New EP Review: Texas Metal//Hardcore-tinged Band Know//Suffer Share The Curse of Care
Know//Suffer (CREDIT: Vic - @victor.dc)
Know//Suffer (otherwise, known as Know//suffer, Knowsuffer, KNOWSUFFER, and//or K//S) is a heavy band from El Paso, Texas blending crushing modern Metal with emotional vulnerability and dynamic restraint. Their music explores themes of responsibility, burn-out, grief, and the hidden weight people carry in their everyday lives. Their latest release, The Curse of Care EP, is out now via Silent Pendulum Records. Know//Suffer’s music melds together the all-too-common feelings of tension, groove, and emotional weight. Their sound blends crushing modern heaviness with moments of restraint and vulnerability, creating music that feels both punishing and deeply human. The band consists of Larry Gonzales, Jerry Griffin, Ahmad Morgan (AKA Toast Williams,) and Joseph “Jay” James. James, oddly enough, while born and raised in El Paso, has his own unique Philly connection; his grandfather was one Louis “Lou” Lee James, Jr., who was actually a Philadelphia Eagles player from 1965-67! James was, unfortunately, injured early on during his career and had to retire from The Birds’ roster, but remained an educator and coach until his death at the age of 81. Jay James and I initially texted about K//S and one of the first things was bonded over was our shared life-long Eagles fandom and, eventually, his beloved grandfather. Also, GO BIRDS?!!!??! Each member of Know/Suffer brings a distinct voice and influence to the table, shaping a sound collectively rooted in modern Metal & Hardcore while prioritizing feel and atmosphere over “flash.” Their music thrives in the space between impact and silence, allowing tension to breathe before collapsing into massive, groove-driven movements. Know//Suffer focuses on honesty above all else. Their songs explore the emotional toll of responsibility, burn-out, grief, and the invisible weight many people carry quietly in their lives.
The band’s sound reflects that reality. Heavy, not just in tone, but in meaning. With a foundation built in El Paso’s underground scene and a growing International audience, Know//Suffer continues to push forward with music that refuses to look away from difficult truths and the facts of life. The Curse of Care is Know//Suffer’s latest EP and proper “full-length” follow-up to their 2021 EP, The Great Dying, released on March 13, 2026 via Silent Pendulum Records. The record explores what happens when compassion, responsibility, and loyalty begin to take a toll on the people carrying them. Across the EP, the band examines themes of emotional exhaustion, generational pressure, grief, and the quiet damage that can come from caring too deeply for too long. Musically, the EP moves between suffocating heaviness and stark vulnerability. Massive riffs and crushing rhythmic sections give way to moments of atmosphere and tension, creating a dynamic listening experience that mirrors the emotional push-and-pull within the record’s themes. Rather than offering simple answers, The Curse of Care sits in the uncomfortable space between resilience and collapse. It captures the internal battle of continuing to carry weight while questioning how much a person can truly hold. Honestly, to my ear, at least, The Curse of Care doesn’t sound too far off from 80’s Thrash/Speed Metal and Black Metal, Sludge Metal, and Post-metal, as well as a more gruesome frantic sonic “cousin” of Henry Rollins-fronted era output from Black Flag. Additionally, I’d say that Know//Suffer also qualifies as what I’ve personally deemed as “Black Punk” with two of four members being of African-American descent. It’s also worth noting that the EP cover artwork for Know//Suffer’s The Curse of Care was designed and illustrated by multi-media creative artist/fellow musician Taylor Bates (@taytaygumby) and is really quite awesome and/or scary-looking. Know//Suffer’s latest effort, The Curse of Care EP, is now available on your streaming service of choice, as well as a number of different colored vinyl options and a Hella sick T-shirt, through Silent Pendulum Records.
