Released: 10 May 2024
Pure Noise Records
Knocked Loose, the heaviest five-piece hardcore band to grace the Earth are back again with their third studio album You Wont Go Before You’re Supposed To. Featuring the powerhouse of Bryan Garris on vocals, Isaac Hale on guitar, Nicko Calderon also on guitar, Kevin Otten on bass, and Pac Sun on drums.
The phrase used in the album’s title originates from an experience that Garris, who suffers from what he calls a “borderline phobia of flying”, had during a particularly trying flight. As he battled his nerves during takeoff, the vocalist found himself talking to a woman seated next to him. When he confided in her about his anxiety, she said, “You won’t go before you’re supposed to.”
“She didn’t realize it, but she took me out of my fear, and she put my mind in a different place.”
You Wont Go Before You’re Supposed To starts strong with ‘Thirst‘. Immediately giving us a taste of the new record, the band unleash hell 20 seconds in with the dirtiest breakdown, giving anyone new to the Knocked Loose brand, featuring vocals by Hale and Calderon.
‘Thirst‘ sonically flows straight into ‘Piece by Piece‘. This next track follows a similar flow but slows it down in the chorus to accentuate the vocals and chorus further: “Time is dead, Still it moves, I tried to fight it off, But I can’t hide from the truth.”
‘Piece by Piece‘ plays its role as the intro to ‘Suffocate‘, giving us a drum count in right before it begins. ‘Suffocate‘ builds like previous hellscapes produced by Knocked Loose but Poppy‘s verse is where it shines, bringing a new sound to that ‘Poppy‘ branding. It’s safe to say that after this release, this alt/pop songstress will be seen as a ‘must have’ in any hardcore song. Ever since her feature in Bad Omen’s latest release, it’s a really smart move to utilise her moving forward and crowd reactions at their live performances back this opinion.
‘Suffocate‘ moves straight into the heavy breakdown of ‘Dont Reach For Me‘. “I Dream of a cleansing wave” carries strong emotions as the track’s opening lyrics and will be screamed over stadium walls and festival grounds for years to come. Pac Sun stands out on this track with his heavy fills on drums which makes you want to headbang for eternity.
“On this album, we go the fastest we’ve ever gone; we go the scariest we’ve ever gone. We also go the catchiest and the most melodic that we’ve ever gone, and that’s the point. Instead of branching off into a specific direction, we want to encompass all directions.”
– Isaac Hale, Knocked Loose guitarist
Next we get greeted by ‘Moss Covers All‘, a sub-one-minute song, featuring a very melodic guitar riff closer to the end of the track, which we then find the same guitar riff introducing the next track ‘Take Me Home‘. After the melodic guitar, bass breaks it into a more complex tune. The vocals here is a new sound for Knocked Loose, speaking to us this time instead of Garris’ usual high screams.
Some people say the sequel is never as good as the original, but with ‘Slaughterhouse 2‘ featuring Chris ‘Motionless’ Cerulli, this statement is untrue. Following on from the 2022 release ‘Slaughterhouse‘ by Motionless In White, the song takes on a similar stance as its predecessor, just this time backed by the rest of the band.
‘The Calm That Keeps You Awake‘ is another masterpiece, featuring heavy breakdowns and Garris’ famous vocals, its seen as a pleasant transition from Chris’ vocals on ‘Slaughterhouse 2‘, leading straight into the first track released for this record. ‘Blinding Faith‘ starts off strong with distorted guitars and a heavy beat, followed by Garris screaming “Blinding Faith!“. For any metalhead who, for reasons unknown, have not heard the guttural screams of Bryan Garris are immediately enthralled and eager to hear the rest of You Wont Go Before You’re Supposed To.
‘Sit & Mourn‘ is the final track, kicking in with a melodic guitar riff similar to the ones seen in their last EP Upon Loss. The first verse features lyrics referencing the ideology behind the album: “Brought back by a voice unknown, you won’t go before you’re supposed to“. Ending the same way it began, with a melodic guitar riff, the band signs off in Knocked Loose fashion.
What truly sets this album apart is its fearless exploration of new territories, as seen in the electrifying collaboration with Poppy on ‘Suffocate‘. Her ethereal vocals blend seamlessly with Garris’ primal screams, creating a dynamic synergy that pushes the boundaries of hardcore music to thrilling new heights.
In a year already filling up with musical triumphs, You Won’t Go Before You’re Supposed To stands tall as a towering masterpiece. With its flawless execution, uncompromising intensity and unwavering passion, it’s no surprise that this album has already gained so much traction and anticipation in the music industry. You Won’t Go Before You’re Supposed To will be found in the metal “Hall of Fame” for years to come and receives a perfect rating from me.
Rating 10/10
Review by Connor Lane
Purchase the album here
Knocked Loose – You Won’t Go Before You’re Supposed To tracklisting:
01. Thirst
02. Piece By Piece
03. Suffocate (ft. Poppy)
04. Don’t Reach For Me
05. Moss Covers All
06. Take Me Home
07. Slaughterhouse 2 (ft. Chris Motionless)
08. The Calm That Keeps You Awake
09. Blinding Faith
10. Sit & Mourn
