KNIFEBEAR - KNASHER
Knifebear - Knasher
Words: David Carr
This Dublin-based quintet is Chloë Ní Dhúada on vocals, Eric Farrell & Tracey McEvoy on guitar, León Ó Gríofa on bass, and Harry Phox on drums. Eager to capture their heavy, dynamic sound, they headed to Red Lake Studio and performed each track live. Leaning into a (post) grunge world, you’ll hear Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, and QotSA. The latter shines truest on their excellent single ‘Hey! Where’d You Get Those Antlers?’ (Check out their award-nominated video). ‘Taxonomy’ and single ‘Idiot Death Smile’ positively rip along. Longer form tracks like ‘Trails' and ‘Swampy’ have swagger. There’s ambition but also maturity to the song construction. Each band member is given the time and space to express themselves for the greater good of the album. One of their oldest tracks, the cutely titled ’My Own Private Eidolon’, builds to a fine crescendo. ‘Who Help Themselves’ features an ever more fractious conversation with God. “Lord, where’s my money? You tried to make a fool of me”. ‘And Prejudice (or Let Good Boys Take Qaaludes In Argentina)’ probably edges it for me again, pulling from the QotSA sound with a sense of constant progression in the track. The patient ‘Slán Go Fóil’ is one of the most rewarding, with the band letting it all hang out. Closer ‘Calcine’ acts as the quieter outro. You’ll hear some of the FX pedals you’d find from bands like Swervedriver & Lush in an album that undoubtedly draws from the ‘90s but curiously manages to sound fresh and, importantly, their own.