Knut

Item: Challenger
Author: Matt Modrich

Challenger

(2002)

Reviewed by Matt Modrich

Discogs Bandcamp Apple Music TIDAL

Label Hydra Head RecordsDecapolisAugust 2002

hardcore metalcore

Knut is a four-piece band out of Switzerland. "Challenger" is their third release on Hydra Head Records.

Knut is thick, crunchy European hardcore with a groove. They could be likened to a purely hardcore version of Blindside, but fans of The Dillinger Escape Plan and Botch are probably going to like this more than your typical Blindside listener.

"Challenger" begins with "Whacked Out," which is a very appropriate title as the song has its unpredictable and borderline-psychotic moments. Track two "Repressed" also has its heavy parts, but it doesn't seem to have the same intensity as the song before it. Next is "El Niño," which has some nice drum breaks before Knut suddenly busts into another raucous and hostile song. Track four "Bite The Bullet" takes the onslaught of the previous song up a notch with a display of incredibly raspy screaming.

Song five "Neon Guide" maintains the intensity, but slows down the tempo, which makes the song seem much longer than its nearly five minutes. "H/Armless" also drags like the song before it. Next is "58.788," which is an instrumental acoustic track that is a nice change of pace, but it really sticks out like a sore thumb compared to the other tracks. Track eight "Ice Will" wakes the listener back up with the energy that was missing in the three consecutive slow songs. Ending the album is "March," an almost 20-minute long instrumental that is fairly boring because it never seems to reach any sort of climactic moment.

Looking back on "Challenger," Knut displays an uncanny ability to grab the attention of their audience with their edgier songs, but their other tracks make even the most patient listener lose interest. The bottom line is that the more lethargic songs lack the energy displayed in the driving songs, however those four driving songs happen to be four of the best in the genre.

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