| Musical Style: Heavy Metal | Produced By: |
| Record Label: Arkeyn Steel | Country Of Origin: USA |
| Year Released: 1989 / 1990 / 1992 / 2022 | Artist Website: |
| Tracks: 14 | Rating: No Quote |
| Running Time: 74:43 |
Knightriot evokes images of straightforward heavy metal but in a melodic form. The group traces to 1985 and Phoenix, Arizona where guitarist JD Brittyn, brother’s bassist Danny James and vocalist Jeffrey Michael James, and drummer Chris Camenetti founded it under the Nytro moniker. A move to Los Angeles in 1987 brought change in the form of Jeremy Crowther replacing Camenetti on drums and new name Knightriot in response to a local act called Nitro (to feature guitarist Michael Angelo and vocalist Jim Gillette part of its lineup). The newly formed four-piece proceeded to garner popularity from playing the local club scene, including Gazzari’s, the Troubadour and Whiskey A Go Go.
Subsequent to Christopher Blake supplanting Brittyn, on guitar, Knightriot recorded its debut four song demo EP Speak No Evil, which was released in May of 1989 and went on to sell a respectable 20,000 copies. Of note is how the track “Kiss The Black” appeared on the Underground Metal 2 compilation from the same year. End of 1989 saw James Purpora take over guitar duties for the departed Blake, solidifying the roster that recorded the Knightriot October of 1990 six song sophomore demo Beware The Knight (selling 11k copies) and third and final demo Killing Time (12k copies). The advent of the ‘Seattle sound” from the same time, however, brought about obvious change to the music scene, with the end-result Knightriot disbanding by the end of 1993.
The three Knightriot demos soon went out of print and turned into highly sought after and hard to find collector’s items. Enter Arkeyn Steel Records, whom re-mastered (courtesy of Kostas Scandalis at Infinity Studios) and re-issued the three in June of 2022 under the title Beware The Knight: The Complete Works Of Knightriot. A 12-page booklet includes lyrics, an in depth band biography, band photos and expanded cover art to Beware The Knight (noting the work of Kostas Athanasoglou).
Speak No Evil
Make no bones about it but Knightriot delivers unabashed traditional metal, albeit not without forsaking the accessible side of things. As notes in the groups press material, comparison ranges from Sword and Armored Saint to Bloodgood, Saint, Cross and Final Axe (I might add Emerald and Philadelphia to the list). Hence, opening cut “Rock Hard”, which begins to a live audience intro ahead of turning into a high-energy stomper with catchy rhythms and youthful gang-shouted backing vocals in abundance. “Holy Avenger” ensues in similar but mid-paced fashion with heavy set and undeniable momentum leading the way to the closing extended instrumental jam that helps push things past six and half minutes. The former features blazing leads galore and latter lyrics reflective of the group’s faith:
A sacred child is born
The Prince of Peace Emmanuel
Crucified and torn
A sacrifice to save the world
Sworn to defend the throne
Avenger sees the enemy
The Righteous stand alone
They know the Truth will set them free
Of the remaining two Speak No Evil cuts, “Kiss The Black” sets a near speed metal tone but not without a darker hint (noting the haunting backing vocals) and loads of double kick drum. Front man Jeffrey James brings a muscular mid-ranged style with equal parts heart and guts to walk a find line between the Halford’s and Kramer’s of the world. “Wasted Youth” rounds things out as an eight and half minute epic with time and tempo changes to spare - some ballad-like and others metal infused - and prominent melody to extent Emerald’s equally lengthy (and laudable) “Winds Of Doom” (off Armed For Battle from 1987) comes to mind.
Beware The Knight
Knightriot takes the next step musically on Beware The Knight by composing some of its finest material to extent Saint’s iconic 1986 release Time’s End comes to mind in terms of comparison. Hence, opener “Bitterfield (Hell On Earth)”, starting slow and doom like only to turn into another speed based cut with a hook driven, old school metal allure, and follow up number “The Sacred Legend”, a mid-paced hard charger with a darker focus combining an immediate melody and catchy riffs to spare. Apparent on the two is how Purpora proves a mean and nasty lead guitarist in similar vein as Saint’s John Mahan.
