This EP has shaken up what it means to be heavy, both musically and emotionally. Hardcore phenoms Knocked Loose has captured the most raw essences of grief and molded it into this bloody 21 minute experience, concentrated and unforgettable.
It's honestly one of the most visceral records I've ever gotten to experience. My first few listens of these were unintentionally without knowledge of the meaning behind the record, and even then it was unrelentlessly brutal, and from a purely musical standpoint, a creatively impressive work of hardcore. Having realised what the EP was about after looking it up though, there was this entirely new level of depth unlocked when it came to the grittiness of this record.
It's a simple yet gut-wrenching concept record about grief and struggling with it, painted by the picture of a car crash and the loss of a loved one, and the narrative of the survivor battling guilt, grief and eventually succumbing to it. The lyrics constantly boast this unnerving dismay that bears such great resemblance to the real deal itself, grief, that gives it such a strong emotional quality. This essential five stages of grief are quickly and concisely explored in six tracks, designed to be as intense as humanly possible.
The unbridled despair and anger of the protagonist is so perfectly replicated in vocalist Bryan Garris' violently raw screams, one of the most uniquely done vocals in the scene right now. No other scream can act as a vessel for the emotional weight of grief as well as his can, and I admire how much more heavy and significant their sound feels now against the backdrop of such a heavy, dark topic. The instrumentals are stunning, using the ferocity of hardcore to depict the harshness of grief in such meaningful ways.
Usually these kinds of things don't factor into my consideration for records, but seeing that A Tear Into The Fabric Of Life is almost synonymous to the story and the music video that it came with on it's surprise release, it feels integral to the record itself. The short film is a cunning visual rendition of the gruesome emotional turmoil this record is meant to represent, one that details it even better than the lyrics or my interpretation could.
This EP is just beautiful in so many ways, but especially for how unforgivingly honest it is in its expression of grief. The best works of art are catalysts or vessels for human emotion, and this has definitely hit the mark. It's emotional brilliance disguised as ruthless hardcore has awed me the most of any record, and it doesn't even compromise anywhere else when delivering such a meaningful piece of music. Truly an unforgettable experience and one that I'll continue to enjoy.
Rating: 10/10