Knives is more than a band – it is a movement. The music of the Bristol-based combo is a manifesto for inclusivity, diversity and empowerment within the alternative scene. In doing so, Knives aims to create space for marginalised voices, and to be a rebellious and welcoming home for people of colour and the LGBTQ+ community.
Formed by singer Jay Schottlander and drummer Erin Cook in 2022, Knives began as a bold statement in Bristol’s music scene. They soon grew into a six-piece band with a very diverse line-up, consisting of people with completely different backgrounds.
‘While I was growing up and listening to Metallica, I never saw other Black people in the audience,’ says bassist Ben Marshall. ‘Now we have so many queer people and people of colour coming to our shows. It feels good to have built such a place.’
The soundtrack of that place is a genre-bending mix of furious hardcore, gritty post-punk, scorching alt-rock and wild experimentation. Among others, the heavy rock magazine KERRANG! is already a fan of Knives, and their album GLITTER, released last year, is a first-rate hardcore-meets-noise shrapnel bomb.
As befits a hardcore band, Knives is a true touring machine. Over the past year they have played shows all across the UK and have regularly crossed over to mainland Europe. At Leffingeleuren, their furious set was one of the highlights, and earlier this year they also blew the roof off the AB Club. Time to let them tear down Cactus Café.
