We can’t delve quite into Year of the Knife’s No Love Lost (Pure Noise Records) without addressing the unfortunate accident that this Delaware collective endured this Summer. For those not in the know consult the internet and read up on what happened in Salt Lake City this July.
These guys are probably facing a pile of medical expenses – hey European friends, the healthcare system here in the United States is a horrible for-profit machine – and it’s too early to tell if they’ll ever be in live show shape again.
Our focus first and foremost should be on ensuring that all of the members, Madison Watkins in particular, make full recoveries. However, now listening to No Love Lost it would be a goddamn shame if Year of the Knife never got to reap the accolades or tour behind this beast of an album.
Then again, I’m not sure if “beast” is the best term to describe what No Love Lost is about considering that it conducts business in under twenty-five minutes. Maybe “a mugging” would be the best descriptor. Yeah, that’s definitely what it felt like after taking in “Return the Agony” or “Last Laugh.” Must’ve checked my wallet and wristwatch at least four times after the latter’s grindcore assault.
Then you have jams like “Your Control” which take us back to a time when combining Death Metal and Hardcore wasn’t as a lesser subgenre or haven for fucking morons. Looking at you CJ McMahon and your crusade to defend “the children.” No, “Your Control” feels like a nice walk through the promised land that The Red Chord, Converge and early Between the Buried and Me set up where pit churning death metal could live in perfect harmony with glass shattering hardcore. Those were the days. Also make sure to drink in the mighty breakdown on “Heaven Denied.”
We’ve seen bands make the comeback after devastating setbacks – Candiria with What Doesn’t Kill You… certainly spring to mind – so here’s to hoping Year of the Knife can get their flowers for such a stellar musical effort.
Buy the album here. All proceeds go to the bands’ medical fund:
https://purenoiserecs.lnk.to/yearoftheknife
9 / 10
HANS LOPEZ