''Bitterness the Star'' is the debut major label album by American

metalcore Metalcore is a broadly defined fusion genre combining elements of extreme metal and hardcore punk, originating in the 1990s United States and becoming popular in the 2000s. Metalcore typically has aggressive verses and melodic choruses, combined ...

band 36 Crazyfists. It was released on April 4, 2002 through

Roadrunner Records Roadrunner Records is a Dutch–American record label focused on Heavy metal music, heavy metal and hard rock music. Founded in the Netherlands in 1980, it is now a division of Warner Music Group and is based in New York City. Formerly seen as ...

, and was produced by

Eddie Wohl Eddie Wohl is an American composer, music producer, and mixing engineer. As an artist, he was signed to Epic, Elektra and Mercury/Island, and had a production deal with Roadrunner Records. Growing up on the East Coast, Wohl was in his first ban ...

. "Slit Wrist Theory" was released as a single and is often censored to "Wrist Theory" on music channels to eliminate the self-harm reference. This is the only 36 Crazyfists album to bear a Parental Advisory sticker. Singer Brock Lindow has stated that this release is his favorite 36 Crazyfists studio album. In an interview with the music magazine ''

Kerrang! ''Kerrang!'' is a British music webzine and quarterly magazine that primarily covers rock, punk and heavy metal music. Since 2017, the magazine has been published by Wasted Talent Ltd (the same company that owns electronic music publication ...

'' in 2007, he declared, "''Bitterness'' will always remain my favourite album, no matter what".

Background and recording

The majority of the songs were written in 1997–98, immediately after the release of the band's independent demo ''In the Skin''.Lidow, Brock (March 2018)
/ref> In April 2001, 36 Crazyfists entered Millbrook Studios in Milbrook, New York with Eddie Wohl, Rob Caggiano and Steve Regina, all of Scrap 60 Productions. Recording commenced on May 1, 2001. On June 1, 2001, Skinlab vocalist Steev Esquivel flew up to Millbrook to record a guest appearance on "Bury Me Where I Fall". Three days later, the band left Millbrook and travelled to Red Clay Studios in Suffern, New York. The band finished recording on June 17, 2001.

Track listing

*Tracks 15, 16 and 17 of the special edition are originally recorded on the '99 Demo.

Personnel

36 Crazyfists

*Brock Lindow – vocals *Steve Holt – guitar, backing vocals *Mick Whitney – bass *Thomas Noonan – drums

Guests

*Carl Severson – additional vocals on "One More Word" *Steev Esquivel – additional vocals on "Bury Me Where I Fall"

Production

– producer, engineer, mixing *

Rob Caggiano Robert Caggiano (born November 7, 1974) is an American guitarist and record producer. Caggiano is known as the lead guitarist of the Danish rock band Volbeat from 2013 to 2023 and of thrash metal band Anthrax from 2001–2005 and 2007–2013. ...

– producer, engineer, mixing *Steve Regina – producer, engineer, mixing *Paul Orofino – engineer *Ted Jensen – mastering *Tom Simpson – media *

Monte Conner Monte Conner is an American music executive and artists and repertoire (A&R) representative. He was the former senior vice president of A&R for Roadrunner Records from 1988 until 2012, and is currently the head of A&R at Nuclear Blast Records. ...

– A&R *Daniel Moss – photography *Brooke Fasani – live photos

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bitterness The Star 36 Crazyfists albums 2002 albums Roadrunner Records albums Albums produced by Eddie Wohl