power-metal ... 27/02/2008 - DEVILDRIVER: New video interview with Dez A video interview with DEVIDRIVER frontman Dez Fafara conducted by Rick Florino of ARTISTdirect.com can be viewed at this 07/11/2007 - 36 CRAZYFISTS video interview Singer Brock and guitarist Steve recently spoke to FaceCulture. Take a look at the video below. And in case you were unaware, 36 Crazyfists are ... 07/11/2007 - 36 CRAZYFISTS Rest Inside The Flames Review II Well sure, there are more than 2 reviews of this album, but here's Justin Donnelly's take on it. After gaining some attention with their Roadrunner ... 07/11/2007 - 36 CRAZYFISTS Rest Inside The Flames Review Check it out, the Metal Forge critiques the new 36 Crazyfists album. Third time round the progression has slowed The first time I heard Alaskan ... 07/11/2007 - Video interviews with ROADRUNNER Bands See below for a slew of online video interviews with RR bands. Among the acts featured: DRAGONFORCE THROWDOWN OPETH HATEBREED CRADLE OF FILTH DEVILDRIVER BLEEDING ... 07/11/2007 - Watch the new 36 CRAZYFISTS video Here it is, "I'll Go Until My Heart Stops", from their forthcoming album, "Rest Inside the Flames”. Commented vocalist Brock "The Rock" Lindow: "We usually ... 07/11/2007 - 36 CRAZYFISTS E Card Rest Inside The Flames is the name of the forthcoming third 36CF album. Check out this kick ass new E Card with audio, wallpapers and ... 07/11/2007 - RR Artists on HEADBANGERS BALL With the 3rd instalment of Headbangers Ball due for release, a selection of RR artists offered comments about the show. Question: Were you a fan ... 07/11/2007 - 36 CRAZYFISTS Mixing Update Steve Holt, guitarist with 36CF offered the following news on the band's forthcoming album. 'Rest Inside the Flames' is the title, and here's what Steve ... 07/11/2007 - 36 CRAZYFISTS release album title 'Rest Inside the Flames' has been announced as the title for the band's third album. Commented guitarist Steve Holt: "Brock and I are back in ... 07/11/2007 - An entry from the 36 CRAZYFISTS Studio Diary 36 Crazyfists are currently in the studio recording their third album for Roadrunner. A posting from guitarist Steve Holt on the band's official site reads: ... 07/11/2007 - 36 CRAZYFISTS pre production update Guitarist Steve Holt has posted the following message on the band's official web site: "Today marks the official beginning of pre-production for us. Our producer ... 07/11/2007 - 36 CRAZYFISTS headed for pre production It's been a while between drinks for 36CF, but it looks like they are back in the game. "We are wrapping up the writing process ... 07/11/2007 - ROADRUNNER UNITED The complete assessment Here it is… everything you need to know about the forthcoming All Stars Sessions CD. The complete details have been announced for the upcoming ROADRUNNER ... 07/11/2007 - ROADRUNNER UNITED 'The All Star Sessions' A special release celebrating Roadrunner's 25th birthday. This is no mundane comp either! Roadrunner Records has put together a groundbreaking record to mark the label's ... 07/11/2007 - Roadrunner All-Stars – It gets grander every day Roadrunner Records has advanced in the process of putting together the groundbreaking "Roadrunner All-Stars" record to mark the label's 25th anniversary. The full-length release will ... 07/11/2007 - ILL NINO Studio update “Overall this is the strongest Ill Nino album ever,” says drummer Dave Chavarri, who is co-producing the album with Eddie Wohl (36 Crazyfists, Anthrax). “We ... 07/11/2007 - 36 CRAZYFISTS writing new music! 36 Crazyfists are back home after their European tour, and have announced they are working on their new album. "Well, it looks like the beginning ... 07/11/2007 - Top Ten's for 2004 A selection of Roadrunner artists have submitted their Top Ten albums for 2004. Some will surprise you, and some will not. Dave Pybus - CRADLE ... 