Oldham County’s Knocked Loose are back for their highly awaited second LP ‘A Different Shade Of Blue’. Following up 2016’s ‘Laugh Tracks,’ which spearheaded the 20-year-olds to the forefront of the modern-day hardcore scene, ‘ADSOB’ is the perfect expansion of their unique output. It’s hardcore through and through but not quite as stagnant and cliche as a lot of their peers.
Suss out ‘Trapped In A Grasp Of A Memory’ for instance, with ominous undertones the song is ultimately ruled by it’s persisting and unfaltering heaviness, but that doesn’t mean it’s the same riff for four minutes. Ebbing and flowing between many intricate genres of metal, punk, and hardcore at times it’ll remind you of Comeback Kid whereas other moments gives off more of a Whitechapel vibe.
‘By The Grave’ is a song that interested me mainly due to its lyrical content, with Bryan Garris tackling the fickle issue of living with the last words you say to someone, especially when the passing may not have been foreseeable. With Garris openly admitting this album marks his most cathartic lyrics yet, it’s lines such as “and things will never be the same/ this will never fucking end/ bury me/ forget it all” that truly distinguished songs like ‘By The Grave’ for me personally.
The breakdown found on ‘In The Walls’ is fucking huge, ‘Mistakes Like Fractures’ adopts speed-metal-esque riffs and ‘Forget Your Name’ features Keith Buckley from Everytime I Die for an impressive guest spot.
If you’re into hardcore, breakdowns and that sweet sweet drop G tuning, this one’s for you.
4.5/5
Pure Noise Records
Reviewed by Alex Callan
