By: Charlie Butler
Album Type: Full Length
Date Released: 10/03/2017
Label: Pelagic Records
Deadweights” is an exciting opening salvo from Hyenas, it is an
exhilarating hit of chaotic hardcore, metal fury and punk’n’roll that takes me
back to the early to mid-2000s
“Deadweights” CD//DD//LP track listing:
1.
Noise
2. Crooked Tongue
3. Ambiself
4. Crossbearer
5. Self-Adjusting
6. Homeostasis
7. Verminious
8. Smooth Talkers
9. Displaced
10. Live // Live
11. Nothing
2. Crooked Tongue
3. Ambiself
4. Crossbearer
5. Self-Adjusting
6. Homeostasis
7. Verminious
8. Smooth Talkers
9. Displaced
10. Live // Live
11. Nothing
The Review:
Hyenas debut LP fills me with a warm
nostalgia for the recent past. “Deadweights” is an exhilarating hit
of chaotic hardcore, metal fury and punk’n’roll that takes me back to the early
to mid-2000s. Bands like Minus, Beecher and Norma Jean released
killer albums that had an indelible effect on my heavy tastes and Hyenas bring this sound kicking and screaming into 2017.
“Noise”
eases the listener in gently with a minute of ominous calm before the Nuremburg
quartet lurch into the noise rock rumble of “Crooked Tongue”. From
here the band launch into a series of high octane hell-raisers like “Crossbearer”
where complex noisecore riffs and straight-ahead heavy punk rock combine to
powerful effect.
“Verminious”
takes up the clean guitar figure introduced in “Noise” and expands it
into a moody, post-metal indebted burner. This provides a refreshing change of
pace at the album’s mid-point and demonstrates Hyenas skill in tackling different elements without
compromising on intensity. “Displaced” sees the band unexpectedly
tackling a pared down ballad. Using only a clean guitar and vocals, the track
is surprisingly effective and manages to avoid being jarring and cloying in
contrast to the surrounding carnage. It also provides a welcome breather before
the raging parting combo of “Live // Live” and “Nothing”.
The former is one last reminder of Hyenas at their feral
best which segues into the latter, a menacing slow-motion riff that slowly
unravels into glorious chaos.
“Deadweights”
is an exciting opening salvo from Hyenas, a brief burst of caustic racket that
bodes well for a noisy future.
“Deadweights”
is available to preorder/buy here
FFO: The Chariot, Norma Jean, Converge, The Dillinger Escape
Plan
