Let’s review “You Won’t Go Before You’re Supposed To,” the third studio album by Knocked Loose, a hardcore punk band formed in Kentucky, USA in 2013, released on May 10, 2024, via Pure Noise Records and produced by Drew Fulk (WZRD BLD).

Before diving into the album, let me introduce Knocked Loose briefly for those who haven’t heard of or listened to them before.

Knocked Loose blends the speed and aggression of hardcore punk with the technical structure of metalcore. Bryan Garris’s vocals add a unique harshness to their music, while guitar riffs and breakdowns drive the listener into an energetic and intense atmosphere. Their lyrics often focus on personal struggles, anger, and societal critiques.

Known for their energetic and intense live performances, Knocked Loose interacts with the audience and creates a vibrant atmosphere on stage, which has helped them build a loyal fan base and establish a significant presence in the hardcore scene.

So, we can say Knocked Loose has carved out a niche for themselves in both the hardcore and metalcore scenes.

The album kicks off with “Thirst,” which is a fantastic opener. It sets the expectation of being immediately hit with chaos and establishes the tone for the rest of the album. It feels like starting a first-person survival horror game. Despite its short duration of one minute and forty-six seconds, it’s a really strong opening track for the album.

The second track, “Piece by Piece,” I consider to be the weakest on the album. While it has its fun moments and catchy riffs typical of Knocked Loose, it doesn’t quite elevate the album. It’s enjoyable but doesn’t stand out as much as others.

In my opinion, the best and most enjoyable song on the album is “Suffocate,” which was the third and final single released. It significantly raised my excitement for the album. The song starts with a dark, devilish riff, followed by Bryan’s outstanding pitched scream vocals, and then Poppy joins in. Poppy fits so well with the song and the band that you wouldn’t realize she’s not a Knocked Loose member. Her screams enhance the chaotic nature of the song and leave a delightful taste in the listener’s ear.

The fourth song, “Don’t Reach For Me,” was the second single released. It’s definitely one of the most memorable tracks on the album. The sweet melodic riff in the chorus sticks in your mind, and it’s something you want to hear again and again. The song features several different breakdowns, all of which are rhythmically catchy with distinct heavy lines. The song is filled with angry calls and is definitely one of the album’s highlights.

The fifth song, “Moss Covers All,” is the shortest on the album at 46 seconds, yet they manage to include a breakdown somehow. With its hair-raising, memorable melody, you definitely feel like you’re in a horror movie.

The sixth song, “Take Me Home,” starts with that spine-chilling riff from “Moss Covers All” and introduces the song with a bass guitar tone that I really enjoyed hearing. Funky drums and a cool, hypnotic central riff not only showcase the band’s established talent but also frame familiar, emphasized vocals in a new style.

The seventh song, “Slaughterhouse 2,” leans into that horror theme again. I wonder who first said, “Let’s make a second one of this.” Like many fans of both Motionless In White and Knocked Loose, I listened to it with high expectations. But honestly, while Chris Motionless didn’t elevate or diminish the song much, hearing a “blegh” in a Knocked Loose song was satisfying enough for me.

The eighth song, “The Calm That Keeps You Awake,” also leans into that horror theme. I want to call their music Horror Hardcore. It also has the album’s most memorable drumming.

The album’s first single and ninth song is “Blinding Faith.” The band’s guitarist, Isaac Hale, said in a statement about the album, “We’re going to the fastest place we’ve ever been on this album, we’re going to the scariest place we’ve ever been, and we’re also going to the most memorable and melodic place we’ve ever been, and that’s the point.” “Blinding Faith,” as the first single, does just that. The song effectively uses fast and extraordinary tempo changes to sharply criticize the hypocrisy often seen in adhering to religious rules and seemingly devout lifestyles.

And the album’s longest song, the closing track “Sit & Mourn,” is definitely the most experimental and risky piece on the album. We could easily define this song as almost a ballad for a group that always says we are the most difficult and more severe. The opening guitar’s deep, melancholic soundscapes take us into a sad atmosphere. The song also has an extremely memorable chorus. It’s definitely an emotional piece.

I can definitely say it was worth the wait for the album. It will probably be the album I listen to the most this year. And it has already become my favorite among Knocked Loose albums. With its 27 minutes and 33 seconds, it absolutely delivers in every moment.