Review Summary: In the end, A snow capped romance is a classic American metalcore album, in the same ranks with Killswitch Engage's "Alive or Just Breathing".
There are few metalcore bands that polarize me like 36 Crazyfists. They have a unique sound that is either loved or hated, and vocalist Brock Lindow has one of the most unique sounds in metal music today. The problems with 36 crazyfists arise, thankfully, only at the live shows where songs, especially those off of 2004's "A Snow Capped Romance" are performed twice as fast and without the technicality and vocal prowess that is actually displayed on the album. Putting my feelings about their live show aside, 36 CF has managed to create many an amazing soundtrack to teenage angst like no other group today, and have defined themselves as pioneers of the metalcore sound.
What "A Snow Capped Romance" has managed to do is define the sound that would become expected of 36 CF, and thrust them into mainstream metal. The album starts hard, with that track "At the end of August", drilling the heaviest feelings of the album into one track, as well as introducing the listener to Brock's greatly improved vocals, no longer sounding like a sheep as he did in their 2002 debut. My only gripe with this track is the overly long introduction, that really isn't needed to make this track hard-hitting. The second track, "The Heart and the Shape" channels System of a Down-like sounds, but still manages to incorporate a unique individuality that is present throughout this album. "Bloodwork" is obviously the most well known 36 CF track, and manages to incorporate a winning formula in creating a metalcore sound that is capable of being popular with the general public, something also achieved by bands like Killswitch Enagage. The albums real peak is the fourth track "Kenai", which is not only heavy, but contains the best chorus found on the entire album, with heavy guitars and soaring vocals to bring this masterful track to one that should be held up with other metalcore masterpieces.
The album the shifts gears slightly with "Skin and Atmosphere", a track that specifically shows off Brock's vocals and the melodic metalcore sound. More impressively than the vocals on this one is the amazing guitars that truly carry this track well and bring it to a stunning conclusion. The weakest point on the album is the "Song for a fisherman" which is far to slow paced to be effective and seems to be quite out of place. As if the album has restarted and requires the listener to wake following the boring interlude is the strong track "With Nothing Underneath", followed by the track "Destroy the Map" featuring puzzling guest vocals in that they are horribly auto-tuned and also are difficult for Brock to hit live, thus making this song pointless, no matter how strong it is. The final 3 tracks bring the album to a strong close, each with unique sounds and strong vocals.
In the end, A snow capped romance is a classic American metalcore album, in the same ranks with Killswitch Engage's "Alive or Just Breathing". With it's own unique twist on the metalcore sound, 36 CF will certainly be around for many years to come in the scene, even though this sound is abandoned on their later efforts. This album will certainly be adored for years to come and show exactly what it means to be a metalcore band.
