Radiant Knife - Pressure

 

 

Radiant Knife - Pressure
Self-released - July 2023
Sludge, prog, doom, math, avant-garde
Rated: *****

Louisana is a state chock-full of filthy sludge acts, but one of its best kept secrets is Lafayette's proggy, avant-garde weirdos Radiant Knife. The duo deal in sludgy heft, to be sure, but there's far more to their sound than just bashing your skull in. Mathy, labyrinthine riffs lurch and spiral through nine dense tracks on their latest LP "PRESSURE", masterfully walking the tightrope between dizzying technicality and catchy, head-banging hooks. From the opening noise-rock frenzy of "Slumber", the album grabs the listener and drags them into the waiting maelstrom. Rapid-fire drums are always on display, particularly in the driving "Ghost Samurai", but never sacrifice impact for showiness, and the sparse vocals are perfectly placed when they do arise, whether as cavernous cries or guttural bursts. A bit of Red Fang rears its head in the intricate riffage of and singing of "Give Yourself Away", which is never unwelcome, but Radiant Knife one-up even those sludge titans in the following highlight track "Sunsets From Space". A deluge of rolling, razor-sharp guitarwork is unleashed, culminating in a massive wall of sound that's as epic and out-there as the name implies. Straight brutality is never far behind, though, as displayed in the subsequent harsh, grating grind of "Mortals", making the transition to the catchy standout "His Capa Was Detated" all the sweeter. From the onset, the climbing riff promises nothing but the best, and the duo deliver as the album reaches its peak of hooks, instrumentation, and sonic violence all in one track. "PRESSURE" is a monumental piece of heavy that's equal parts brainy and crushing, and Radiant Knife pull off that difficult combo like they were born for it.

(Written by Kyle SB / Shastabeast)

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