Standing out equally is the clean production to reveal quite the professional sound for a self-financed recording from the early nineties. Emulating this is albums plodding title track to reveal a muscular, doom-ish veneer to allow transparent bass and resounding drums to stand above the mix and “Lucifer’s Child” in also upholding the mid-paced but with an even placing of tightly woven riffs and harmonies to go alongside a subtle but compelling melody. Distinct to both are lower register vocals with an almost Hetfield-like edge.
“Serve Thy Master” contrasts with a speed metal allure to manifest double bass, mercurial riffs and all the catchy hooks you could ask (I am reminded somewhat of Barren Cross). Instrumentally, an extended shred like run finds Knightriot upping energy exponentially. Group continues to make its faith known lyrically:
Lost and alone
Forsaken unto all the world
He calls you home
To join Him on His throne
Oh foolish child why have you never seen the Light?
Can’t you decide who is wrong or right?
The time has come to fight
Change your wrong to right
We’re armed for battle
And we’re here to tell you
Closing things is a very well done hard rocking cover of the Zager & Evans classic “In The Year 2525” with moments galloping to an Iron Maiden influenced vibe and others slow and trenchant to approach the bottom heavy. Again, there is plenty of well-done lead guitar throughout.
Killing Time
Killing Time finds Knightriot diversifying an exploring its musical boundaries by adding strong doses of blues based hard rock to it traditional metal repertoire. Production values further up in the process by mirroring a polished sound allowing all instrumentation to separate, with particular focus on expanded bass and transparent drums to go with perfectly placed rhythm guitar.
Title track best manifests said bluesy hard rock vibe, reinforcing a driving mentality to combine gritty licks and chops with a memorable as it gets refrain, as does “The Ballad Of The Unsung Hero”, not really a ballad but rather a crunch heavy melodic hard rocker with a classic rock edge and groove driven low end. Of note is how the two are home to extended runs of inviting lead guitar. Taking creativity to the next level is “Here Today, Gone Tomorrow” to see funk flavored bass (sort of like Lovewar) underscore moments calm and reticent and others delivering a forthright blow.
Final two songs consist of awesome bluesy drenched open-air guitar instrumental “Sultana” (sort of like Rex Carroll), which gives way to magnum opus “The Second Coming”. Song finds Knightriot returning to its straightforward metal ways in upping intensity and tempo, placing emphasis on vocals to take a snarling edge, aggressive drumming and guitars that dig and bite. Subject matter is self-explanatory:
The Second Coming is underway
Set a course for judgement day
You better hope, you better pray
You’re ready to face the day
There will be weeping
And teeth will be gnashing
The King will return from heaven
Set your sight upon the clouds
Apocalypse now!
Summary
Give credit Arken Steel Records for making the three Kinghtriot demos available after having been hard to find collectors items for such an extended timeframe. Beware The Knight proves the perfect vehicle in this regard with its finely done packaging and superior re-mastering to bring out the best in such dated material- production is quite solid considering the three are independent demos recorded using late eighties to early nineties technology. The group proves itself capable of writing memorable material within a traditional metal (and to a lesser degree hard rock) framework. Musicianship is of equal merit. Which begs the question: why didn’t we hear more from these guys? If Knightriot had signed a label deal and followed up with two to three full-length releases, they would receive mention in the same sentence with many of the artists referenced throughout the review. Regardless, if interested in a piece of long lost but very adept metal history then make Beware The Knight a priority purchase.
Review by Andrew Rockwell
Track Listing (Speak No Evil): “Rock Hard” (6:02), “Holy Avenger” (6:34), “Kiss The Black” (4:45), “Wasted Youth” (8:26)
Track Listing (Beware The Night): “Bitterfield (Hell On Earth)” (4:57), “Sacred Legend” (4:52), “Beware The Night” (4:55), “Lucifer’s Child” (4:43), “Serve Thy Master” (5:24), “In The Year 2525” (4:51)
Track Listing (Killing Time): “Killing Time” (3:48), “Here Today, Gone Tomorrow” (4:08), “The Ballad Of The Unsung Hero” (4:30), “Sultana” (1:23), “The Second Coming” (5:21)
Musicians
Jeffrey Michael James - Lead Vocals
Jamie Purpora - Guitars
Danny James - Bass
Jeremy Crowther - Drums
Christopher Blake - Guitar
