Bloody Knives

"Defining the band's sound cannot be simple as they are equal parts Sonic Youth, Goblin, Hawkwind, mixed in with thrash and even post-punk. They can share a bill with virtually anyone, permitting that band isn't bullshit. Bloody Knives have become a dividing line. If you are bullshit and you play a show with this band, they will embarrass and upstage you. "Over the Edge"-looking motherfuckers playing bell bottom rock should cower at home if they see this band's name on their bill." Max Meehan-Beerland Some bands ditch the bass, opting instead for one or two guitars that can play the low notes when needed. The guys in Austin rock/stoner metal/psychedelic band Bloody Knives do the opposite (at least in a live setting), proving that the bass/drums/synthesizer setup can work for a rock band. What’s more is that the Knives’ music comes across as thoughtful as it is forceful on stage. Each component is somewhat understated — everyone is playing loud but nobody is hitting you over the head. Friday night at Beerland, the band created a wave of sound that was both in-your-face and completely out-there, with lead singer/bassist Preston Maddox’s vocals sounding as if they are coming from another dimension. Synth player Jim Moon added to that other-worldliness with a psychedelic sound scape that didn’t overpower the music (he also goes nuts as he’s playing, as if he’s the one on that missing guitar), as did drummer Jake Mccown who is capable of playing at lightning-fast speeds. Together, what you get is a band that can offer a nice combination of moments of rage punctuated by trippy interludes full of electronic effects and feedback. -Pete Mongillo, Austin360/Austin American Statesman Bloody Knives' track, "I Was Talking to Your Ghost", finds the band in a more shoegazey place than usual, although the band's core sound - somewhere between psychedelia, punk, metal, shoegaze, and electronica, is still very much intact. And even if this track is more on the shoegaze side than usual, it still retains that amazing energy that Bloody Knives seem to have running through all their tracks. If you've read my previous review of the band's full length, Burn It All Down, (you can read it here) you know these guys bring a dark-tinged energy to their art, with electronic programming perfectly suited for soundtracking an awesome horror film or an eerie video game. This track starts off with a maelstrom of hard drumming and a blast of noise, then settles into a fast-paced romp into the darker side of shoegaze, with those languid, blissed-out vocals that Bloody Knives do so well balancing it all out. With lyrics like: "I was talking to her ghost/she stared into my heart/she never let me go..." all delivered over this sort of punk-like noise and rapid fire tempo, this is shoegaze music on speed. Or punk music on a handful of Xanax. However you want to view it, it's an amazing track. These juxtapositions are impressive, but more than that, they WORK. Bloody Knives have never disappointed me, I adore everything they've released thus far, and this split is no exception. -Amber Crain, When The Sun Hits Dirty Texas Psych Noisy drone riffs abounding Cousin It on bass -HaikuLou Boo Radleys plus angst, Atari Teenage Riot minus Teutonic anger...You got your punk in my shoegaze! -Josh Modell, SPIN What happens when you disregard the formula for a rock band and say “To hell with guitars! We’ll do this thing with atmospheric synths, a bass, drums and vocals?!..” You get a unicorn-like industrial shoegaze band that springs from this confusing and (one would think) musically challenging idea. Austin-based Bloody Knives has released their second full-length album, Blood (St. Marie Records, 5/2012), and proves again that while this concept might be out of the ordinary, it works well. -Nikki Roszko, TPR-Mag Armed with a singer/bassist, drummer and sound manipulator, the Knives answer the question, “What would happen if Mission of Burma kicked Roger Miller out and let both Martin Swope and Bob Shellac run wild?” -Steven Haag, PopMatters Far from the traditional rock band, Bloody Knives hit the stage with crunchy bass guitar, freight-train drumming and a member solely dedicated to synth-samples and noisy sound-loops. Each song was elevated by roaring singer Preston Maddox. Every damn foot in the room was kept tapping by the low tones and solid beats these hot-blooded Texans had to offer. -Joseph Hess, Riverfront Times Lowercase heroes bloody knives are one of the most exciting bands in recent memory. Last year’s full length “Burn It All Down” dripped with potential and “disappear” is the sound of that potential fully realized. Refining their unique blend of chiptunes, industrial and shoegaze, the Austin threesome has simply crafted a monstrous EP every bit as heavy and powerful as their closest contemporaries A Place to Bury Strangers. Every track is drowning in layers of distortion and electric noise without sacrificing any sense of melody. With equal parts ambiance and aggression, bloody knives deliver an experience unlike any other, simultaneously capturing