Album Review: The Hyena Kill - Collapse
Reviewed by Oli Gonzalez
APF have spoiled us lovers of the riff rotten in recent years. With a stack roster of the undergrounds most grim and heavy, they label have constantly pushed out impressive music from some of the more underrated acts in the Uks underground. The Hyena Kill – based not far from me here in Manchester – are another band on this impressive conveyor belt of talent and are poised to release “Collapse” very soon.
Well, the album should come with a trigger warning, because this opening is absolutely fierce! No messing around, just getting straight into some straight primitive rage led by vocalist Steven and his aggressive output on the mic. This surely would cause a few pits to erupt in a live setting! It feels like a more controlled and calculated rage though, much in the style of Chimaira.
Though the blend of the slower atmospheric and melodic post-metal spiced passages make for interesting juxtaposition though, as well as the cleaner more soothing vocals. This is seemingly a feature of the album; switching between ambient and aesthetic through to loud and straight up aggressive! Though the build feels logical, calculated and controlled, rather than haphazardly and random. A post metal metal vibe and dynamic similar to Devil Sold His Soul. The guitar work is crucial to achieving these effects, whether it’s the intricate glass-like tones, or the dissonant and crunching distorted effects!
The band enter shoegaze territory in ‘Collapse The Sun’, further expanding the sonic repertoire for the band. I’m totally on board with this! This is achieved by the clever deployment of the synths and choice of dream-like guitar tones. Vocalist Steven gives demonstrates his more soothing and calming timbres to his voice, as opposed to the banshee like screams earlier in the album. His vocals are supported by Lorna remarkably from behind the kit in ‘Porcelain’. ‘Crisis Actor’ offers some respite at the midpoint of the album with a more stripped down song that contributes to the excellent pacing of the album. The aptly named ‘Sedatives’ is an acoustic number and offers similar benefits.
Overall, an impressive effort that upholds APF Records’ fierce reputation whilst offering a challenge as to what heavy music can and should be!
