REVIEW: Kaonashi - I Want To Go Home

The experimental quartet from Philadelphia, Kaonashi, is swinging into summer with full force as their third studio album I Want To Go Home, accompanied by a UK and European tour, has just landed. Assembled by the lead vocalist Peter Rono, drummer Pao, bassist Ryan Jones and guitarist and vocalist Alex Hallquist, the band's breaking out from the known genres and sub-genres to create their own unique sound, and has been met by various opinions about their journey.

In I Want To Go Home, the band aims to push the musical boundaries even further than before, brushing off labels and monikers with their music. Although many songs sound similar at the first listen, which is little confusing, after listening to the songs for a few minutes, it is possible to hear some influences from other genres and bands, such as tempos, snare and guitar work. Vocally, Rono’s voice is very similar to that of Bryan Garris from Knocked Loose, as the listener may hear in each of the songs. His voice is very prominent in the song 'When I Say', which is not only lyrically excellent, but also features very prominent guitar parts that are present throughout the whole song, as well as a big punchy bass line that forms the core of the melody.

On the other hand, in the song 'Fly On The Wall (An Orange Sidewalk Paved Around Your Feet)', the band features clear vocals from both Rono and Hallquist for majority of the track, making it an interesting change after mostly screaming in the previous tracks. Featuring Hallquist’s riffs, as well as Pao’s drum work, the song otherwise does not stand out visibly from the rest of the album, but it is an amazing piece to change the narrative a little.

I Want To Go Home also features a spectacular transition between two songs that's featured right at the beginning of the project, namely 'Confusion in a Car Crash' into 'Fairmount Park After Dark'. The former features an extensive guitar work that resembles a Middle Eastern melody with no words, before cutting off and going right into the brutal sounds of the second track. Featuring heavy sounding drums, crying guitar and humming bass, lead by Rono’s distinctive voice, the song starts off a long line of energetic songs that are sure to make for a good healthy moshpit or two.

The album not only displays Kaonashi’s yearning for freedom from the constraint of genre labels, but also a guest appearance from Anthony Green, the current vocalist of L. S. Dunes and The Sound of Animals Fighting. The song 'J. A. M. I. E.' is just a little over two minutes long, but resembles fairly typical post-hardcore music in nearly every way, albeit with a little twist at the end in terms of the acoustic guitar changing tones. Apart from featuring the well-known singer, the song gets lost with the rest of the tracks on the album, if one does not pay attention to it.

The album is not a bad release, but it is also not a revolutionary one. Many of the tracks sound remarkably similar melodically and lyrically, making a full listen not so exciting. On the other hand, the guest appearances were an excellent choice to change the listening experience a bit. It is also important to note that Hallquist’s guitar lines are as sharp as they can be, Jones’s bass is punchier than a boxer, and Pao’s snares are always on point. It is certainly an interesting piece to listen to, and would be recommended for anyone who is not afraid to experiment with different styles, or likes their music to be unpredictable and surprising.

Score: 6/10

I Want To Go Home was released on June 6th 2025 via Rude / Equal Vision Records.

Words: Katerina Stepanikova

Photos: Kaonashi