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Welcome to the Masquerade

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Untitled

Welcome to the Masquerade is the fifth studio album by Canadian hard rock band Thousand Foot Krutch. It was released on September 8, 2009. Trevor McNevan, the band's frontman has stated, "Yeah, I think the new record is definitely more aggressive. In some areas, it's the heaviest we've ever been."[1] The Album debuted at #35 on the Billboard top 200 and #2 on Christian Album charts.[2]

Musical style and Concept

"The inspiration behind the album comes from people hiding things in their life," the band's frontman Trevor McNevan has stated, "Masquerading through life, hiding their frustrations."

"Each song is kind of dealing with those different situations. Some of it is just saying, ‘I’ve been through this, and this is how I found hope in this situation."

"A lot of our peers are getting a little poppier, and I understand that and appreciate it," stated McNevan. "I just felt like for us, it was the right time to step in the other direction. It’s big crunchy rock and roll." [3]

“Between the economy and everything else, this is as good a time as has ever been to drop our stereotypes—all the stuff that separates us—and get down to the black and white of loving people as God intended it to be,” McNevan suggests.[4]

Guests

"Welcome to the "Masquerade" features multiple performers to add to the albums fame. Aaron Sprinkle returned as the bands producer, from producing the previous TFK record Phenomenon, alongside Trevor McNevan. Matt Carter, of Emery, assisted with Trevor early in 2009. Phil X, who had recorded guitars for the two previous Thousand Foot Krutch records, did not return for this album. However Randy Torres recorded "some sweet licks" on the record according to a Tooth & Nail podcast. Guitar duties were also shared by McNevan, Sprinkle and a third guest Pete Stewart, who recorded the guitar solo near the end of the song "Fire it Up". Stewart surprisingly entered the studio with TFK despite the fact that Pete no longer considers himself a Christian. The band additionally hired Randy Staub to mix "Welcome to the Masquerade"; Staub is famous for mixing Metallica's record The Black Album.

Reception

"Fire It Up" has already been praised as a hit with a similar potential to "Rawkfist" and "Move" with Tyler Hess of ChristianMusicZine.com describing it as, "vintage Thousand Foot Krutch, with obvious arena play potential." [4]

C.E. Moore of TheChristianManifesto.com described the song "as everything you've come to love about the band. It's a raucous number that will get your heart pumping, your feet moving, and your head banging. 'Fire It Up' fires on all cylinders."[4]

Roger Gelwicks of Jesusfreakhideout praised the album on his review "TFK dons a more produced approach to hard rock this time around while at the same time maintaining the unrestrained and raucous vibe the band is known for. And this being the fifth album from the Canadian band, there's a progression here that many old and new fans have waited to hear," he stated.[5]

Allmusic.com also had high praise for the album "the band's full-scale audio assault makes it difficult to imagine that they could ever top the crystal-clear production and deliberate crunch of Masquerade. Each track is propelled by muscular riffs, fighting its way into permanent memory alongside the greatest mainstream rock bands of the decade," their review states.[6]

"Fire It Up" has peaked at #35 on the Billboard Rock charts while "Bring Me to Life" has peaked at number #2 on Christian Rock radio.[7]

Forward Motion has reached #48 on the Billboard Christian Songs charts.[8]

Release and Promotion

Bring Me To Life was available for free download during June of 2009 from the band's site if an email address was provided.

Both Fire It Up and Bring Me To Life were added to the band's live set list before the album was released. The first time Bring Me To Life was played live was at Ignite Alaska in Fairbanks, Alaska where the band performed the song as their encore. Trevor said that it was the first time the band had played a song that hadn't already been released on an album live. They also played 'Fire It Up' at Wonder Jam in June 2009.

The band has announced a Fall tour to support Welcome to The Masquerade and during fall 2009. They will share the stage with Jars of Clay, AA Talks, B.Reith, FM Static, and This Beautiful Republic.

The album was made for pre-order on July 24 and was released September 8, 2009 without delay.[9]

The Trailer for the album was released on August 3. It featured a 45 second clip of the song "Welcome to the Masquerade".[10][11]

Fire It Up will be featured in the upcoming video games NHL 10, and MX vs ATV Reflex and the G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra Trailer.[12]

"Fire It Up" has also been released for download on the Rock Band music store.

On September 3 on the Tooth and Nail podcast; Trevor confirmed that a music video was in pre-production for "Fire It Up".

"Scream" was used as the Introduction music for Harrison Ford at the 2009 Scream Awards.

"Invitation/Welcome to the Masquerade" was used for the 2010 Detroit Red Wings Stanley Cup Playoff video played before each game at Joe Louis Arena.[citation needed] It was also the music video for 2009's video game Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2:Fusion.[citation needed]

Track listing

  1. "The Invitation (Intro)" - 0:59
  2. "Welcome To The Masquerade" - 3:41
  3. "Fire It Up" - 3:07
  4. "Bring Me to Life" - 3:36
  5. "E for Extinction" - 3:51
  6. "Watching Over Me" - 4:18
  7. "The Part That Hurts The Most (Is Me)" - 3:59
  8. "Scream" - 3:26
  9. "Look Away" -4:01
  10. "Forward Motion" - 3:54
  11. "Outta Control" - 3:27
  12. "Smack Down" - 3:21
  13. "Already Home" - 4:30[13]

Singles

Charts

Year Chart Peak
position
2009 U.S. Billboard 200 35[2]
2009 U.S. Billboard Top Alternative Albums 8[2]
2009 U.S. Billboard Top Rock Albums 13[2]
2009 U.S. Billboard Top Christian Albums 2[2]
2009 U.S. Billboard Top Digital Albums 14[2]

Credits

References

  1. ^ "Trevor McNevan Interview". Jesusfreakhideout.com. April 19, 2009. Retrieved 2009-08-29.
  2. ^ a b c d e f http://www.billboard.com/#/album/thousand-foot-krutch/welcome-to-the-masquerade/1278431
  3. ^ http://www.alternativeaddiction.com/musicnews/article/1301/Trevor-McNevan-Talks-About-His-Double-Life
  4. ^ a b c http://www.hearitfirst.com/artisthome.aspx?f=artisthome&artist_id=1296
  5. ^ http://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/cdreviews/WelcomeToTheMasquerade.asp
  6. ^ http://www.allmusicguide.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:gpftxz8aldae
  7. ^ http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/thousand-foot-krutch/438426
  8. ^ http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/thousand-foot-krutch/438426
  9. ^ http://tfk.skyroo.com/se/view/music/index.html
  10. ^ http://www.facebook.com/inbox/readupdates.php?id=6686008693
  11. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xLySx4zXck&feature=channel_page
  12. ^ http://www.facebook.com/inbox/updates.php#/inbox/readupdates.php?id=6686008693
  13. ^ Welcome to the Masquerade Track List, Tooth and Nail Records
  14. ^ http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=80326740875&comments
  15. ^ http://www.stereotruth.net/2009/08/thousand-foot-krutch-forward-motion/
  16. ^ http://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/news/2009/07/28.FIRE%20IT%20UP%20WITH%20THOUSAND%20FOOT%20KRUTCH.asp
  17. ^ http://www.aolradioblog.com/2010/01/06/thousand-foot-krutchs-already-home/
  18. ^ http://www.allaccess.com/christian/future-releases

External links

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