the energy of early grunge and the calm of post modern ambience. -Mark Somers, Exploding in Sound From Austin, Texas, Bloody Knives is a duo, Preston and Jake, who have released an album, called Burn It All Down. Burn It All Down is absolutely certain to be on my personal list of BEST OF 2010. Citing influences such as practically all the deadly sins, and many more descriptive terms from the dark and evil things in the world, Bloody Knives has created a vibe with their music, made from guitar, synth, and driving percussion, that feels so damn fantastic to get lost in......the entire album from start to finish, is like one long wave to ride; it's exciting music, makes you feel like you're underground riding a fast, dark train. The evil imagery might be there, yes, but the music is not grating, or harsh, in any way. Instead, I can honestly say there is an actual 'lightness' about this music, which has nothing to do with anything pretty or mundane, and everything to do with Preston's vocals, which are not buried within the music, but stand out as they are sung over and above the driving, pulling beats of drums and the smooth sweeps of synths. The guitars are what bring the darkness and depth, so constantly there is this interplay between light and dark in these songs. Bloody Knives music most definitely pulls elements from a multitude of different musical styles, from shoegaze, to post-punk, to electro, to psychedelic. These guys masterfully meld all of this together to create a most mind-blowing piece of work. -Terri Karnessis, Dirty Sexy Karma “Imagine having a peaceful daydream while caught in the midst of a futuristic battle.” -Audiocurrent “(The) drum-machine dream-pop of early Cocteau Twins, the aggression of A Place To Bury Strangers, and the 8-bit textures and bright melodies of the sadly departed Depreciation Guild.” -New Artillery “(Burn It All Down) is a very impressive release, imbued with the right amount of attitude and aggression to ensure repeated listens - even moreso if you're intending a night filled with narcotic fuel and a trip down the rabbithole.” -Sonic Masala First up was Austin, TX rockers Bloody Knives, who were making their first appearance in New York. Cleverly melding influences as diverse as metal, shoegaze and post-punk, the duo eschews guitars, and instead uses keyboards and samplers to create a lush and at times psychedelic sound. Lead singer Preston Maddox’s ethereal tenor vocals seem to float over his intense, distorted bass lines and the heavy, driving beats of drummer Jake McCown. Teresa Sampson-Sentamentalist “Vocally it's got more in common with Film School, or that postmodern shoegaze, MBV inspired sound. There's even a slightly similar (in feel anyway), riff tying this fast industrial inspired tempo together. They have a lot more aggression, and rock happening in their instrumentation, but the vocals float on top, clearly and fighting against this high tempo swirl. Turns out it's just three guys from Austin with what must be a hell of a lot of gear to create this impressive sound live.” -7 Inches “It’s Bloody Knives on the flip that really grabbed my attention, though… musically, their track is as if My Bloody Valentine tried to play Fat Wreck Chords-style melodic-punk, with this ridiculously clear and angelic male voice harmonizing over top.…….I keep wanting to hear this Bloody Knives track, it’s just too appealing and bewildering.” -Yellow Green Red “Today's feature band are Bloody Knives, a two piece electropunk duo from Killredrocket Records homebase of Austin who pound your ears with a mix of droning 8 bit industrial, shoegaze and raw grunge. It's kinda like Soundgarden bumping into My Bloody Valentine in a steel factory." -The Devil Has The Best Tuna “Preston Maddox’s woozy vocals on the album cut through the rusty storm of guitars, drums, keys, and programming to add contrasting melodic references that will draw you in over and over again. The trio creates a riotous amount of sound, with every nuance carefully placed in the sonic landscape.” -Discosalt “Had this on repeat for a while in the car and I thought I would share. Imagine if Pendulum made a fuzzed out shoegaze album. This would be it.” -A Little Bit of Sol “Preston Maddox and Jake McCown describe Bloody Knives as being Industrial Shoegaze or Psychedelic Punk. Take your pick since, when it comes down to it, it depends on which track you are listening to at the time. Each description fits and melds together to form a cohesive mix of musical concepts. One minute you may find yourself drifting off into a serene Ambient sleep only to be yanked out of your blissful dream state the next to jump up and cut a rug with a much harder edgier sound.” -Air Atlantic Underground Radio “There is an underlying sense of urgency, accompanied by doom in the driving beats, yet the melodic vocals that pop in and out of the track below provide the perfect bit of balance for listeners.” -Austin Town Hall broken nihilistic abandon passionate desperation dense filth electric disquiet pummeling moments of intense beauty atmospheric icy buzzing