US / THEM: Knifight take on David Bowie, announce tour dates supporting new album

Click image above to watch "Breaking Glass" video

Austin heavy post-punk band Knifight premiere their take on a classic song from David Bowie's Low album today via Brooklyn Vegan. Their cover of the song is a unique track not included on their forthcoming album, V. Listen to and share the track HERE. Knifight also hit the road this month for a series of shows in the Southwest. Please see current dates below.

The band previously shared the lyric video for album track "Young Lovers". Watch/share the video HERE. (Direct YouTube link HERE.)

Knifight is not the type of name you'd associate with a synth-rock group. You'd probably think of a rough-and-tumble bar metal band with a name like that, cargo shorts and Mesa stacks abound. Vocalist John Gable did grow up in the hardcore scene of Tyler, Texas, where he saw bands like Hatebreed and Brutal Truth. Perhaps that's where the tough name came from. Knifight started as an industrial project of Gable, and later keyboardist/saxophonist Patrick Marshall would also become part of the group's nucleus. They performed as a noise duo, eventually finding their way into Austin, and formed into a full band, rounded out by guitarist Nick Garrison, bassist John Hetherington, and drummer Nick Cogdill.

Knifight may be the only group that’s played a noise fest and opened for Future Islands and Duran Duran in 2014, and dipping in both of those worlds has worked in their favor. They’re set to release their album, V in 2015, which is their first album with live drums. Last year’s Dark Voices saw them heading in a murkier direction, and while this record is clearer, it ups the darkness in many ways. They’re less focused on pop structures, stretching out so Gable and Marshall’s synths sound more brooding and gorgeous. “A Perfect Day To Die” sounds like it was commissioned for a James Bond film, right down to the title. “Buttons (Slow)” has echo-laden growls from Gable that suggest his metal past isn’t entirely behind him. Knifight haven’t gone completely doom and gloom on us, though. John H dials in some bouncy basslines throughout, especially evident on the brief ray of sunshine in the form of “Broken Feeling.”This still has all the hallmarks to make the goth club go up on a Tuesday; the weekend’s too bright, after all. Dance floors are staging areas for all sorts of desires and danger, and Knifight are reflecting that with this new record.

V will be available February 10th, 2015 on LP, CD and download via KnifightMusic.

KNIFIGHT LIVE:

01/29 San Antonio, TX @ Jack’s Patio Bar
02/06 Austin, TX @ Cheer Up Charlie’s
02/18 Austin, TX @ Andy’s
02/21 Conway, AR @ Bear’s Den
02/27 Beaumont, TX @ Boom Town Festival
03/26 Tulsa, OK @ SoundPony
03/27 Lawrence, KS @ Frank’s North Star
04/09 Austin, TX @ The North Door (noise set)