With time spent playing and writing in both Alaska and Oregon over the past few years, 36 Crazyfists have come a long way since their early demos and have now managed to develop a sound that is quite unique in contrast to the bulk of what's out there today, thanks in part to the vocal stlyings of band frontman Brock Lindow. An odd blend of modern metal with faint traces of post hardcore, the band are perhaps comparable to a loose cross between the Deftones and Glassjaw, carving out voracious riffs and emotional screams, with drop of a dime time changes and violent mood swings.

Vocally the album is laced with melodic emotion as Lindow sounds as though he's physically straining to let out each wavering note he utters. Bolstered by ferocious screams and a whirlwind of bi-polar tone changes, he effortlessly ignites the bands music through his unique delivery. Meanwhile, crunchy distorted riffs make up for the bulk of the bands sonic assault, chugging forth with a solid sense of groove while also adding a variety of screeches and swirling noise to add density and color. The bass lines on the other hand are tuned quite low and slosh around underneath with thick hits that allow the guitar parts to pack some serious weight. The percussion however is defined and rigidly played, contrasting superbly with its rhythm section counterpart as dulled snare hits ring out and give way to forceful rolls and confident cymbal work.

As a whole, 36 Crazyfists main strength is their unique verbal stylings combined with their keen sense of timing and off based structures. The vocals are maniacal and frenzied in a sense and the riffs are in your face and greatly contribute to the bands antagonistic edge as the low end steadily plods along and pronounced drumming brings up the rear, making for a musical playing field that is full of friction and dynamic contrast, yet somehow works as one. Guest appearances are also present on the effort in the form of Skinlab bassist/vocalist Steev Esquivel on "Bury Me Where I Fall" and Nora frontman Carl Severson on "One More Word", and as expected both turn out exceptionally well and broaden the bands arsenal. Having an inventive singer however can be a double edged sword as vocals are often the first thing the less discerning ear pays attention to. This can be a problem of sorts as Brock's repertoire can require a bit of adjustment to get used to and fully appreciate, a factor which might turn away a few of the more close minded heavy music audience. Furthermore, the band also seem to feel a bit limited as far as their range is concerned with nearly every track grinding and convulsing, breaking down and then starting back up again. A bit more expansion could really punctuate the bands ever present changes and make their dynamic explosions all the more powerful, but in their current state, it can tend to feel a bit overdone and disorienting throughout a lot of material included. But that said, "Bitterness The Star" is still a solid entry into today's metal scene and one that will surely be appreciated by those who have grown tired of the cliche new metal that is clogging the mainstream airwaves. An interesting and cathartic listen from a band who sound like they haven't even yet begun to tap their full potential.