The latest release from Know//Suffer covers a gambit of metal soundscapes from thrash to death and plenty in between but they do it with a unique energy and you can clearly hear they're having a ball.
The EP is called Winter Two Piece because it consists of just two songs and each one showcases the loving brutality of their sound really well.
First of all, you get crazy riffs that give off drudgery and open cord thrashing all with an energy that you can't deny or turn away from whatsoever.
The drumming is like a blitzkrieg earthquake if there was even such a thing. And if there's not then there is now, and these guys created the sound the phrase comes from.
This was fierce, fun, head bang and mosh worthy all while letting them be free to do their thing.
I think one of the biggest things with me is that after listening to the record it just made me want to see them live performing right in my face because if it's anything like it is on record then it'd be incredibly worth it to see.
I also loved the mix of metals subgenres that they run through and do it well, because that's part of the fun of everything.
So, this actually covers a lot of ground for lovers of the genre because they get tastes of all the best stuff that comes from it.
The second track on the release called "Abrasive" starts off with this grungy gritty based tone that sets the mood and kind of prepares you for what's to come and I love that about the song.
The release is put out through Silent Pendulum Records out of New York and there are a lot of really solid releases coming from this label which you can listen to a vast majority of on their Bandcamp page.
Know//Suffer definitely feels like a band built of season musicians that have been doing this for years and have never lost any gusto for it.
And that's exactly what we need from bands right now. Not just from metal bands, but any band really.
I love to hear how much a band has a passion for what they're doing while you're listening to the song and yes, you get a lot of that with metal music because they really truly love what they do.
But it would be cool to hear just more of that feel and vibe because you pick up on that when you listen to something that has it.
I definitely can't wait to hear more from these guys and with the release of the EP we wanted to have a sit down with them to find out where it came from and what might be next for them.
Here's what happened.
Buzz Slayers: Okay guys, let's start with the Winter Two Piece EP. This had a killer heavy and brutal sound with killer riffs and a ton of energy! How did this record come about?
These are a couple of tracks we wrote after releasing, “The Great Dying”, so it’s kind of the bridge into the new album we will be tracking this fall. We finished the EP and still had some more tracks in us, so we had to put them out, also continuing our two-piece series.
Buzz Slayers: How did this all start for you as a band?
Know Suffer has been around for about six years and stemmed from a couple of other bands, most notably, Triumph over Shipwreck, which is where Eric, Jay, and Larry came from.
Toast has played drums in bands in El Paso over the years and joined KS as the vocalist, having never been a vocalist in an active band before. Jerry has played guitar and done vocals in several bands out of New Mexico and approached us to join as the 2nd guitarist.
Buzz Slayers: What kind of things really inspire songs for you?
Lyrically this band is very dialed into self-reflection and growth. Musically, whatever we are feeling. Maybe a bad day at work inspired a riff, or a random combo of grooves blends into a song. We try not to box ourselves in and let things flow as organically as we can.
Buzz Slayers: This EP has some great styles on it! Can you give us some of your biggest influences musically?
-Musically we’re all over the place
Everyone has their styles outside of metal and hardcore or heavy music as a whole. Which lends itself to our sound.
There are elements of Terror, Spite, and The Acacia Strain
But also, tech and noise such as Rotten Sound and Converge
Buzz Slayers: What are you doing when you're NOT working on music?
We work our jobs and hang out with friends/family when we can! Jay is a powerlifting coach, Larry digs graves and makes headstones, Jerry spends most of his time with his daughter and does guitar tech work on occasion, Urk does modeling from time to time, and Toast does Toast things.
Buzz Slayers: Who's in your headphones right now?
New Periphery of course, Entheos, Cell, Jesus Piece, the Acacia Strain, Fleshwater, Incendiary, Spy, Tracheotomy, Calvin Harris, Kaskade, One Life One Chance podcast
Buzz Slayers: Are you doing any live performances right now?
Yes! Getting ready for some weekend warrior dates on April 1st and 2nd with Tactosa and Implosive Disgorgence.
1 being Mammoth Fest in Houston, Texas, next night we are in Austin, Texas. If you’re in the area come kick it!
Buzz Slayers: Did you record yourself or hit a big studio for this?
We recorded the Winter Two Piece with Hector Meza at XBCX Recordings, a local studio here in El Paso, Texas. We then had it mastered by Kevin Antreassian at Backroom Studios.
Buzz Slayers: What can your fans expect from you in the near future?
While on Silent Pendulum Records, we’ve dropped a couple of EPs, next we step into the studio with Matt Guglielmo ( Spite, SleepSculptor, VCTMS) to record our next LP!
Plus, we will be hitting the road here and there, so please follow us and stay updated.
Buzz Slayers: Before we go, what would you like to say to fans of the music?
We are so thankful for each and every one of you who have taken the time to listen to our music, come out to a show, grab some merch, share a post, etc. We love y’all and are excited to share what we have as we continue to work and improve.
Silent Pendulum Records