Khann

It's intriguing to hear how Khann can manage to be part of, but sound separate from, post-hardcore, a genre that's already extremely difficult to pin down. This eclectic Orlando outfit take their influences from a short but fertile timeframe, borrowing from the minimalist aspects of Jesus Lizard and early '90s Dischord ("Downward"), up to the aggressive but intelligent proclivities and unusually charismatic vocals of late '90s Cave In. The mix gets thrown into an entirely different place with a healthy dose of guitar leads that suggest everything from screamo-derived drama ("Heroic Dosage") to Mastodon-infused, explorative passages ("Destitution"). Some of the darker aspects of Converge also rear their heads, but the overall vibe is more varied than pitch black. Topped off with songwriting that gives crucial sections their due via repetition ("The Gate"), Erode keeps with tradition but also stays true to Khann's uniqueness.