4 Band: Thousand Foot Krutch
Title: Welcome To The Masquerade
Label: Tooth & Nail Records
Release Date: September 8th, 2009
Reviewer: Shawn H.
Tracklisting:
- The Invitation
- Welcome To The Masquerade
- Fire It Up
- Bring Me To Life
- E For Extinction
- Watching Over Me
- The Part That Hurts The Most (Is Me)
- Scream
- Look Away
- Forward Motion
- Outta Control
- Smack Down
- Already Home
Thousand Foot Krutch have shown that their musical talent & diversity still is full throttle. Welcome To The Masquerade begins with “The Invitation”, a instrumental track that is something uncharted for Thousand Foot Krutch, with grateful addition of keys in the background. The title track “Welcome To The Masquerade” brings disappointment in it’s eerie resemblance to the album’s first single (“Bring Me To Life”), although the chorus is quite catchy. The third bombshell on this album, “Fire It Up” has already garnered it’s mainstream success with it’s use in G.I Joe trailer & on NHL 10. “Bring Me To Life”, the band’s first single from this album, fits quaintly in this album’s genre. “E For Extinction” demonstrates Thousand Foot Krutch’s talent in soft rock, while bringing Trevor’s heavy vocals to the chorus, & with lyrics such as ‘We Live For This & Nothing More, We Are What You Created’ shows that spiritual integrity is still an important part of Thousand Foot Krutch’s lyrical repertoire. “Watching Over Me” could easily be a FM Static song, which makes you wonder why it’s even on this album. “The Part That Hurts The Most (Is Me)” & “Scream” fill the middle of the album with typical Thousand Foot Krutch-style rock. But, that all changes when we reach “Look Away”, an acoustic brilliance that might just be the greatest song ever written by Thousand Foot Krutch. Honestly, words cannot describe the impact that this track had on me. “Forward Motion” & “Outta Control” create a nice transition to reach “Smack Down”, a toe-tapping & hand-clapping track that could easily have been on someone’s album in the 80s. We are then greeted to our departure with “Already Home”, a soft outro track, with a hint of violin at the beginning, simply hearing ‘I Am On My Face, & I’m Calling Out Your Name’ in this final track’s chorus brings us back to reality of our spiritual thirst for our God.
Overall:
While many may disagree, Thousand Foot Krutch has grown to a more mature group with Welcome To The Masquerade. Yes, some of their tracks do have what seems to be a repetitive nature, but the sheer brilliance of their stand-out tracks (“Already Home” & “Look Away”) is definitely something that should not be overlooked. Trevor once again has shown us that his lyrical repertoire is filled with great spiritual excitement, spiritual thirst & a knowledge that we are only a small piece in this puzzle we call the universe.
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A mid-20s crazy Canadian with a passion for music, technology & social issues. 
| Jonathan, 2 hours ago.
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I really hate the album artwork. That woman freaks me out.
I actually think the album art is some of the best merging of a bands logo and the theme/title of the album.
Well, you pretty much nailed it with this one. Most of the tracks on this album are of typical TFK style, not much new here. The two tracks that I really enjoyed here “Look Away” and “Already Home,” the same two you specifically pointed out in this review. They both are great songs with a lot of spiritual influence that you can definitely hear. Great review, OK album.
The joys of you hearin’ the album because of being with me!
Does this mask make me look fat?
This is a better album than some of the past material but I still don’t know if I’m the biggest fan of this band or not. Hmmmm…..
P.S. This album IS great so don’t get me wrong, I do enjoy it.
What are your favourite tracks, Brandon?
Shawn
Have you heard TFK yet? It sounds awesome and is personally the rock album of the year for me. It is the most complete record to date.
Brooks G., I actually wrote the above review…lol
Word on our rating system..shouldn’t the descriptions for 7 and 8 be switched?
Manuel, I think they are right. 7/10 means it’s good with some great songs while an 8/10 is a great album with a few flaws. Seems about right to me.
the mask makes it look like a KKK album.
