Band: Knocked Loose
Album Title: You Won’t Go Before You’re Supposed To
Label: Pure Noise Records
Release Date: 10/05/2024

There is a reason why everyone has been talking about Knocked Loose since they released their double single, ‘Upon Loss,’ last year. With each release, they manage to gain popularity while simultaneously maintaining and elevating their signature style. They don’t soften to appeal to the masses; quite the opposite. Their new album, ‘You Won’t Go Before You’re Supposed To‘, released on May 10, 2024, under Pure Noise Records, proves just that. Follow me on my journey of discovering the album that might be their best work so far.

They managed to fit 10 songs into 27 minutes. So we already know they won’t give us any second to catch our breath. But who needs that when you’re listening to Knocked Loose?

A perfectly chaotic start

The album begins with a haunting soundscape that creates a palpable atmosphere in ‘Thirst.’ Soon after, we’re thrust into brutality as Bryan Garris‘s voice commands attention, unmistakably marking this as a Knocked Loose record. The inclusion of some tasty bass right from the start adds depth to the experience. But the song feels chaotic with many tempo changes. It’s a spicy introduction to this new album.

Moving into the second song, ‘Piece by Piece‘, the journey becomes clearer. Groovy beats and two-step moments make it easy to headbang along, which is appreciated. Also, the inclusion of other members, like the guitarists Isaac Hale and Nicko Calderon joining in on vocals adds depth and dynamism to the track.

The lyrics ‘The pain I swallowed and thought was gone has been stuck in my throat for so long, I must be doing it wrong’ make perfect sense following a song titled ‘Thirst‘ and preceding ‘Suffocate.’ This creates a storyline helps us keep track of the album’s thematic progression.

A Blend of Unexpected Collaborations and Catchy Melodies

With a seamless transition to ‘Suffocate‘, featuring Poppy, which was the last single they released just a few weeks ago. Despite the featuring, the band didn’t shy away from their heaviness. Instead, they invited Poppy to join in, which she did tastefully.

I can’t talk about this song without mentioning the part that blew everyone’s mind. One might have thought that a feature with Poppy would be the most surprising part of the song, or even the album. However, the band decided to drop a reggaeton breakdown that will turn these mosh pits into dance pits for sure. To make it even better, they then slowed it down, making it even filthier.

The storyline continues with ‘Don’t Reach For Me‘, probably my favorite single they released for this album. The guitar riff of the chorus is haunting and catchy. It might also be one of the songs from the album with the easiest structure to follow, which could explain why it was so well received.

When your arms are too weak to reach for God, don’t reach for me.

This line from the chorus is one of my favorites. It is powerful and memorable. I can see the public screaming this one at shows. The final breakdown might also be my favorite from the album. Let’s also appreciate the quality of their music videos, from the production to the imagery, they are a 10/10 for me.

We then transition smoothly to ‘Moss Cover All‘, the shortest song on the record with a duration of 46 seconds. Although brief, it’s not an interlude; there’s still no time to catch our breath. It kind of serves as an introduction to ‘Take Me Home‘. The unsettling guitar melody, accompanied by the bass, war drums, and spoken words, truly challenges our comfort zone. Bryan finally joins in, and we can feel the tension building until the highly anticipated burst of heaviness, featuring an unexpected time signature and plenty of dissonance to intensify the discomfort.

Now it’s time for ‘Slaughterhouse 2‘ featuring Chris Motionless from Motionless in White. This serves as a follow-up to ‘Slaughterhouse‘, released by Motionless in White on their 2022 record, ‘Scoring The End Of The World‘ which featured Bryan himself. Naturally, there are many parallels between the two tracks. In the first track, Bryan opens with the line ‘Break down the wall again’. In the second one, it’s Chris‘ turn to kick off the song with the same line. There are other echoes in the lyrics, such as Chris‘ ‘One mutilation under God‘. Chris really taps into his inner Knocked Loose on this track, and it blends seamlessly.

The end of a journey

Following up with “The Calm That Keeps You Awake” which definitely can keep us awake. It’s not a calm song at all, but what did you expect? This is Knocked Loose. This one features its own very catchy “chorus” riff that will stick in my brain for a while. The track smoothly transitions into the first single the band released for this album, “Blinding Faith“. This song truly sets the tone for the album. The breakdown intro, “Bend the knee, child of God,” from Nicko and Isaac, followed Bryan‘s gutturals, became an iconic moment in Knocked Loose’s discography.

Another smooth transition leads us into the final song of the album, ‘Sit & Mourn‘. The title suggests a contemplative moment is about to unfold. And indeed, we find ourselves taking a breather after being immersed in relentless intensity for more than 20 minutes. We’re drawn into an immersive atmosphere with a soothing melody, accompanied by the gentle sounds of birds in the background. This introduction really encourages you to close your eyes and savour every moment.

However, just as you begin to relax, there’s a sudden jumpscare as the instrumentation cuts through the atmosphere abruptly. Yet, even amidst the heaviness, there remains a sense of calmness and melancholy to the sound. Bryan‘s voice takes on a more desperate tone, almost like a final plea for help rather than the angsty aggression we’ve heard before. The lyrics are poignant, and we can even hear the title of the album, ‘You Won’t Go Before You’re Supposed To‘ included into the song.

Will you inherit my grief, if I finally choose to sleep?
I pulled from the root and found more blood.
This life can be too much.

We are then left to immerse ourselves further in the second half of the song, which is purely instrumental. The absence of vocals from Bryan somehow intensifies the emotional impact even more.

A masterpiece

To conclude, Knocked Loose‘s third album, ‘You Won’t Go Before You’re Supposed To‘, stands as their best work to date. They managed to elevate their sound and innovate while remaining true to their roots, which is what resonates with their fans. The album is a blend of brutality, heaviness, and emotional depth, with lyrics that hit right in the heart.

Favorite songs: Don’t Reach For Me, Take Me Home, Sit & Mourn

Memorable moment: The jumpscare I got from Sit & Mourn

Favorite breakdown: Suffocate