Knoll - As Spoken

Tennessee’s Knoll has been rather quietly cranking out albums since 2021 on their own without too much exposure, but for 2024 they are going on the Devastation on the Nation tour with Morbid Angel, and may finally get more of the exposure they deserve. A five piece that performs Grindcore mixed with Noisecore in the vein of the likes of End or Full of Hell, these guys take things a step further by also incorporating the likes of Black Metal and Death Metal and just deliver a strong, varied album with “As Spoken.” A bit more trimmed than their last effort but somehow still longer in length, with new members and a continual focus on abstract horror that would appeal to fans of the likes of Portal, Knoll deliver a unique Grindcore effort that stands above the standard Napalm Death expectation. Many have missed out by not checking these guys out sooner, though “As Spoken” is probably their best refined album in content and sound compared to an effort like “Metempiric” which featured a lot of fast, short moments and yet the longer moments/ tracks stayed a bit too long.

The album is noisy and violent, as should be expected in the genre, but there is a certain level of ambiance and atmosphere that is only really heard in the likes of slower Full of Hell or groups like Leviathan and Knoll capitalize on that in a seamless way. Tracks like the opening ‘As Spoken’ are standard Grindcore/ Noisecore affairs with blackened elements. New guitarist Cameron Giarraputo creates a whirlwind of destructive, almost chaotic noise that rivals Ulcerate alongside Ryan Cook while the bass blasted by Lukas Quartermaine is thick and the drumming by Jack Anderson pulses along while screeches and almost Black Metal styled wails from James Eubanks who borders his voice between typical Full of Hell snarls to gargled, almost tortured cries of Wrest of Leviathan (earlier Leviathan that is) for just a harrowing, yet energetic experience. These shorter tracks will certainly impress, but it is the longer ones that really do Knoll justice and show their depth. On a track like ‘Revile of Light’ there is trumpet work from Ryan which really adds almost an avant-garde touch (like Imperial Triumphant) to the music and things even slow down just a small bit for the bass to be even more audible and thumping, but this is where listeners really get the more dreaded atmosphere to soak in and the horror elements. Other tracks like ‘Mereward’ have dragging outros and more electronic ‘noise’ sections, but they still crush wave after wave with the riffs and don’t try to pound the ‘noise/ powerviolence’ aspect as much.

Knoll clearly does better on the atmospheric side because it is so much more effective. Compared to a more commercialized band like Nails which mix Hardcore with Noisecore/ Grindcore for just very fast, but the heaviest, most piercing sound on the planet, sometimes Knoll can try to keep up with that style with a track like ‘Guardian Bind’ but it goes too quick and doesn’t really impact the listener as much as it comes off as ‘just another typical fast Grind track.’  The following ‘Unto Viewing’ is a bit of a better example of the band at Grindcore attempt as the vocals abrasively snarl, crush, and slice with the riffs and drumming and then things just get quiet and ambient to build the next track. However, the real vocal/ ambient/ horror efforts from the band is in ‘Utterance’ which is very much Leviathan influenced from “Tentacles of Whorror” it sounds like as James invokes some of his best snarls and hisses, sounding perfectly possessed among the electronic warbles and overall just perfect horror setting that serves as a good interlude track before the trumpet charged ‘Fettered Oath’ comes roaring in. Thunderous and a bit more riff charged than other tracks, it blends Grindcore and Death Metal with the trumpet blaring, but goes on a bit too brief before leading into the final whirlwind of music from ‘Shall It Be’ which is more Noisecore/ Grindcore fanfare with more percussive drum fire behind it and tortured screeches.

Overall, “As Spoken” is a jarring ride that feels like it can either flow together as one piece or be picked apart piece by piece to enjoy. True to Grindcore/ Noisecore fashion many of the tracks are brief and sometimes just end abruptly or seg to the next one, so there isn’t so much the typical build to your beginning, middle, and end. The moment the album starts it just takes off, and only ‘Utterance’ is the real ‘break’ one gets as the album does hammer track after track in varied, nightmarish ways to create something that is twisted yet loud, balancing aggressive and ambient for something that won’t put one to sleep nor make them feel like the ride wasn’t worth the price of admission. Knoll are exciting, and their live performances are probably just as exciting. Dive headfirst into the soundscapes of this album if one wants to enjoy the twists of Imperial Triumphant without the epic length alongside the harsh, biting nature of End or Full of Hell that doesn’t feel like a ‘under 20 minute loss.’ Hopefully more, exciting trumpet charged work will come from these guys with more harrowing sounds to accompany it.

5 / 5 STARS