“How much of the man can they save?“
Champions of the Essex hardcore scene for a near decade now, Splitknuckle have looked to challenge themselves on their latest full-length, Breathing Through the Wound. Off the back of an 18 month stint of performing alongside the likes of Jesus Piece, Cauldron and Mourning, Splitknuckle have seemingly spent that time learning and refining their craft, as on Breathing Through the Wound they deliver what is one of the strongest records to emerge from UK hardcore in recent memory.
Opener “Fuck Your Whole Life” wastes no time before addressing its enemies in a manner nothing short of rapid and furious. Splitknuckle lay out their ground with “Essex mothefucka, don’t ever forget it“. Fully shaking the record awake, and showing the full prowess of Splitknuckle‘s sound early on, it’s one those familiar with the unit will appreciate early on. This track and the album strongly ponders betrayal, and the process of moving on with life after betrayal.
Upon the yell of ‘I feel nothing‘, “Gutter Thoughts” its way into what will likely be one of the gnarliest breakdowns of this year with some maddening double kicks. It’s on “We Share Blood” that narrative of Breathing Through the Wound fully kicks in. Noodling in some ear-worm metallic riffs of 80s stylings, the chorus of ‘We share blood, but not love, standing here looking down from above, at the whole you’ve done‘ is a vocal hook that will set itself in the mind even after departing the record. A vicious vocal feature from Leah Massey of Pest Control puts the stamp on a sublime track, closing out on the cutting ‘How stupid I have felt, ignoring my pain; I get my mistakes, I give up, We share blood, not love‘.
It’s admirable how well Splitknuckle have paced Breathing Through the Wound. Rather than throwing the record into its next wave of brutality, it takes its time to sit on reverbed chords to give the listener space to breathe. When they return, they do deliver on that brutality on “Sharpening Teeth“, an absolutely pissed off track, and the pacing means the fury on you in full. “Nothing Left To Destroy” sees the first of two features from Andy Baz of Raiden, who features on later track “Essex Kings“. It’s a neatly used feature that compliments the sound of Splitknuckle as Drake and Baz trade vocals early on the former. It adds a grandiosity to the record that brings a wry smile to the face. The second feature sees Splitknuckle and Baz celebrate their Essex roots, which proudly claim ‘We carry this shit, with three swords strapped to our hips‘.
Within all this is title track “Breathing Through The Wound“, which sonically hits all the metallic hardcore notes of Splitknuckle‘s sound whilst delving into the black holes of life. The potent lyricism of ‘I remember when I wanted to die, I remember when I went to try, I remember watching the trains fly by‘ matched with the forceful delivery speaks for itself. Following track “Gethsemane” poders further (‘Why does he fight / The will to change / Can’t recognise himself these days‘) as the track adjusts to a slower pace and styling from Metallica and their ilk from a few decades ago. At this point it’s difficult not to appreciate Breathing Through the Wound as something rather authentic and admirable.
The extended closer of sorts “Stay Keeping Count” is a memo-to-self on struggles and rage, but determination and love of hardcore. The record is bookended by a cover of “The Sickness” by Special Move, which might seem out of place to the unfamiliar, it’s a nice bonus track to close out Breathing Through the Wound.
Those willing to spend time with Breathing Through the Wound will find something rather special and an album to take to heart. Offering up biting breakdowns and juicy riffs at the surface, listeners can delve beneath to find potent lyricism and a narrative of the harshness of life while overcoming it in a way that it true to itself. Splitknuckle have shown that Essex hardcore is a force to be reckoned with, while delivering what will likely be one of the best records to come out of the UK this year.
8.5/10
Breathing Through the Wound will release January 12th via DAZE and Northern Unrest, and can be pre-ordered here.