Album Review: The Hyena Kill – A Disconnect (APF Records)

The Hyena Kill, a 4-piece brooding, emotive rock band from Manchester are set to release A Disconnect via APF Records on March 5th, 2021.

Comments vocalist/guitarist Steven Dobb:

The bulk of material was written during a very low point in my life, and as a result this album fell into place with a sense of claustrophobia and finality, of being trapped in a hospital bed, linked up to life support, unable to regain your own agency and escape the situation you find yourself in. Of being bound by the traumas of the past that you’re unable to cast away, and ultimately feeling suffocated by them. Wanting to escape and be absolutely anywhere – or anyone – else. These are lyrics that deal with and focus on uncomfortable subjects that were dominating my life at the time of writing. The words and movements in this record are mostly without resolution. There are no happy endings or moments of clarity.

This is a record where you can feel the pain, taste the sweat and tears, and relate to the despondency of what is showcased. All while thoroughly enjoying the uber-passionate heavy rock tunes that the unit can express so finely.

If you’re a fan of say… Deftones, you can certainly draw comparisons to the dreamy and emotive way in which The Hyena Kill play. From powerful and intense highs to cold, dark and melodic lows, it’s a constant roller coaster of emotions with this album.

On the one hand, it’s captivating stuff. Tracks like Passive Disconnect, Witness and Bleached burn with cold light and have vigorous rhythms to help get the body moving.

On the other, tracks like Cauterised, Close Enough and Glass Scene give off such an isolating feeling that staying focused for a length of time can sometimes be difficult. The wistfulness of it sends the mind drifting off into the ether and the tether seems to stretch, only to be snapped back by a forceful hit of instrumentation.

Though the flow of the album might seem disjointed, it’s not. Each track ebbs and flows into the next and there’s not a jarring or annoying tone to any part of it. It’s not an album to lift the spirits but it will cause some reflection and that’s never a bad thing. Aside from that, The Hyena Kill’s brand of emotive rock is highly addictive.

The Hyena Kill – A Disconnect Full Track Listing:

1. Septic
2. Passive Disconnect
3. Cauterised
4. Witness
5. Close Enough
6. Thin
7. Bleached
8. Glass Scene
9. Incision
10. Mire

Links

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