EP REVIEW: Proof of Concept – Knifes

KNIFES were born in front of 50,000 fans. The trio – vocalist and guitarist Ben Young, Warren Johnson on drums, and Brian Diaz on the bass – have worked for some of the biggest musical acts to date; including GUNS N’ ROSES, SLIPKNOT, DETONES, BLACK EYES PEAS, PHARRELL WILLIAMS, LINKIN PARK and FALL OUT BOY. The band started when Ben Young – a roadie – played the lead guitar during a couple of shows during a LINKIN PARK tour. Inspired by playing stadiums, he started writing songs. He was soon joined by another LINKIN PARK roadie, Warren Johnson, and they started up KNIFES. FALL OUT BOY roadie, Brian Diaz, soon joined after Ben and Warren started working with FALL OUT BOY, and the trio was born.

Proof of Concept was self-produced and consists of five songs, and is inspired by the music of STONE TEMPLE PILOTS, PEARL JAM, and grunge legends OUR LADY PEACE. This can be heard in the opening track, The Comedown. With its heavy guitars and impressive drums, it’s a powerful opener. The lyrics are mostly repetitive, which is a shame. However, thanks to Ben Young‘s impressive vocal range, this does not matter as much. The song also ends abruptly, which makes the song feel unfinished. On the other hand, the pacing of the song is fast, but this doesn’t make it feel rushed.

Disambiguation is an improvement on the previous song. It sounds a lot like a BLINK-182 song, however, this is not a bad thing as the song soon takes a life of its own. The gang vocals and rip-roaring guitar are reminiscent of early 2000s pop/punk. The lyrics talk about having a good time with friends during the weekend, furthermore adding to the nostalgic feel of the song. The production of the song is excellent, easily getting the balance between old school punk with that Knifes twist.

Standard Issue Frustration is a heavy rock song. The raw and angry sound of the vocals conveys a feeling of roughness around the band. However, this does not mean that the song is unfinished as the rawness of the track makes the band feel real and not as polished. The two songs at the end are very different. Defeated and Humiliated, the longest song on the EP clocking in at four minutes and twenty-one seconds long is harsh and raw, whereas Wise Up – a cover song – is soft and acoustic. Despite the two contrasting sounds, they mix very well together. Furthermore, they show that the band can diversify their sound.

In conclusion, despite a rough start, Proof of Concept is an excellent starting point for such a new band. KNIFES pull it out the bag, and they are clear in the direction they want to go in. They already have supported THE MATCHES, and THE DAMNED THINGS at the famed The Whisky. There is no reason why KNIFES could not be one of the biggest names in the music industry.

Rating: 7/10

Proof of Concept is out now via self-release.

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