The Hyena Kill are an alternative rock band from the UK and this is their second album.
I really liked 2021’s A Disconnect, so was pleased to see Collapse appear. The Hyena Kill have produced another 55 minutes of music for me to salivate over, and salivate I do, as this is very tasty stuff.
On A Disconnect I fell for The Hyena Kill’s charismatic brand of dark, highly emotive music. On Collapse, this largely remains true. Think of a mix of bands like Alcest, Deftones, Nirvana, and Sugar Horse, and you’ll have a good starting point for Collapse.
These new songs don’t massively change The Hyena Kill’s formula, but they do extend and develop it somewhat. In essence, the band’s shoegaze-tinged alternative rock remains intact, but adopts an even richer, more expansive approach to immersive atmosphere. Additionally, on occasion, the music has more aggressive moments mixed in; these are relatively uncommon in the grand scheme of things, but are still noticeable when they are deployed, especially early on in the record.
Ranging between adrenaline-soaked energy and calm reflective introspection, Collapse hits the spot no matter what it’s doing at any given time. Taken holistically, the album flows in a directed way across the tracks. The majority of the material focuses on atmospheric, mood-rich emotion, and as the album progresses the material places an ever-increasing emphasis on dreamy, atmospheric soundscapes.
Collapse is a strong record, especially when it has the time to get under your skin. The songs are well-written and would have been perfectly at home in the 90s, but retain The Hyena Kill’s core personality, which allows them to express themselves fully formed in 2025. It’s old-school at heart, yet delivered with contemporary skill.
Very highly recommended.
Wonderbox Metal 