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Hyena

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  • Hyëna arrived on the 9th of September 2022, and it carried unusual weight for a band that had been releasing records since the 1980s. KMFDM, the German industrial rock group founded by Sascha Konietzko, had not gone this long between studio albums since they first formed. The gap between their previous record, Paradise, which came out in September 2019, and Hyëna stretched across years shaped by upheaval. What did that silence mean for a band whose entire identity is built on relentless forward motion? And when they finally broke it, what did they have to say?

  • Paradise landed in September 2019, and by the time Hyëna followed in September 2022, three full years had passed. For KMFDM, that represented the longest gap between studio albums in their entire history. The band's reputation rests partly on consistency, on a steady cadence of records that built a loyal following over decades. So the silence was notable. When Hyëna finally appeared, it was their 21st studio album, a number that underlines just how active the band had been across their career before this particular pause.

  • Critic Johann Carlsson, writing for Release Music Magazine, described the album as driven by founder Sascha "Kapt'n K" Konietzko and vocalist Lucia Cifarelli's "vicious and virulent vocal onslaught." Guitarist Andee Blacksugar brought what Carlsson called "aural and angular guitar wizardry," while drummer Andy Selway contributed a "forceful percussive thrust." Alexandra Kozicki, reviewing for MXDWN, observed that the album takes on a more aggressive tone, with heavy instrumentals and lyrics that call out those in power. John Deaux of All About the Rock wrote that Hyëna blasts through the speakers with the force of a napalm airstrike, a phrase that captures the sheer physical impact reviewers kept reaching for.

  • Neil Z. Yeung of AllMusic praised the album for keeping listeners on their toes with what he called "an energized burst of power, winking humor, and their always-reliable trademark sound." That phrase, winking humor, is worth pausing on. Industrial rock is not a genre famous for playfulness, yet multiple reviewers noted that KMFDM carried a kind of knowing irreverence into Hyëna alongside the aggression. The reception across outlets was, by all accounts, very favorable, suggesting the long wait had not dulled either the band's ambition or their audience's appetite.

  • KMFDM did not simply release Hyëna and step back. The band launched a North American tour in September and October of 2022, running dates concurrent with the album's release window. They returned to the road again in May 2023, this time for select dates tied to the Sick New World Festival. That festival connection placed KMFDM on a bill alongside other acts in a shared industrial and alternative space, extending the album's reach into a live context well beyond the initial touring cycle.

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Common questions

When was KMFDM's Hyëna album released?

Hyëna was released on the 9th of September 2022. It is KMFDM's 21st studio album.

Why was there such a long gap before KMFDM released Hyëna?

The gap between Hyëna and the previous KMFDM album Paradise, released in September 2019, was the longest between studio albums since the band's formation. The source does not give a specific reason for the delay.

Who are the members of KMFDM featured on Hyëna?

The album features founder Sascha "Kapt'n K" Konietzko, vocalist Lucia Cifarelli, guitarist Andee Blacksugar, and drummer Andy Selway.

How did critics respond to KMFDM's Hyëna?

Hyëna received very favorable reviews. Critics highlighted the album's aggressive tone, heavy instrumentals, political lyrics, and the band's trademark blend of power and winking humor.

Did KMFDM tour in support of the Hyëna album?

Yes. KMFDM toured North America in September and October 2022 in support of Hyëna, and returned for select dates in May 2023 coinciding with the Sick New World Festival.

What number studio album is Hyëna for KMFDM?

Hyëna is KMFDM's 21st studio album.

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All sources

92 references cited across the entry

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