Agreed! I was walkin’ with my boys and along came 4 teenagers with those masks on! What the?! Disgusted!!
The album cover is painfully obviously photoshopped. The graphic is too slick and too… fake. Bleh.
horrible band, so is their cousin FM Static. silly canadians and your bad bands.
hawk nelson
sum 41
avrial something
and more……
The Canadians have alexisonfire. They are single-handedly better than almost all of Solid State’s roster.
TFK might not be the best out there, but they are good if you just want a straight ‘rock & roll’ album. And besides, if terrible bands like AC/DC can get away with sounding similar album after album, why can’t a good band like TFK, who actually have a different sound on all their albums.
Demon Hunter also gets away with this.
Canada also has Starfield and Relient K…
right, a white mask is the exact same thing as a white hood. i heard that the phantom of the opera was a clansman as well
no, it’s more the general shape, not that it’s a mask or a hood.
and the first gut reaction, whether technically correct or not, is the one that will stick.
Exactly! We’re 1/2 black. And when you meet up with 4 guys in a dark parking lot wearing those… what do you think? Come on… let’s get real. If someone is not willing to admit the obvious… then maybe there really is a racist underlying reason for it. Either that … or make it bright yellow! They’re all making themselves look like… “the good ol’ days”…
“if terrible bands like AC/DC can get away with sounding similar album after album, why can
Your wrong about Relient K being Canadians. More like Americans.
AlexisonFire is good. Not better than all SS bands. That was cute though.
Have you really listened to AC/DC? They have about 4 different songs that they just change the lyrics to. I used to be a fan…then they just got old and repetitive.
Also, isn’t Relient K from Toronto?
Ok nevermind on RK. They’re from Ohio. Crazy.
matt t moved to ohio from canadia when he was a wee lad. duh.
“i didn’t vote but i’m not proud cus i’m canadian and i’m not allowed”
p.s. this is the best tfk album.
Tyler is probably right, this is the best Thousand Foot Krutch album. I didn’t much like the other ones which weren’t even in my itunes up until this last weekend. I am going to give this new one a few more spins though.
You forgot Nickelcrap. : ) Either way, I agree with Bumpgalletta.
Tyler and Brandon, definitely the best TFK album to date! My review got lots of views when TFK, Overture Media, and some others ReTweeted my review! Great review Tyler! Has anyone got their hands on the new The Almost album yet? I just did, and it rocks!
Where did all of you find this album already?
@Jake: Tooth & Nail’s Publicity Department has shared a 128kbps stream to us….
……or a download in my case from T&N.
IT should be the best rock album of the year…. check out my page all about tfk
http://thousandfootkrutchrock.blogspot.com/
You know I really have a problem with christian bands or christians in a band or whatever that don’t uplift or edify me. I especially find it sickening when a band says it’s ok to sin and enjoy the free ride to damnation. For the most part I feel that this goes along with a lot of the bands that are on this site. For example when you have a song by TFK called Smackdown with lyrics like,
“Come on, let
That seems a bit harsh. Are you uplifting or edifying TFK right now? It doesn’t sound like it. Kind of a take take relationship? You should find out the bands’ intention first. If they don’t line up, then pray for them. Why go on a Christian website just to tear these bands down? I also think you should actually check out a lot of the bands on this site. It sounds like you’re just generalizing all the bands who aren’t MercyMe or Jump5 or whatever they sell at Walmart.
Even if TFK is trying to get a song on WWE, is it a bad thing for a christian band to be played in a nation wide arena? Just think of the potential. A non-believer hears the song, likes it, checks out some more of the band’s music. They like it, and proceed to check out more bands from the label. Before they know it, they’re listening to lots and lots of Christian bands. Maybe this will lead to salvation. Is that so crazy of an idea? People are called to different areas. Can we really be that willing to reject, because it’s not what we want? I just don’t understand the negativity. Let’s always remember the story about the plank.
um. wow. we all know where to find romans 6.
wicked is just an expression sometimes. like “that’s sick”, does not mean it is ill.
