25 Records of Christmas, Day 4: Thousand Foot Krutch

There's a phrase that is known in the music industry as a "return to form". While I know many people who read my blog are familiar with the concept, let me explain to be sure everyone understands. A return to form is when a band, for whatever reason, moves back to the style that made them popular at the beginning of their careers. Today's record is probably the biggest example from 2012 I can give for a return to form. The return of Thousand Foot Krutch.
TFK is another band I've been listening to since high school. In comparison to Linkin Park, the band has been known for pushing the boundaries. Sadly, in Christian music, there's not a lot of room for what I would consider "experimentation". There's a specific model, and if you don't match up with it, you can move on. Many people who know me, already know where this is going. I don't listen to much Christian music anymore. I listen to bands I've grown up on, and some new artists, but that's about it.

2012 saw TFK's return from a three year hiatus, which started with them leaving their long-time home of Tooth & Nail Records. They've had good success from Tooth & Nail, but as a fan since their start, I knew just by listening to the music and seeing updates from the band, they were being forced to subscribe to a certain model. After leaving Tooth & Nail, they put together a Kickstarter page to fund their next album. They raised tons more than what they needed, and succeeded in putting out The End Is Where We Begin. The title is appropriate, with the material focusing on what made them popular back in the day.

Thousand Foot Krutch, The End Is Where We Begin

Right from the beginning, lead singer Trevor McNevan is back with his signature vocal stylings, and he's picked the mic back up to rap as well. The rapping that was present primarily in their first album, Set It Off, had widely been gone from other records. The End… features it, and quite primarily. "Light Up The Sky" is a perfect example, showcasing the fun and rock jam style the band has come  to use. Heavy rock tracks abound, such as "Let The Sparks Fly," and probably the best track on the record, "Courtesy Call".

The band is always known for being focused on promoting Christ, and the album is definitely on point when it comes to that aspect. The tail end of the album features some softer ballads, almost acoustic even. Another ballad, "Be Somebody" is simply a cry out to God, asking Him to be the main reason why the band does what they do. It's quite beautiful, and reminds this fan much of one of their biggest hits from 2003's Phenomenon, "This Is A Call".

A return to form, for many bands, can either be good or bad. Most of the time, changes in musicianship can and will lead to experimentation. What is most important with any band, and especially TFK, is to remember where you came from, and make sure that the mission is still intact. For TFK, this new album represents a rebirth, and the fans have proved they want more. The End… is probably the best material from the band in years, and will live on for quite a while after they're gone. A return to form, indeed.