REVIEW
Thousand Foot Krutch: Mastering 'The Art of Breaking'
By Jennifer E. Jones
CBNmusic Producer
CBN.com
– Few artists have kept their fans salivating like Thousand Foot Krutch. Their 2003 album, Phenomenon, put them on the map as rock anthem songwriters, making even the most timid Christian listener want to pump his or her “Rawkfist”. For two years, we endured reports that an album was underway, and the boys from Canada even skipped out on their GMA Week showcase to finish up the phantom project. Anticipation was building. Could they deliver?
Apparently, they could.
This week Thousand Foot Krutch unleashes The Art of Breaking on the Tooth and Nail label, and the rock world finally exhales.
Breaking does not disappoint. It’s 11 tracks of power that give you just enough time to breathe before you’re banging your head again. The album kicks off with the radio single “Absolute”, a plea for truth in a world drowning in emptiness. Frontman Trevor McNevan gets some bass in his voice to strengthen the chorus. The echo of whispers during the bridge adds for a nice contrast.
“Absolute” is just the beginning of TFK’s experiments with sound on the album. “Hurt” has soft moments of piano playing that offset their guitar-heavy chorus.
The first five tracks lead up to the "rawk"-worthy side of Breaking. The last half of the album contains hit after hit of the bass-infused beats and empowering lyrics that are TFK’s signature.
Trevor’s vocals hold on for dear life during “Hand Grenade” where the chorus picks up the pace. “Watch me get wicked and drop like hand grenades,” he taunts. Also, in a throwback to the ‘80s metal hair bands, TFK’s guitars run rampant with high-pitched solos. It’s loud, raucous, and promises to make a good live show.
“Move” is reminiscent of “Bounce” in that rock rhythm that’s hard to sit still to. It starts with the low whisper: “Look, listen to my voice / If you’re making the choice / Tell all the girls and the boys / Either scream or rejoice / Let’s make that noise / Either move or we will / Or be destroyed”. Then it blasts into that hip-hop beat that runs underneath unrelenting guitar riffs.
“Hit the Floor”, “Go”, and “Make Me a Believer” follow suit in the anthem theme of Breaking. It’s as though TFK emptied the album of filler tracks and made the songs ready for radio. They’re certainly ready for the road. The tracks are solid with mosh-pits practically built into the melodies.
Breaking makes a point to come up for air. “Breathe You In” is a ballad dangerously along the lines of “This Is a Call”. It stands apart as a song about a weary soul breaking down into worship, saying, “Through the highs and the lows / There’s a truth that I know / And it’s You / I’ve always been strong / But can’t make this happen / ‘Cause I need to breathe / I want to breathe You in… So tired of running”.
The wait is finally over, and TFK has delivered on their promise to make this album even better than Phenomenon. Expect radio rock hits and concerts that will keep your Rawkfist held high.
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