Splitknuckle have been hailed as one of UKHC’s most promising for a minute now. With the release of their latest ten track venture Breathing Through the Wound, Slpitknuckle aim to launch themselves to the very forefront of the scene. Tracked by the talented Ben Spence over at Fuzzbrain with mixing and mastering being handled by Ben Jones, it can be fair to assume this album is a massive one. Taking notes from legends of the area Raiden and Special Move; Splitknuckle use this to their advantage and add their own spin onto it. Hints of death metal are very apparent in the mix; these Essex heavyweights are making sure their mark is made on the UK’s ever growing hardcore scene with this release. And with the help of labels such as DAZE in the US and Northern Unrest in the UK, Breathing Through The Wound is an album hardcore fans will want to keep on their radar.
Opening up this beast of a record is the track “Fuck Your Whole Life”. Just from the title alone fans can assume exactly where this track is going. Beatdown and death metal are prevalent right from the start with downtuned guitars and fast paced percussion. This nearly four minute track takes fans on quite the ride and really sets the tone up for this release. Without a break, Splitknuckle smash their way into the second track “Gutter Thoughts”. Leaning more into the hardcore side of things, fans can guarantee plenty of two stepping when the group play this one live. Delivering a sound similar to Desolated with a splash of Never Ending Game, it’s fair to say that the UKHC scene will love this track from start to finish.
After getting through some crushing Pest Control and Raiden features, fans will find themselves at the title track. The sixth track on the record and just over halfway, this track embodies everything this record is trying offer all within three brutal minutes. A sound similar to God’s Hate is in full effect with a vocal delivery similar to The Acacia Strain. Plenty of two step and crowdkill moments are available as well thanks to some amazing percussion. Following this hearty track is “Gethsemane”, allowing for something of a breather for a moment, being slower and more melodic than the majority of the record. Nearly four minutes long, “Gethsemane” is comparable to the track “Dreams In Inertia” by Code Orange. Take that and add what sounds like some Gojira vocal influence and you’ve got possibly one of the best tracks all record. Closing out the track around the three minute mark, the group delivers a simple yet beefy breakdown to close out the track perfectly. Sometimes a band doesn’t need too many bells and whistles to make a breakdown pound the way Splitknuckle did with this track.
Surprising fans with one Raiden feature clearly wasn’t enough. Following the calm before the storm that was “Gethsemane”, Splitknuckle switch into pounding beatdown with “Essex Kings”. A very fitting title seeing how the group decided to add a second Raiden feature to the record with this one. It’s bone crushing ordeal, with Splitknuckle clearly putting their everything into this song.
Splitknuckle poured their blood, sweat, and tears into Breathing Through the Wound and it shows. There’s a reason labels like DAZE and Northern Unrest are so proud to push this record as well. This Essex five piece have been and continue to be one of the UKHC’s top groups right now and for all the right reasons. Splitknucke are guaranteed to make their mark with the release of Breathing Through The Wound. This record is for hardcore and death metal adjacent music goers and they’d all be silly to sleep on this release.