ALBUM REVIEW: “GENKOSIS” BY KNOSIS
Reviewed by Cecilia Pattison-Levi
The new album ‘GENKNOSIS’ from Japanese metal band KNOSIS blends searing guitar metal riffs, visceral hardcore vocals, and delicate introspective soundscapes. The album is a ten-song cycle and it’s a beautiful and weighty record that captures the raw emotion and spiritual tension of life’s heaviest moments.
KNOSIS have also recently toured Australia supporting Void Of Vision and have played some of their new album live to fans. Fans will be excited to have this full-length album. KNOSIS comprises of multi-instrumentalist songwriter and vocalist Ryo Kinoshita, Yosh Morita and bass player Kosuke Tano. The band is the creation Ryo Kinoshita as he was looking for an outlet to deliver his hard-hitting and razor-sharp lyricism. The songs already released demonstrate the sonic palate that KNOSIS will be letting loose with their new album. ‘DOKUNUMA’ is a powerful song that follows on from the debut single ‘FUHAI’ (featuring Yukina of Hanabie) and the second single ‘SHINMON’ and these set the sonic the tone for what promises to be one of the year’s most compelling metalcore/deathcore releases.
‘GENKNOSIS’ sets the benchmark with plenty of jarring guitar riffs in the opening title track of ‘GENKNOSIS’ which is only 46 seconds long as it shouts out the idea of revelation which is bellowed with guttural vocals but ends with a spectral female voice saying ‘But... you don’t know me’. As the next song ‘SHINMON’ starts immediately with its huge vocals and driving drums and dissonant guitars. The following song is ‘FUHAI’ and it screams out the gate and into huge metal guitar riffs with whispered vocals and rapped female vocals.
The songs ‘YAKUSAI’ has a mix of Japanese and English lyrics about pain and loneliness wrapped in hard-hitting metalcore with some unexpected sonic twists. Then, ‘SEISAI’ follows and its urgent guitar riffs are at rapid fire pace until the vocal rap brings out a heavy genre-bending track that has a sudden breakdown of synths, blending trance sounds to nu metal. ‘KURUIBI’ has a huge vocal that includes softer indie-pop singing (which I really like) as it contrasts to the speed guitar and drums. It is an album stand out.
The dynamic three-song cycle that starts with ‘IMIONI’ starts with the chant of “What do you want from me” as dark vocals cut in. It is an interesting on the album as it blends metalcore and trap elements with real emotional dissonance. The following song ‘DOKUNUMA’ is the absolute stand out track with its melodic moments, intense breakdowns, and thought-provoking lyrics about dying slowly. Then, ‘TANEBI’ is delivered with its sharp guitar riffs, intense drum rhythms, and Ryo Kinoshita's dynamic vocals, which range from beautiful haunting melodic singing to guttural growls.
The album closes out with melodic and lovely ballad like ‘ANGETSU’ about life “having no control” as the song writer is “trapped in his head”. It’s a great and affecting song to end on. The synths and piano key hit ever count of eight before the heavy rock ending cuts in. It’s fantastic!
I was surprised by the sonic experimentation in ‘GENKNOSIS’ – it’s so clever. The band KNOSIS has delivered a fantastic debut album full of the unexpected.
KNOSIS debut full-length album ‘GENKNOSIS’ is due out 1 August 2025 on SharpTone Records.
GENKNOSIS TRACK LISTING:
01. GENKNOSIS
02. SHINMON
03. FUHAI (feat. Yukina Hanabie)
04. YAKUSAI
05. SEISAI
06. KURUIBI
07. IMIONI
08. DOKUNUMA
09. TANEBI
10. ANGETSU
