ALBUM REVIEW: Directions – Knumears

SoCal screamo revivalists KNUMEARS are not only carrying the torch for the genre, but moulding it in their shape on Directions. Mapping their forbearers and utilising the cathartic output of the genre, their debut album is an unrelenting outburst that reckons with identity, coming of age, and grappling for a sense of direction amidst it all.

Resonant guitars are set against building drum lines on instrumental opening track Introduction. As it erupts into a frenetic explosion, KNUMEARS set the stage for the album. With Directions, KNUMEARS approach their debut with a tenacity that permeates the entire record. Tracks like My Name and Fade Away are heavy and fast, with piercing vocals and fiercely abrasive riffs that clash alongside dynamic bass lines and drum parts. 

The push and pull of confusion and clarity is palpable on Directions. As they trace the tribulations of growing into adulthood on tracks like One Light, Sunshine and Breaking Ground, their growing pains are exorcised through some truly unrelenting moments. The changing nature of relationships, growing up without a sense of direction, and the memories that linger from your childhood are all facets that come to consume KNUMEARS’ approach. Clarity is found in the most brutal force of expression and as they absolutely let it rip on their instruments, the release of these frustrations feels immediate and essential. 

The explosive and cathartic nature of screamo and scramz is worn openly for them, and they are indebted to the genre’s history. Fade Away is as fierce as it is panicked, shifting constantly through dynamic explosions of vulnerability. In its final moments, scramz legend Jeff Smith (JEROME’S DREAM) offers vocals that sear through the track. As their references become their collaborators, it’s undeniable that KNUMEARS are forging their own space within a scene that they clearly have a lot of love for. 

This intensity is also balanced with brief moments of respite scattered throughout. Title track Directions offers a brief pause amidst the chaos, led by an ambient soundscape that marks the album’s midpoint. These moments are offered occasionally throughout the album. Vocals stand hauntingly alongside a solitary guitar line in Bridged, and guitars pull back briefly to a single line at the end of the album closer The North, sending the album and its frenzy off with a sense of clarity weathered somewhere amidst its storm. 

KNUMEARS are laying their hearts on their sleeves on Directions. It’s raw, unfiltered, and brutally unrelenting in its approach. Proudly bearing the flag for screamo, their reference points are precise, but they are also never weighed down trying to emulate their influences. It all comes from a genuine passion for what they do and the genre’s cathartic capabilities. Dynamic and incendiary, KNUMEARS are making their mark with Directions and it’s one not to be ignored.

Rating: 8/10

Directions is out now via Run For Cover.

Follow KNUMEARS on Instagram.