Knocked Loose unleash thunderous new album ‘You Won’t Go Before You’re Supposed To’

Photo: Jared Leibowitz

The news of another Knocked Loose record was greeted in the biggest wave of excitement with the Kentucky group’s popularity skyrocketing in recent years, fans expectations were high for them to deliver the goods… and deliver they did! ‘You Won’t Go Before You’re Supposed To’ is finally ours in all its glory and it’s already up there with the contenders for the album of the year crown. The singles chosen on the build up to album 4 were selected to perfection and gave fans a good taste of what to expect including arguably some of their best material to date demonstrating that if anyone knows their way around a heavy song it’s Knocked Loose – but how does this record sound as whole?

‘Thirst’ gets us going with a hard in your face opening typical blend of their hardcore and metal ferociousness in a case of start as you mean to go on – it’s a track that will instantly suck you and leave you wanting more. A notable standout on the record is their collaboration with superstar Poppy for single ‘Suffocate’ with the streams already reaching the millions, the Introduction of Poppy in this track gives it that extra pinch of spice to mix in with the rhythmic heaviness it brings. ‘Don’t Reach for Me’ instantly blows you away right from the intro – the vicious screams of Bryan Garris paired with a heavy early doors breakdown sets the tone for what’s to come with an entire song almost made entirely of breakdowns – the type of Knocked Loose song you know will cause all sorts of damage live. From breakdowns to a track the brings out what i’d say is the best guitar work on the record ‘The Calm That Keeps You Awake’ continues the fast paced riffs that fill the record, however has more elegant yet teasing guitar work that all your attention is drawn to. The sequel to Motionless In White’s song ‘Slaughterhouse’ which featured guest vocals from Bryan comes in hard next, ‘Slaughterhouse 2’ was a nice surprise to see when the track list was dropped, this time featuring MIW frontman Chris Motionless on guest vocal duties. The track is everything you could want when these two combine, with dirty breakdowns and a typical ‘blegh’ from Chris closes one of the more intense tracks of the album. The record comes to a close with ‘Sit & Mourn’ that carries on nicely from ‘Blinding Faith’. The extended outro gives a moment to sit and think back on the record as a whole as the sound gives off a reflective feel.

Overall the record is filled with some of Garris’s best lyrical work that sits this well within its right to a podium finish in terms of albums at the end of the year. The effort the band have put into every aspect of this record from the songwriting to the lyrical themes and visual aspects not only makes it one of their best records to date but also displays a new level of maturity to Knocked Loose.

Stream/buy You Won’t Go Before You’re Supposed To’ now:

Words by Craig McInnes