[REVIEW] 36 Crazyfists – Collisions And Castaways

36 Crazyfists’ fifth studio album Collisions And Castaways truly brings something to the table and more. It presents a diverse array of phenomenally well-crafted songs and memorable lyrics that will undoubtedly leave you wanting more.

The record opens with the partially instrumental track “In The Midnights.” It starts off with melodic acoustic guitars and a slightly curious/mysterious vibe. At 1:26 however, all hell breaks loose with Thomas Noonan’s explosion of impressive drum work and the ear-catching lyric “I ran with the dead!”

“Anchors” and “Reviver” are hands down (in my opinion) the best songs on Collisions And Castaways. Both tracks really stand out with crunching guitars, in-your-face drumming, and Brock Lindow’s impressive vocals. They are clear-cut examples of how this band has progressed musically since their 2002 release Bitterness The Star.

The record then comes to a close with “Waterhaul II,” which is part 2 of the song “Waterhaul” off of their sophomore release A Snow Capped Romance.” This song really, really brings together all of the elements that were expressed in the previous tracks and compresses them into a true work of art. The song switches off between instrumental and pure ferociousness, each fighting to overpower the other. The clean vocals also add a sense of mysticalness.

In all honesty, when I got this album to review it, I had never heard the band’s material and was slightly hesitant to sit down and give it the full attention needed when reviewing. Around halfway through the cd however, I was hit with the realization that this was actually very impressive. It captured my attention and washed away every preconception I had about the record. For those diehard 36 Fists fans that go to every show and run home from the music store to listen to every new record, you will be pleasantly surprised with Collisions And Castaways. As for the rest of their fan base, new and old alike, pick up this album as soon as you can. You will be absolutely blown away by the amount of talent and heart that exists within this cd.