CD Review: Chevelle, Killswitch Engage, and what?? TFK???!!!

Ok, this post is a little outdated, but better late than never, right? Being a longtime Chevelle fan, I picked up their newest release, 'Sci Fi Crimes', on day one. I thought for sure it would be a favorite. Well, to be honest, it didn't exactly blow my mind or even get my head banging much. That's not to say it's a bad CD, it just didn't exactly catch my ear like their other releases did. I absolutely love 'Vena Sera', it's still to this day one of my favorite CD's. But back to Chevelle later (which will have to be in another post, since I'll be reviewing their concert with the Sick Puppies).

The other CD I grabbed was Killswitch Engage's self-title. For the heavier side of metal, I usually turn to them, but I have to be in the right mood for them. I had passed on getting this one a couple of times in the Buy More just because their CD's only make their way into my player once in a while. But I kept looking at the DVD that came with it, and what really clinched the purchase for me was their cover of Dio's 'Holy Diver.' I had heard that tune on the radio months ago and was wondering if it would ever make it onto a CD cuz they just hit that one out of the ballpark. I mean come on, Killswitch covering Dio.....that's a no brainer. Seriously, that's like the Reese's Chocolate and Peanut Butter Cup of heavy metal!

Ok, so now I've got these two new CD's fighting for my attention. I kept forcing myself to listen to Chevelle, hoping it would grow on me (which it eventually did), but for some reason I could not stop listening to Killswitch. The more I listened to it the more I liked it. It's now become one of my favorite by them and in fact, one of my favorites CD's of the year.

Then, out of nowhere, TFK dropped. Like a bomb. I had no idea the rock trio (Thousand Foot Krutch, for those not in the know) was working on a new CD until I happened across it at the Buy More. After their last CD, I thought they were done. Fini. Split up. Over. With all that's happened to me the past two years, I've had less time to follow bands online, so I guess I just assumed they were done or at least gonna take a break for a while and do some side projects. (I think the singer actually did put out a release of his own). More of the songs on 'The Flame in All of Us' seemed 'poppier' than their earlier releases (usually a sign that a band is on the decline), and then at the end of 'Wish You Well,' after the fifteen second pause, there's a song that might as well be entitled 'The Last Song,'.......and if you listen to the lyrics, it sure sounds like the band is breaking up and saying goodbye to their fans, but I guess I could have been misinterpreting that. (Oh, and one aside--Am I the only one who thinks the song 'What Do We Know?' sounds exactly like an Our Lady Peace song?)

Anyway, 'Welcome to the Masquerade' hit and I immediately picked it up when I saw it at Buymoria. TFK is one of those bands I'll buy whatever they put out without hearing a single note (unlike OLP anymore--but that's another story...) The cover itself was intriguing enough of what aural treats might exist inside. After the first listen, I knew TFK had done exactly what needed to be done at this point in their career. They reinvented themselves while still keeping their signature sound in a way that I haven't seen a band do since Silverchair released 'Diorama.' Diorama was touted by one of the critics as being one of the best rock records ever. But after my first listen I didn't agree--pretty much because it wasn't 'heavy' enough for my tastes. But after a few listens I began to really hear and absorb all the musical layering that was going on and the different melodies that were being used in each song and I soon hopped on the bandwagon too--Diorama is one of the best rock records to come along in a long, long time. Until now. Masquerade definitely gives it a run for it's money. So here's a brief track by track breakdown.

The Invitation: An instrumental that starts out with some distorted guitar and slowly builds up, bringing you into..........

Welcome to the Masquerade: Crunchy guitars riff the intro and then they bust out into full TFK mode. I love the lyrical mash-up they do on the chorus:
"I'm not afraid, I'm not ashamed, I'm not to blame, welcome to the Masquerade;
I'm not ashamed, I'm not afraid, I'm not ok, welcome to the Masquerade..."

Fire it Up: Not quite the anthem like Rawkfist, but this song rocks harder than anything they've done since 'The Art of Breaking.' Love the way they break it down to just piano and a whispered vocal in the middle....really grabs your attention.

Bring Me to Life: A piano melody and some distortion start out the track before the guitar riff breaks out and kicks it into gear. Beautiful chorus but then they come out of it with the amps at 11. Some serious agrro follows before the track ends.

E for Extinction: Starts out making you think that maybe this will be one of the lighter tracks on the CD, then totally busts out some head banging riffs, followed by some vox that play with the 'Masquerade' concept. This is followed by a guitar riff that's even heavier before going back to the chorus and out.

Watching Over Me: This is actually one of the lighter tracks on the CD, but somehow there is so much emotion pouring out of the song that just makes it so much better than anything on The Flame in All of Us.

The Part That Hurts the Most (Is Me): Mid tempo song that anyone who's gone through a break-up can associate with. Then again, during the middle of the song, they bust out the heavy aggro riffs and before you realize it you're driving down the road banging your head screaming along with the song lettin' out all that pent up aggression!!! =)

Scream: Another TFK therapy session, yet here again they explore the possibilities of using contrast in music. During the middle of the song they break it down to piano and drums and Trevor sings the word ' scream' instead of actually screaming it, followed by some faith-strengthening lyrics that have helped me get through many a day: "It's not a joke, I've felt as messed up as you do, I've felt the feelings you've been feeling, been through the same things you've been through, and I know how hard it is to feel like you're alone, we've all been given a second chance, but the choice is all our own...."

Look Away: Possibly the only ballad on the CD. Still leagues better than the lighter songs on their last CD IMO.

Forward Motion: Good, straight ahead rocker.

Outta Control: Bust it out, time to go heavy again. "In a world where confusion is only an illusion, and fear itself is just another weak-minded solution....I live in a generation with too much information, instead of bonding together, we bring anger to the nation, my faith is the only thing I've got, and no one can take that from me....."

Smack Down: Here you go, you know they had to do it.....even though it's a completely different song unto it's own, if there's any song that's gonna come close than this is the one: Masquerade's version of Rawkfist!!!

Already Home: Ok, so there is one other semi-ballad on the CD, but the way the song is structured and everything is layered (violins, I think, at the beginning), it's the perfect ending to a journey you didn't know you'd be taking when you first put this CD in.


That's all I'm gonna say on this one. If you buy or DL one CD in the next 6 months, make sure TFK's Masquerade is in your collection.

(To read any of my past music reviews check out my website: www.universeocean.com and click on The Verse. Of if you're a science fiction fan, I've written a Space Opera and you'll find bits and pieces of it on the website. The book is not published yet, but I'm still searching for an agent at the time of this writing.)