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On the Radar: Knife

It’s a rare band that will have me throwing the horns at my desk, but so help me Robot Jeebus, the first time I listened to the self-titled EP from Detroit five-piece Knife, up they went at the end of opening track, “The Mess.” It was a gut reaction. No choice in the matter. The song is the perfect balance of catchy choruses and bearded burl, like the first Queens of the Stone Age record after getting its ass kicked a couple times.

As much as Detroit has seen the growth of a hipster culture the last few years, Knife have nothing to do with any of that. In the same vein as like-minded heavy Motor City bastards Chapstik and Mean Mother, they rock straightforward and more than a bit angry, pulling back some on the aggression for “Lake of Tar” (especially as compares to “This Field was Made for Killing” preceding) but giving little slack in the momentum. Knife is only six songs, 25 minutes, but in that time, the band establishes a firm pattern of riffs and solos, earning their two guitars and still leaving room for the standalone vocals of Curt Massof, which more than earn it.

Whether it’s the start-stop semi-Southern chugga groove of “Outrider” (little Danzig in there) or the unbridled energy of “Lineage,” Knife make sure their foot is right at home in the ass of their listener, and though I don’t know what the deal is with them and a label, them and a full-length, them and touring, them and their lineup, etc., I just wanted to put these songs on here because I actually dig the music. Figure the rest will work itself out.

If you want to hit the band up, do so on their Thee Facebooks profile or buy the EP via Bandcamp. Enjoy this stream of Knife‘s Knife, courtesy of the latter portal:

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8 Responses to “On the Radar: Knife”

  1. gchc says:

    proves that just since youre from detroit, you get recognition. these guys suck. also, they are everything hipster, just dont look it.

  2. DeadBand says:

    Sounds a little like Clutch. Doesn’t sound like all the hipster screamo 30 seconds to croon in auto tune. type of stuff that is so prevalent today.

  3. Obnox says:

    more like Red Fang, but even Mastodon sound like Red Fang these days

  4. GoAt says:

    Nothing kicks the first Queens records’ ass…EVER.

    Guarantee you’ll forget about these fellas in a quick.

  5. C. says:

    Chuck Burns is in this band. If there is anyone in the entire mid-west who is not a hipster it is Chuck. Knife rules.

  6. Ryno says:

    I think people who immediately throw the word “hipster” around either have no idea what a hipster is, or they are ashamed of being a little too hipster themselves.

    Catchy and melodic don’t necessarily make a band “hipster”. That’s fucking lame. This sounds better than Monstro and Kyng. That’s not saying much but I would give their music the benefit of the doubt before calling them hip, ironic names.

  7. RealMusic says:

    You want to hear real true rock?

    RawDogs!

    They don’t try to impress anyone. They do what they do because they love what they do.

    Get ready to have your mind blown.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXed2CdeY7U&list=UUjoqvbPcUK5XmXLJMGnu2MA&index=9&feature=plcp|

  8. HauntedShores says:

    Most of these comments make me ashamed to be a music fan full stop. There is nothing more hipster than arguing about what makes a band hipster, get out of your own asses!

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