Japanese metal outfit KNOSIS have returned with their first new music since last year’s debut album GENKNOSIS, unveiling the uncompromising standalone single ‘Kushizashi’ via SharpTone Records.
Stream it HERE.
Led by multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Ryo Kinoshita, KNOSIS continue to refine their blend of punishing metal, hardcore and melody on a track that balances razor-sharp riffs, crushing grooves and Kinoshita’s trademark combination of visceral screams and soaring clean vocals. The result is a focused statement from a band continuing to expand its sonic identity.
Kushizashi follows an active period for KNOSIS, who recently introduced their formidable live show to European audiences while touring alongside fellow Japanese heavyweights Paledusk. The new single arrives as another step forward for a project that has steadily gathered momentum since the release of GENKNOSIS in 2025.
Conceived as a deeply personal creative outlet for Kinoshita, KNOSIS explores themes of emotional struggle, isolation and resilience through music that shifts seamlessly between crushing breakdowns, intricate metal riffing and moments of melodic release. Those contrasting elements have become central to the band’s identity, pairing technical precision with an emotional weight that runs throughout their catalogue.
With Kushizashi, KNOSIS reaffirm that they remain one of Japan’s most intriguing modern heavy acts, continuing to evolve while staying true to the intensity that has defined the project from its inception.
