Knut (band)

Knut (Russian word for whip, pronounced cnoot) are a mathcore/sludge metal band from Geneva, Switzerland that formed in 1994. They started by playing in the local underground squat scene, publishing a couple of seven-inch releases as well as their first CD in 1997, titled Leftovers. This early material was put out on Snuff Records, which was run by Roderic Mounir and Didier Séverin. In 1998, Knut released their first full-length, Bastardiser, which showcased a sharper and more focused aggression, combining heavily distorted guitars, odd-time signatures, use of discordance and repetition, and harsh vocals.[1][2][3][4]

Knut
Knut promo picture in April 2010 in Geneva by Magali Dougados
Background information
OriginGeneva, Switzerland
GenresMathcore, sludge metal, noisecore, metal, hardcore
Years active1994–2012 (hiatus)
LabelsHydra Head Records, Conspiracy Records, Snuff Records, Division Records, Head Records, Hummus Records
WebsiteFacebook
MembersDidier Séverin
Roderic Mounir
Jerome Doudet
Tim Robert-Charrue
Christian Valleise
Past membersThierry Van Osselt
Philippe Hess
Jeremy Tavernier
Gabriel Farine
Jerome Pellegrini
Thomas Guillanton

The band started touring Europe and shared the stage with bands like Zeni Geva, The Young Gods, Blockheads, Voivod and Neurosis. The year 1999 would prove crucial for Knut, with tours alongside Converge and Botch, both of whom had released records on the Hydra Head imprint. They brought Knut to the attention of label owners Aaron Turner and Mark Thompson, who quickly decided to reissue Bastardiser in the United States and invited them to tour. In August 2001, Knut completed an extensive trek on US soil[5] opening for Isis, playing alongside Thrones, Converge, Keelhaul, Pelican, Premonitions of War, Anodyne, The Cancer Conspiracy, ending at New York's infamous CBGB club.

In 2002, Challenger was released. Recorded at Serge Morattel's Rec Studio in Geneva, the album exceeded all expectations by pushing the envelope of heaviness, dynamics, atmosphere and chaos simultaneously[6][7][8][9] It ended in Terrorizer Magazine's end of year list next to Isis, Mastodon, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Queens of the Stone Age and Meshuggah.[10] Knut kept touring as much as they could, but never as a full-time activity. In 2004, the band took a break while planning their next moves, writing the follow-up to Challenger and working on an experimental remix album (Alter, with contributions from Justin Broadrick, Mick Harris, Dalek, Francisco López, Asmus Tietchens).[11][12][13] Terraformer was recorded in late 2004 in Geneva, engineered by their friend Jerome Pellegrini (former Nostromo guitarist, now in Mumakil). Originally meant to be a demo of the album, the session proved satisfactory enough for a proper release.[14][15][16][17]

In May 2005, Roderic joined Jesu for a European tour, filling in on drums for Ted Parsons. Before the release of Terraformer, Phil Hess quit the band. Jeremy Tavernier took over guitar duties (as, in fact, he had done on most of Terraformer) while Jerome Doudet joined on bass, quickly followed by Tim Robert-Charrue on second guitar. After several European tours in 2006, including the UK with Taint and an appearance at Hellfest alongside Opeth, Nile, Ringworm, Capricorns and Celtic Frost, Jeremy decided to leave and concentrate on his grindcore band Mumakil. Christian Valleise took his spot and Knut quickly hit the road, including Eastern Europe with fellow Swiss noiseniks Monno. In 2008-2009 the band played a number of shows, refining their new formula and taking time to write what would become their fifth studio album.

In 2010, they released their first new studio album in more than five years.[18] Not content to simply recreate the sound of their past albums, Knut strove to reinvent themselves in Wonder by incorporating new melodic elements and psychedelic ambience into their songs.[19][20][21][22][23] Festivals and tours followed, including Europe with Keelhaul, and Russia for the first time. But in January 2012, Knut announced that they were on "indefinite hiatus".[24]

In December 2013, the band briefly reconvened at Serge Morattel's Rec Studio for a cover of Godflesh's "Merciless" song, featuring Franz Treichler of The Young Gods on vocals. The track would open a tribute album titled Fathers Of Our Flesh – Tribute to Godflesh, released in 2014 by Italian label Fobofile Productions and featuring Nadja, Eagle Twin, Author & Punisher, Transitional, Omega Massif, Gnaw and more.