I don’t agree with everything trevor ever says, but I can guaruntee that he was not imploring for people to sin.
in the words of balki (sp?)…do not be ridiculous!
Seriously, if a non believer is going to get saved, it’s from hearing the gospel of Jesus Christ through repentance not listening to some walk the fence band. Jesus said he will spit out those that are lukewarm. We can’t be on both sides of the fence. We follow Christ to the fullest or we don’t. We don’t make music for Christ and music for an anti-Christ show such as Smackdown. How is TFK going to know that what they are doing is wrong when a lot of people for example on this site feel that what they are saying in their lyrics is ok? And that it’s ok to make songs with intent for secular programming instead of for the creator who has given us life. If we are truly saved then we will automatically seek the things that are Godly and holy, not ungodly and unholy. I’m also not saying that we won’t still sin but if we don’t have a repentive heart then we truly don’t care about the One who gave His life for us.
Also I do listen to a lot of music off this site. I use this as a reference to check out christian artists but a lot don’t seem to share their faith or they are very meek about it. Some artists I do support and their cds I’m spinning lately are
Hands – Creator – which will probably be my album of the year
Showbread – The Fear Of God – I applaud them for being bold and standing for their faith on this release
Future Of Forestry – Travel I & II
Advent – Naked & Cold – I wish a lot of bands off this site were as bold in their lyrics as these guys
Sleeping Giant – Sons Of Thunder
For Today – Portraits
Abel – The Honest Love
Metavari – Be One Of Us and Hear No Noise
The Glorious Unseen – The Hope That Lies In You
Leeland – Love Is On The Move
I think if you don’t personally know the band’s intent, I’m not sure you should go out of your way to tear them down. How is that any different than their ‘sinful lyrics’? Do you think fans of the WWE don’t deserve any chance at all of salvation? Maybe it won’t come after hearing one TFK song, but it’s a start. I think I could guarantee a worship song isn’t going to make it into the WWE track list. Disciple also had a song on WWE. Jackson Waters had a song on One Tree Hill or something. Hawk Nelson and TFK both had songs on Smallville. Audio Adrenaline had a song on American Idol. Switchfoot had a song played on the O.C. Do you rebuke all these bands too?
Oh, and Showbread recorded 3 albums (No, Sir; Age of Reptiles; Fear of God) with Sylvia Massy, who produced Tool, Chili Peppers, Prince, Powerman5000, etc. A lot of non-Christian bands. What does that mean for Showbread? Why go to a producer who may not be a Christian?
I’m not trying to fight or anything. I’m just saying maybe you shouldn’t be so judgmental. Seems like more and more Christian bands are being heard in the secular world these days. That wasn’t very common even ten years ago. It’s a good thing.
i would add Relient K also had a song on Smallville.
Did they really? Which song was that?
it was around season 2 or 3. It was Sadie Hawkins.
So I just listened to TFK ‘s new one. First thought, “Watching Over Me” is a direct rip-off of Kutless’s “Promise of a Lifetime”. The similarities are shocking.
The rest of the album is pretty alright though.
Its a decent album, didnt let me down but didnt really strike me as great. Id give it a 6/7
I really like this album. Maybe a 8 and a halfish. Very good straight-up rock album; I like it much better than Skillet’s, that’s for sure. I also appreciate the musical depth that TFK has added since Phenomenon while returning to the intensity that made that album so good. “Look Away” is mind-blowing. I am very thankful I can use words like awesome for an album by TFK after Flame…
I just heard that the Islanders skated onto the ice for their home opener to TFK’s Fire It Up?
I like how Jeremiah skewed a lyric to mean something it did not. The wicked Trever is talking about is not the wicked like the wicked in the bible verse. Not evil wickedness. He is using it in the definition of “going beyond reasonable or predictable limits”….
I mean, come on dude… If you cant see that, time to rethink how you jump to conclusions. I have been a Christian almost my entire life and when I read that lyric I never thought what you apparently thought.
The Preds skate onto the ice to Fire it Up too.
Relient K is from ohio