So, here we are many moons on from my first encounter with Hawxx, it was Bloodstock 2021 and the world was just re-opening post shamdemic. Download had tested the waters, and Bloodstock was up next, with Hawxx among a plethora of bands that made up a mostly UK-based festival that year, as International travel was still at a minimum. The band at the time were a different iteration from what they are now, but sweet baby Jesus, they were angsty!
So in 2026, the ladies are back with a new album, ‘The World Splits Open’, and it’ll be interesting to see how their journey has progressed since I first stumbled across these badass banditos! The album opener says all you need to know about who Hawxx are, ‘Resistence Is Justified’ speaks of the UK’s rush towards authoritarianism, and Starmers push into darkness with his obsession with pleasing his masters. It’s a brave statement, but clearly the girls are not fazed in the slightest by any potential criticism they may face, and rightly so. Some issues are far bigger than the personal drama that may come from any fallout. ‘Macho Bullshit’ hits hard with its gnarly intro; the weight of distortion just presses you down until the chorus lifts you off your feet.
One thing you know right away is that Hawxx are doing their own thing; there is no regurgitation of other formulas. They have a sound that is quite their own, angsty, punk-rock-laden, ethereal-sounding, expressive, and powerful. You’ll not hear anything quite like it elsewhere. There is a world view to their sound, like they are pulling in influences from the farthest corners of the globe to produce a vibe, a soundtrack that is frenetic at times and a little overwhelming, but all comes together beautifully. There are certainly no formulaic tracks; each one is an attack on the senses, and you need to have your wits about you to fully appreciate what is going on here.
Hawxx are explosive, genre-bending and highly addictive!
I cannot help but be impressed by their approach to songwriting: they seem completely uninhibited, free to go wherever their imagination takes them, and they know how to translate that madness into 10 punishing tracks. Songs like ‘Bind’ just draw you in like a moth to a flame; you can’t help but lose yourself in the 4 minutes of a majestic cacophony of notes. ‘Sacred Water’ likewise just is such a crazy compelling song, as the album draws to a close, you get treated to the slow burner that is ‘Me Her And The Birds’ before it all wraps up with ‘Be That Whore’, a slamming track that just feels like the roof is caving in on you. A great way to wrap up an album that is truly captivating and crazy beautiful all at once.
Released June 26th, you too can enjoy all that Hawxx are at your leisure, but be prepared, this one is not for the faint of heart.
HAWXX’s line-up is: Annouli Papadimitriou – vocals, guitars Hannah Staphnill – guitars, backing vox Jessica Dann – drums, backing vox Find HAWXX Online: |
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