Several vinyl reissues carried out the Knut legacy. In 2019, French imprint Head Records reissued Bastardiser on vinyl, freshly remastered by Lad Agabekov from Nostromo, using the original Snuff Records artwork. An essay detailing those recording sessions was written and uploaded with vintage pictures by the band.[25] In 2020, Swiss label Hummus Records gave Knut's first CD Leftovers its first-ever vinyl release, complete with reworked layout and once again a remaster by Lad Agabekov.[26][27]

Former Knut members have carried out various musical endeavours. Roderic Mounir, Tim Robert-Charrue and Christian Valleise started a metallic noise act named Brutalist (2014-2018) with fellow Genevan guitarist Adriano Perlini. A five-track recording was uploaded in 2019.[28] Didier Séverin, for his part, actively explores the dark tones of electronic drone with his strom|morts trio, resulting in a number of recorded collaborations.[29]

Discography
  • Knut 7" (1994, self-released, 200 copies, hand-numbered)
  • Split 7" with Ishma (1996, Bone Tone Records)
  • Leftovers MCD (1997, Snuff Records; 2003, Ronald Reagan Records; 2020, Hummus Records, vinyl)
  • Bastardiser (1998, Snuff Records; 1999, Chrome St. Magnus Records, vinyl; 2019, Head Records, vinyl)
  • Split 7" with Tantrum (1998, Snuff Records/Vicious Circle)
  • Ordeal 7" (1999, Snuff Records/Molaire Industries)
  • DIY MCD (1999, self-released)
  • Live split 10" with Botch and Ananda (2000, Mosh Bart Industries)
  • Knut CDEP (2001, Hydra Head Records)
  • Challenger (2002, Hydra Head Records; 2010 Division Records, gatefold cover, orange vinyl)
  • Terraformer (2005, Hydra Head Records; vinyl released on Conspiracy Records)
  • Alter anniversary remix album (2006, Hydra Head Records)
  • Wonder (2010, Hydra Head Records/Conspiracy Records)

Members

Current members
  • Didier Séverin – vocale, electronics (1994-)
  • Roderic Mounir – drums, additional guitars (1994-)
  • Jerome Doudet – bass, additional electronics (2005-)
  • Tim Robert-Charrue – guitar (2006-)
  • Christian Valleise – guitar (2007-)

Previous members
  • Thierry Van Osselt – bass (1994-1998)
  • Philippe Hess – guitar (1994-2005)
  • Jeremy Tavernier – bass (1998-2005), guitar (2005-2006)
  • Gabriel Farine – bass (1998)
  • Jerome Pellegrini – bass (1998)
  • Thomas Guillanton – guitar (2003)

References
  1. "KNUT 'Bastardiser' Album Review". lambgoat.com. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
  2. Bastardiser - Knut | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic, retrieved 2020-12-12
  3. "Knut Bastardiser". exclaim.ca. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
  4. "Knut". Ink 19. 2001-09-13. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
  5. News, Deseret (2001-08-10). "Thrash/hard-core band Knut to play S.L." Deseret News. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
  6. "KNUT 'Challenger' Album Review". lambgoat.com. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
  7. "Knut Challenger". exclaim.ca. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
  8. Challenger - Knut | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic, retrieved 2020-12-12
  9. "HYBRIDMAGAZINE.COM | REVIEWS | Knut - Challenger". www.hybridmagazine.com. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
  10. "Rocklist.net....Terrorizer Magazine..." www.rocklistmusic.co.uk. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
  11. Punknews.org. "Knut - Alter". www.punknews.org. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
  12. AltPress (2006-09-08). "Knut". Alternative Press. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
  13. "Knut: Alter". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
  14. "Knut "Terraformer" CD". www.aversionline.com. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
  15. Slevin, Patrick. "Knut: Terraformer | The Aquarian". www.theaquarian.com. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
  16. "KNUT 'Terraformer' Album Review". lambgoat.com. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
  17. "Music Review: Knut - Terraformer". Tiny Mix Tapes. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
  18. "Punknews.org | Knut announces "Wonder"". Punknews.org. Retrieved 2010-05-16.
  19. "Knut - Wonder - Reviews". Rock Sound Magazine.
  20. "Knut Wonder". exclaim.ca.
  21. "NUTS FOR KNUT". MetalSucks. July 12, 2010.
  22. "Knut". December 13, 2010.
  23. "Knut". burning ambulance. 2010-12-13. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
  24. "KNUT". www.facebook.com.
  25. "Knut – Bastardiser". Knut – Bastardiser (in French). Retrieved 2020-12-12.
  26. Kamiński, Karol (2020-10-26). "KNUT return with re-release of their groundbreaking debut Leftovers, discuss their legacy and more". IDIOTEQ.com. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
  27. "Track Premiere: Knut Cracks the Whip with "Spit"". Decibel Magazine. 2020-11-19. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
  28. "BRUTALIST, by Brutalist". BRUTALIST. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
  29. "strom|morts". strom|morts. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
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