Album Review: The Hyena Kill – A Disconnect

The Hyena Kill are from my hometown of Manchester, UK, I have made plans to see them live several times on the basis of their reputation, each of which, for one reason or another, just haven’t happened, so it seems appropriate that when I do finally get introduced to their latest album, “A Disconnect“, it’s at a time when I still have no way catching them live. “A Disconnect” is set to be released via APF Records on March 5th, all being well they will appearing at Arctangent Festival later this year and then, dependent on the pandemic, tour dates will follow and then hopefully I can finally experience The Hyena Kill in person.

The opening introduction ‘Septic‘ build the atmosphere and tension before ‘Passive Disconnect’ hits you straight between the eyes with an intense riff. “A Disconnect” ebbs and flows into every dark corner of the band’s souls, from the stark and tortured ‘Cauterised‘, through the haunted piano of ‘Thin‘ and the full on punk blast of ‘Bleached‘, to the epic atmospheric closing act of ‘Mire‘. “A Disconnect” is not an album that could be described as an easy listen, at times unsettling, at others energising, hearing this darkly flawed gem of an album is a pleasure though, one that makes me miss live music just that little bit more. The Hyena Kill‘s new album is not something that will shake you by throat and grab your attention, rather this is an album that will grow on you as you attune yourself to its caustic brutality.

“A Disconnect” follows on from their 2016 debut album “Atomised“, an album fuelled by frustration and alienation, and 2018’s “Spun“ EP. This is the first release from The Hyena Kill to feature the latest additions to their line up, Sam Jones (Guitars, Synth) and Charlie Seisay (Bass), something that has allowed the band to expand and experiment with their constantly evolving sound. “A Disconnect” is not an album of radio friendly crowd pleasers, this is a bleak, claustrophobic and intense album that is fuelled by personal trauma and pain, there is no resolution or happy endings on offer, a sense we can all identify with to some degree at one time or another over the last twelve months.

You can pre-order “A Disconnect” via APF Records here