In the ever-evolving underground of screamo and hardcore, where raw emotion collides with blistering intensity, Los Angeles trio Knumears are staking their claim as torchbearers of the genre’s chaotic legacy. Today, the band—comprised of guitarist/vocalist Matthew Cole, bassist/vocalist Dante Garcia II, and drummer Frankie Lopez—announced their signing to Run For Cover Records alongside Summer Shade, the label’s imprint helmed by Fury guitarist Madison Woodward. To mark the occasion, they’ve unleashed their debut for the label: the ferocious single “Breaking Ground,” now streaming everywhere with a limited-edition 7″ vinyl dropping this Friday, October 17.
Breaking Ground
Listen to Breaking Ground on Spotify. Song · Knumears · 2025
From the first snarling riff, “Breaking Ground” erupts like a long-buried fault line cracking open, blending the band’s signature old-school screamo ferocity with hardcore’s unrelenting drive. Dynamic shifts jolt the listener from pummeling verses to soaring, cathartic builds, culminating in a scream-along finale that’s equal parts exorcism and anthem. Recorded by the legendary Jack Shirley—known for his work with Deafheaven, Gouge Away, and Loma Prieta—at his Atomic Garden studio in California, the track crackles with immediacy and depth, hinting at the emotional wreckage and self-reckoning at its core. Lines like “Hold my hand and wait / The signs are all off but the feeling still remains” cut through the noise, evoking a haunting meditation on fractured connections and lingering ghosts. Accompanying the release is a stark lyric video that amplifies the song’s visceral punch, available now on YouTube via Run For Cover’s channels.
Knumears’ journey to this milestone has been one of relentless grit and steady output since forming in 2018. Originally known as Turn Away, the band rebranded and quickly carved out a niche in the esoteric world of ’90s-inspired hardcore—think the raw catharsis of screamo, the jagged edges of skramz, and the unfiltered fury of emoviolence. Over the years, they’ve toured extensively across the U.S., sharing stages with like-minded acts and building a devoted following through a drip-feed of devastating releases. Their discography boasts full-lengths like the 2022 album A Shout to See, which captures their lofi-hardcore ethos in tracks such as “Wish I Was” and “This Car Has No Seatbelts Let’s Fly,” alongside collaborative splits including a 4-Way Split, Split with Clay Birds, and Split with Vs Self. Earlier efforts, like the re-recorded tracks from their Palefade split and fresh cuts released via Zegema Beach Records earlier this year, showcase their evolution toward even more epic, post-hardcore-tinged devastation.
What sets Knumears apart is their ability to infuse timeless chaos with a fresh, harrowing urgency—one that feels both nostalgic and urgently contemporary. As the band joins a roster at Run For Cover that includes genre heavyweights pushing boundaries in emo, punk, and beyond, “Breaking Ground” serves as more than an introduction; it’s a declaration. Pre-orders for the 7″ are live now through the label’s site, with variants already drawing attention from collectors and fans alike.
With this signing, Knumears aren’t just breaking ground—they’re tilling the soil for whatever seismic full-length follows. In a scene that thrives on vulnerability and velocity, expect the trio to keep the fire raging.