07/11/2007Digital Noise on 36 Crazyfists Digital Noise have reviewed the forthcoming 36 Crazyfists album 'A Snow Capped Romance', and as you can see from the score below, it has inspired ... 07/11/2007Top Ten's for 2004 A selection of Roadrunner artists have submitted their Top Ten albums for 2004. Some will surprise you, and some will not. Dave Pybus - CRADLE ... 07/11/200736 CRAZYFISTS Video 36 Crazyfists have recently completed their new clip for 'Bloodwork'. Lifted from their most recent album 'A Snow Capped Romance', you'll see that the clip ... 07/11/200736 CRAZYFISTS writing new music! 36 Crazyfists are back home after their European tour, and have announced they are working on their new album. "Well, it looks like the beginning ... 07/11/2007RESIDENT EVIL E Card Check out the new E Card for the forthcoming Resident Evil: Apocalypse soundtrack. You can hear samples from each track that is on the compilation. ... 07/11/2007ILL NINO Studio update “Overall this is the strongest Ill Nino album ever,” says drummer Dave Chavarri, who is co-producing the album with Eddie Wohl (36 Crazyfists, Anthrax). “We ... 07/11/2007Roadrunner All-Stars – It gets grander every day Roadrunner Records has advanced in the process of putting together the groundbreaking "Roadrunner All-Stars" record to mark the label's 25th anniversary. The full-length release will ... 07/11/2007Resident Evil – Apocalypse Tracklist And here it is, the soundtrack for the Resident Evil – Apocalypse Soundtrack. 1. Slipknot - Vermilion 2. The Used - Just A Little 3. ... 07/11/200736 Crazyfists Review (USA) When I heard 36 Crazyfists were coming out with a new album, scepticism first came to mind. Some of my favourite bands had gone in ... 07/11/200736 Crazyfists review (UK) Just when you thought that 35 Crazyfists would be enough Further proof that when metal bands finally get it right, they do so in style! ... 07/11/2007Have you seen… Kerrang Australia's June issue has quite the coverage of Roadrunner acts, and within its pages you can find: -Slipknot Cover -Killswitch Engage 'The End Of ... 07/11/200736 CRAZYFISTS Bloodwork Video Yessss, 36 Crazyfists are set to shoot a video for the track 'Bloodwork' which is of course lifted from their most recent album 'A Snow ... 07/11/2007ROADRUNNER UNITED 'The All Star Sessions' A special release celebrating Roadrunner's 25th birthday. This is no mundane comp either! Roadrunner Records has put together a groundbreaking record to mark the label's ... 07/11/2007New RR videos Three or five (depending on how you look at it) new RR videos are soon to be unveiled. 36 Crazyfists have completed the clip for ... 07/11/2007ROADRUNNER UNITED The complete assessment Here it is… everything you need to know about the forthcoming All Stars Sessions CD. The complete details have been announced for the upcoming ROADRUNNER ... 07/11/2007Video interviews with ROADRUNNER Bands See below for a slew of online video interviews with RR bands. Among the acts featured: DRAGONFORCE THROWDOWN OPETH HATEBREED CRADLE OF FILTH DEVILDRIVER BLEEDING ... 07/11/2007Watch the new 36 CRAZYFISTS video Here it is, "I'll Go Until My Heart Stops", from their forthcoming album, "Rest Inside the Flames”. Commented vocalist Brock "The Rock" Lindow: "We usually ... 07/11/200736 CRAZYFISTS Rest Inside The Flames Review Check it out, the Metal Forge critiques the new 36 Crazyfists album. Third time round the progression has slowed The first time I heard Alaskan ... 07/11/200736 CRAZYFISTS Rest Inside The Flames Review II Well sure, there are more than 2 reviews of this album, but here's Justin Donnelly's take on it. After gaining some attention with their Roadrunner ... 27/02/2008DEVILDRIVER: New video interview with Dez A video interview with DEVIDRIVER frontman Dez Fafara conducted by Rick Florino of ARTISTdirect.com can be viewed at this Rest Inside The Flames Rest Inside The Flames A Snow Capped Romance A Snow Capped Romance Bitterness The Star Bitterness The Star
