ALBUM REVIEW: Ultimate Aggression – Year Of The Knife

Despite being barely three years old, Delaware hardcore quintet YEAR OF THE KNIFE have made a mighty impact on the international hardcore scene. Boasting shows that throw safety to the wind and a sound that is as feral as it is socially charged, the young band have just released their debut record Ultimate Aggression. Released via Pure Noise after the band signed with them at the start of the new year and this is the sort of album that really looks to make a lasting impression on everyone lucky enough to get their ears around this.

Things kick off with one of the better cliches of the hardcore scene, as YEAR OF THE KNIFE push the listener head first into the fray. YOTK boasts pit inciting callouts and a riff that bleeds into Ultimate Disease seamlessly. It’s here that the young band begin to show what sets them apart, with rhythmic patterns hard enough to cause blunt force trauma with the spiteful vocals giving a further viciousness to the assault. YEAR OF THE KNIFE show a clear competence in the fusing of early metalcore and the modern punishment that the hardcore scene dishes out on a near weekly basis now.

YEAR OF THE KNIFE are certainly one of the more standout acts amongst their stablemates currently. Where bands like JUDICIARY write formulaic songs that still hit the mark, Ultimate Aggression proves these metalcore aficionados have their heads screwed on. First State Aggression and J.R.M both develop over their run time to deliver memorable moments of evolving riffs and enough energy to inspire even the most laid back individual to start throwing fists up and down the street. YEAR OF THE KNIFE show themselves to be at their best when cruising at a mid-tempo with classically frantic riffs crashing behind them.

There are cracks in the mirror though. Ultimate Aggression is a short affair, and in between the stand out moments lie songs like Your Lucky Day. As the band display their best when walking the line between classic metalcore musings and modern hardcore, songs like this simply remove the interesting lead guitars in lieu of thunderous rolling drums and cliched hardcore breakdowns. All of this results in a great time for the loyal underground fans, but it hinders the band in a creative sense. Fatal falls into this same trap, but is a far more dynamic song, riding thunderous double bass that feels like a boxer pummelling your teeth in. It’s a shame that the same cannot be said for Blue Lies, as the strongest lyrical content is placed over the dullest music found on the record outside of the pointless Untitled filler track.

Ultimate Aggression is a strong statement of intent from a young band. With the current rebirth of the original metalcore sound, YEAR OF THE KNIFE have a feral combination that they’re beginning to hone. When the band find their feet, they are a force to be reckoned with as they pummel with rhythmic brutality and the ferocity of genre legends like LAST WITNESS and CONVERGE. Whilst there is still work to be done, a band this young coming out with this much passion and savagery is well worth keeping an eye on.

Rating: 7/10

Ultimate Aggression is out now via Pure Noise Records.

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