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Review & Photos: Knocked show 'em how it's done in Columbus

 

Written By Neil Shumate, OOTB Publications 

For the past eleven years, Knocked Loose have taken the metal subgenre “metalcore” by storm, dominating the scene with their own delicious recipe; on Friday night, Oct. 4, 2024 at KEMBA Live! in Columbus Ohio, fans ate it all up, leaving no leftovers. 


The Kentucky five-member band—comprised of Bryan Garris (vocals), Issac Hale (lead guitar), Kevin Otten (bass, who sported a Columbus’ Blue Jackets’ jersey), Kevin Kaine (drums), Nicko Calderon (rhythm guitar)—were spread out to fill the wide and deep stage setup, giving each member plenty of space to bring the heavy with energetic motion. 


If it wasn’t a dash of Pantera’s heavy metal, Korn’s nu metal, and Slipknot’s speed metal mixed with dominating modern metalcore breakdowns that got fans circling in the mosh pit, then it was the high pitched shrilling vocals reminiscent of Job For A Cowboy, The Bled and Glassjaw that fired everyone up. Sure, you can make subtle comparisons, but blended together, Knocked Loose make it distinctly their own—standing out as one of today’s absolute best in the genre, and they know how to not only bring it in the studio, but even more so in a live performance setting. 


The band performed one brutal song after another, pausing only briefly, keeping the sweaty adrenaline and heated momentum at 10. At one point, Garris expressed the band’s love for recklessness and aggression, but encouraged fans to play nice together so nobody got hurt in the pit. 

 

Garris introduced some songs, including Covid-era song “The Calm That Keeps You Awake.” “I wrote this during the pandemic, when we all had time to just sit there and think… and I’m sure we can all relate to this one.” 


Most songs performed were from the band’s latest third full-length studio album, You Won’t Go Before You’re Supposed To, which included: “Moss Covers All,” “Suffocate,” “Thirst,” “Blinding Faith,” “Take Me Home” and others. Knocked Loose performed a couple songs each from other works too, rounding out the nearly 20-song set: “Deadringer,” “Where Light Divides The Holler,” “Mistakes Like Fractures” and more. And of course, chirping, alarm sounding “arf, arf” heavy hitter, “Counting Worms” was performed closer to the show’s end. 


Earlier, Orange County, Calif. Shears’ brother pair The Garden performed a lengthy set, bringing a wild mix of distorted punk, rock, and electronic. Many fans welcomed the two by sporting their trademark ghoulish black-and-white clown makeup, although the duo didn’t wear any face paint on stage.


West Coast hardcore band DRAIN brought full-throttle energy with a dynamic fast paced, upbeat, undefinable set. Vocalist Sammy Ciaramitaro thrilled the crowd with his enthusiasm and positive antics throughout, often jumping off stage to join and jump into the packed crowd.


Militarie Gun opened the evening early, performing tracks off 2020-2021 EPs and their 2023 hardcore genre styled full length debut: Life Under The Gun


Knocked Loose and Co. served up a delicious meal and nobody went home hungry; fans will surely want to come back for seconds… and then some. 


Knocked Loose continue their extensive headline tour through mid-November.


See Dates Here

 

KNOCKED LOOSE (click to enlarge)





























 

THE GARDEN (click to enlarge)


















 

DRAIN (click to enlarge)


















MILITARIE GUN (click to enlarge)

 




















 

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