Out Now
SHARPTONE RECORDS
Words by: Angela Croudace
GENKNOSIS, the latest album from experimental Japanese metal breakouts KNOSIS, certainly lives up to the experimental label in every way.
When I first heard FUHAI nearly 10 months ago, it completely floored me. The track was an instant standout; blistering, chaotic, and insanely catchy, with a chorus that stuck in my head for days. HANABIE’s frontwoman, Yukina, was the perfect guest vocalist, adding an extra layer of ferocity that elevated the whole thing. From that moment, GENKNOSIS shot straight to the top of my most-anticipated albums list.
The album opens with Genknosis, a short introduction that wastes no time launching into sheer intensity. A wall of heaviness crashes in; brutal vocals, a militaristic snare pattern, and a driving guitar riff create an immediate sense of urgency. Then, just as the chaos peaks, it all cuts out abruptly, replaced by a haunting whisper: ‘But… you don’t know me.’ The sudden contrast is unexpected, and though the track is brief, its abruptness only heightened my anticipation for what was coming next.
SHINMON erupts with relentless drumming, jagged guitar work, and guttural vocals that hit like a sucker punch. It mutates rapidly between blastbeat-laced fury, sudden melodic bursts, punishing deathcore-style breakdowns, and distorted electronic jolts that feel like they’ve been ripped from a glitchcore fever dream. It’s chaotic yet deliberate, and while the ambition is undeniable, it doesn’t quite hit with the impact I was hoping for. Still, it’s a solid listen that keeps me hoping for a track that packs the same punch as FUHAI.
Midway through the album, SEISAI pulls us into heavier, industrial territory, a welcome shift marked by grinding textures and raw, aggressive vocals. There’s an intensity here that feels mechanical and unrelenting, yet as the track unfolds, flashes of melody break through the chaos. The interplay between harsh vocal grit and cleaner, more melodic moments showcases Knosis’s talent at skillfully blending genres that truly leave a sonic impact in their wake.
The second-last track, TANEBI, comes close to being another standout for me, leaning more into a melodic metalcore vibe. It features clearer, more emotive vocals that perfectly suit the song’s mood. After a few listens, it’s become my second album favourite. There’s a real emotional weight to it, yet it still hits hard and stays true to that signature KNOSIS intensity.
There’s no denying tracks across the album push boundaries, dipping into metallic hardcore, industrial textures, and even moments of meditative ambience—but none quite capture the balance of chaos and clarity like FUHAI.
Now that the whole album is here, there’s no doubt it’s ambitious and boundary-pushing, blending heavy metal, hardcore, industrial, and experimental elements in often unpredictable ways, showcasing Ryo’s fearless approach to sound and identity.
But if I’m honest, nothing else on the album hits the same high as FUHAI, (if you couldn’t tell by how many times I’ve mentioned the song in this review!). That song feels like lightning in a bottle—a perfect storm of brutality and catchiness with just the right amount of genre fusion. While other tracks have interesting ideas and bursts of intensity, they don’t quite capture the same energy or memorability.
While GENKNOSIS remains an impressive showcase of sonic aggression and artistic vision, the cohesiveness occasionally slips under the weight of its own ambition. Still, there are elements to admire in GENKNOSIS. It’s bold, uncompromising, and clearly the product of an artist and band pushing themselves into new territory. Even if not every track lands for me, I respect the vision and will keep FUHAI on repeat.
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
