Sometimes I step out of my comfort zone, it’s not often but when I do it tends to go extreme. Such is the case with Nu metal/metalcore act Knogjärn. This is definitely a different style and genre-wise; meaning that I’m in semi-uncharted waters… oh well, I’ve been in those before; so let’s get it going.

Formed in 2015 with a handful of full-length albums to their credit prior to Bly (which I have not heard). Which is okay, I’ll probably go back and check out their other albums based on this release. The album was recorded with producer Oscar Nilsson at Bohus Studios and it has a nice and beefy punch to it as far as the production goes, it helps to make Bly an incredibly enjoyable record. It has that festival feeling to it, the kind that has the crowd bouncing up and down; you know what I’m talking about.

It begins with the (to my ears) very Slipknot-ish “Sluta tro på allt” that bouncy, sort of Nü Metal guitar that ruled the early 2000s; fortunately for Knogjärn it doesn’t get old and for me at almost 52 years of age, it’s safe to say my pogoing days are over.

But even saying that they’re just a Metalcore band period is not correct, there’s Metalcore moments don’t get me wrong; but as such as the second track “Bly ellar pengar” shows they can do P.O.D. better than P.O.D. (which is fine because I don’t like P.O.D.) but because it isn’t those purveyors of happiness and joy-joy I actually enjoyed bopping around with it.

The same goes for “Farväl” a thrasher at the beginning and going full Avenged Seven-Fold (but their older stuff that didn’t suck). Then there’s more out P.O.D.-ing. I honestly didn’t listen to much Nü Metal so I don’t really have much to compare this to.

“Hoppas inte du fryser” bounces around with batshit insanity and gets a bit Static X-ish. It would’ve been a bit easier to know what song I was listening to due to the tracks not being in order, neither here nor there but it’s a gripe nonetheless. That aside, it’s still an enjoyable song that serves to keep the blood pumping throughout.

“Ingen kommer in” and “Min stad” both keep things interesting with jagged, Nü Metal guitar riffs and earthshaking rhythms, there’s even some scratching effects that; once again remind me of early Slipknot.

Rounding out the album “Smörbultad” keeps the tank rolling with the thunder of this Nü Metal Army. “Redd för dig”, “Tror du village brinna” and “Kärleken väntar” close out this mind-bending piece of early 2000s Nü Metal, almost Pop Punk in spare usage. There’s rapping (which isn’t annoying here), it actually sounds harder and better than American rapping; less pussy and more spite.

Knogjärn are angry at something, that’s evident. What they’re angry at is beyond me, but that’s okay; what matters is that Bly is an enjoyable, frisky release.

For you lunatics who still wear Jnco pants and live for the swanky tunes of Static X, SOAD, P.O.D., and Mudvayne. You know you want this.

[Visit the band's website]

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