Going Off – Kill List II (2025)
Manchester’s Beatdown Bruisers find their tender yet visceral greatness to round off Spooky Season.
Manchester’s Going Off have never been ones to play nice. Their 2024 record Die Fast was a feral, teeth-bared sprint through hardcore punk’s nastiest alleyways. But Kill List II, clocking in at a lean 11 minutes, is something else entirely: a snarling, emotionally raw evolution that doesn’t just punch—it bruises, bleeds, and occasionally, hugs.
From the first chug of guitar, it’s clear the band haven’t lost their taste for beatdown brutality. But there’s a new texture, a kind of wounded clarity that cuts through the distortion. Vocalist Huxley, known for his guttural bark, now sounds like he’s screaming from the edge of a breakdown rather than just the pit. It’s still confrontational, still visceral—but there’s vulnerability in the venom. A middle finger, sure, but this time with a more polished nail.
Tracks like “Soft Target” and “Dead Air” showcase this duality best: the riffs are pure concrete, but the lyrics hint at something deeper—regret, reflection, even tenderness. It’s hardcore with a heart, and it hits harder because of it.
The band’s cheeky punk ethos hasn’t vanished either. There are still moments of sardonic humour and chaotic energy, but they’re tempered by a sense of purpose. Kill List II feels like a band growing up without growing soft—a rare feat in a genre that often equates maturity with compromise.
Released DIY, the album is a testament to Going Off’s commitment to doing things their way. It’s short, sharp, and emotionally devastating. Hardcore punk rarely sounds this human.
For fans of: Bareknuckle, Slow Burn
Written by @jdprosho
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