Knocked Loose - You Won’t Go Before You’re Supposed To
I don't think they knocked me loose as they implied. They actually knocked my feet off so hard that I can no longer stand, and I'm okay with that!
Alright kidding aside, I haven't been huge into these guys before this album rollout started, mainly because metalcore is not a go-to genre for me. There are some bands that I'll just let slip through the radar but when the sound is done well, boy does it leave me hooked for more. One thing that pulls me away from most modern metalcore bands is that when the audience isn't into the sound, some groups usually turn to a more accessible style that sort of dulls down the intensity of their previous style. I remember how disappointing it felt after listening to the Code Orange album that came out last year thinking it was unlike anything the band had put out, in which the melodies and lyrical ideas become way too on the nose and downright annoying for any fan entering the genre.
I was worried given the runtime of this thing and some of the features that this band, who I haven't heard of before this project, would fall into a similar trap, one that dims down their sound and exchanges it for something more accessible. And with only 27 minutes of runtime, would that be enough to make that big of an impact?
After spinning this a few times, I can say that these guys have made their way onto my rotation, no matter how pummeling and destructive their sound is.
This record hits you brutally in the face right from the first second and the scale of pure ferocity never once dips. Honestly, the shorter runtime works in the album’s favor because as hard as they go for the entire project, it doesn't feel like an overwhelming feat for any causal listener. Instead, this thing is all killer, no filler, done in the most maniacally savage form, and doesn't even think about holding the punches. With all that energy being packed into every blow this album makes, you'd think the mix would be buried, that we wouldn't be able to point out specific instrumental details or lyrical motifs. But I'm glad to say that this is one of the most cleanly produced and mixed metal albums I've heard in a while, and one where no matter how much the intensity of a given track overshadows everything, you can certainly pick up on different elements without trying too hard.
I can say that this album feels like a different offering of accessibility to casual fans, one where no compromises to their already destructive trademark sound are made, Knocked Loose wouldn't have that in their nature to do such a thing. But one where the mix and tiny intricacies are represented throughout the tracklist that any listener can resonate with. The 27-minute madhouse that exists within the project only amplifies the replayability factor each track contains, which works for me as someone who's looking to go deeper into metalcore's history. I'm not saying it's the most accessible metal record out there, if your ears are not ready to be beaten to death by solid walls of sound then it's your choice not to listen, but it is certainly more likely to win over people who want to dive deeper into the most brutal and even unnerving parts of the genre. Right now in 2024, I feel there's no other project to guide you down that route than this one. It packs a ton of unexpected punches to keep listeners fully engaged without once faltering in energy.
Evil, menacing, dangerous shit that's certified to make your ears fall off.
Favorite Tracks: All of ‘em
Least Favorite: N/A
9/10
