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THOUSAND FOOT KRUTCH
"Oxygen:
Inhale" (Self-produced; 2014)
Reviewed by Jeff Rogers
This is the seventh disc from Canadian
Christian rock band Thousand Foot Krutch. I've been with these guys since their
first disc and I really look forward to each release. They always have a few
great cuts that keep me rockin' and, since I've seen them in concert at Creation
Fest, I'll always have that experience. I hope to see them again sometime
because they really know how to rock the house.
This disc is bluesy and also rocks in certain areas. The guitar runs the gamut
and each track has a cool hook (you can tell the radio singles above the rest).
The first three cuts really shine the brightest. This album was done through
Pledge Music. I see a lot of bands doing this and I think it's a cool way to
keep your favorite artist going. I hear a lot of rap rock on "Oxygen: Inhale"
but not so much that you skip any tracks. These guys know how to combine the two
and create some head-banging music.
The lyrics lean toward a higher power but they don't push anything at you. They
talk about their own lives and how God leads them. It's an invitation and you're
welcome to it. I like TFK because they sing their songs with passion with no
overuse of any instrument. These guys put an album out every two or three years
so I'll be waiting eagerly for the next one.
TFK: Trevor McNevan - producer, vocals, guitar, acoustic guitar; Joel Bruyere -
bass guitar; Steve Augustine - drums, percussion.
For more information -
http://www.thousandfootkrutch.com.
"The
Art of Breaking" (Tooth & Nail; 2005)
Reviewed by Jeff Rogers
Sometimes I stumble onto good
music. I was searching for Tool at my local bibliotheca (they have a lot of music you probably forgot about) and
when “10,000 days” came up, underneath it was Thousand Foot Krutch. I thought hmmm, catchy name, let’s research
'em. Turns out they’re a Christian rock band so, okay, let’s give 'em a shot. Well, like I said, sometimes
I stumble onto good music. This time I tripped and fell for it.
Thousand Foot Krutch has reflective lyrics without ever pushing anything but
rather inviting you to look at yourself based on your relationship with others and
with God. It’s suited for both secular and non-secular crowds. The band incorporates the rap/rock/metal trio like Linkin Park but don’t sound like them at all. I like the guitar of Trevor
McNevan. He can rip out a solo just when you think there won’t be one. He also adds some weird guitar noise all throughout the
disc.
I like the Christian bands of
today. They are rooted in scripture but they’ve still got that tough sound that appeals to the testosterone crowd. I require three things from a
song: guitar, vocals and guts. Thousand Foot Krutch have great vocals, the songs are painless to listen to, and each has a chorus hook that will have you singing along in no time.
If you like P.O.D., Pillar, or Kutless then you will love Thousand Foot Krutch.
The best Krutches are "Absolute," "The Art Of Breaking,"
"Stranger," and "Hurt."
Thousand Foot Krutch: Trevor McNevan – vocals, guitars; Joel Bruyere – bass; Steve Augustine – drums.
For more information, check out http://www.thousandfootkrutch.com
or http://www.artofbreaking.com.
"Phenomenon" (Tooth & Nail;
2003)
Reviewed by Jeff Rogers
When this review gets posted, then
I'll unofficially be the Thousand Foot Krutch guy. Such an honor. Thousand Foot
Krutch caught my attention with their 2001 and 2005 discs. I’ve recently found the meat in between the sandwich and I’ll bet a triple that you’ll like this band.
The guitar is punchy and crunchy. It's got a melodic sound to it and it’s always going. I didn’t hear solos like
there were on “Art Of Breaking” but there is filler continuously so I won’t take points off for a bad routine. The music is catchy and if you’re not singing along or bobbing your head, then you need to turn it up.
The lyrics are easy to digest, no pushy stuff; sometimes you just wanna rock and this disc doesn’t come across as pretentious at all. The message of hope is still there and it’s reflected by the slower songs. I think that TFK
were casting their nets around this time to see who they could catch for new fans and who
the followers of Christ were.
Christian music often has the prefix “Christian” so that you know it's either kid friendly or
"safe." The suffix can be whatever music is being represented. TFK have a rock-rap style but neither genre gets in the way when they plug in and plow
straight through. “Bounce” is more of a rap song than any other while “Rawkfist” has a great combo of rock and rap.
The album cover is unique because the guy being “taken up” is the guitar player for Demon Hunter, Don Clark. Secular music seems to battle for first place or bragging rights so to see two bands share in each
other's success is refreshing.
The best tracks are “Step To Me,” “Last Words,” “Rawkfist,” “Quicken,” and “New Design.”
Thousand Foot Krutch: Trevor McNevan – vocals, guitar; Jamie Aplin – guitar; Joel Bruyere – bass; Steve Augustine – drums.
For more information, check out http://www.thousandfootkrutch.com
or http://www.myspace.com/thousandfootkrutch.
"Set
It Off" (Tooth & Nail; 2001)
Reviewed by Jeff Rogers
With a great message and a lot of 'tude behind
them, Thousand Foot Krutch mix a combo of rap, metal and rock in this, their
first effort.
Christian rock has a stigma associated with it
because most people don’t want a message with their music, but when you
venture toward Christian rock you have to know what’s in store. The good news
is that TFK are not so preachy that you get turned off and miss the music
altogether. Instead, they have an infectious groove that borrows from Limp
Bizkit, Linkin Park and P.O.D. They also blend some Red Hot Chili Peppers in and
swing the pendulum from rap to hard rock evenly and without blurring the two.
When they rock, the riffs are monstrous; when they rap, the rhymes are illin'.
“Everyone Like Me” sounds like it was taken from any Kutless record. TFK
covers EMF’s “Unbelievable” and I questioned their remake of this song
because of the lyrical ending of the original song ... but I think that TFK are
trying to reach those who listen to any style of music. That is how Christian
rock has been able to grow, by meeting people where they are and taking them on
a spiritual journey. TFK change the lyrics but keep the chorus (that’s all
anyone remembers from that song anyway).
Tracks 14 - 18 are from the band's 1998 indie release “That’s What People
Do.”
Thousand Foot Krutch: Trevor McNevan – vocals, guitars; Joel Bruyere – bass;
Steve Augustine – drums.
For more information, check out www.thousandfootkrutch.com.
Rating Guide:
A classic. This record will kick your ass.
Killer. Not a classic but it will rock your world.
So-so. You've heard better.
Pretty bad. Might make a nice coaster.
Self explanatory. Just the sight of the cover makes you wanna hurl.
Copyright © 2015 by R.
Scott Bolton. All rights reserved.
Revised:
12 Aug 2024 14:33:59 -0400
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