Lost for words, far from speechless,
Five KnuckleYou could be forgiven for thinking that Bristol hardcore outfit Five Knuckle are always on tour. Over the last couple of years they must have played in nearly every venue in the UK. Even as you read this they have embarked on another headlining tour. However, they did find time earlier this year to get into a studio and record their debut album. ‘Lost for words, far from speechless’ was the result of that time and is released through Household Name Records.
Five Knuckle play a brand of Hardcore that owes a lot to the likes of Sick Of It All and the East Coast scene. At times, though, they aren’t afraid to branch out in other directions, with a number of ska interludes that give a nod to touring/label mates Capdown. In singer, Dan Sanfey, the band have a front man, who sings with all he’s got, and who writes lyrics that actually mean something.
The album kicks off with ‘State of Awareness’, a track that jumps out of the stereo and demands your attention. It’s a passionate plea for equality that sees the band in fine form, particularly on the chorus. ‘Not Like That’ sees the band blending ska and hardcore together, and on this occasion it’s a mix that works well. However, it is on final track ‘Anthony’ that the band really make this musical concoction work. The song finds the band pulling off some superb tempo changes. Likewise, the finest example of the bands hardcore stylings can be found in ‘Male Chauvinist Gig’.
So far, so good. However, ‘Lost for words…’ is far from perfect. Despite a number of strong tracks, the majority of the album is pretty standard hardcore material. Songs like ‘Looking Back’ and ‘Bad Influence’ meld into each other, with little to make them stand out. At times you find yourself reaching for the skip button on your remote so you can enjoy the better tracks.
Overall, ‘Lost for words…’ is a solid, if uninspiring debut. At times Five Knuckle fulfil the potential they have shown over the last couple of years, yet at others their songs lack the substance to stand out from the crowd. Loyal fans of the band will lap this up, because there is certainly enough here to warrant a purchase. There can be little doubting of the bands talent and enthusiasm, but they are young, and far from the finished article. What this debut album does do, though, is establish Five Knuckle as a fine UK talent, with plenty of hope for the future.
Mark
