CD Reviews

Kill Your Boyfriend - Disco Kills

May 2025

Sister 9 Recordings

Kill Your Boyfriend's new EP, "Disco Kills," plunges into a shadowy yet vibrant exploration of youthful anxieties and desires, particularly through its compelling singles "Discretion" and "Youth.

"Discretion" immediately establishes the EP's thematic core, dissecting how concealed truths can reveal even seemingly dense power structures. Sonically, the track lives up to its concept, crafting a suffocating atmosphere with its deliberate use of echoes and reverberation, effectively dragging into claustrophobic soundscape. Yet, this sonic captivity creates a "vibrant, dark dance floor," an intriguing duality that suggests liberation found within shared, unmasked experiences. The accompanying video further emphasizes this, portraying a wild dance floor as a sanctuary for authentic self-expression, getting rid of the fake appearances of daily life.

"Youth" emerges as a beacon within the EP's darker landscape. Described as a focus track presented in a distinct 80s style, it sounds like a departure from the gloominess. The imagery of being "illuminated with lights" beautifully contrasts with the rest of "Disco Kills," suggesting a moment of optimism. This contrast in sound and theme depicts the dreams of young people. The crucial element here is the hope that these dreams "do not fade at dawn,". Following "Obsession" and "Discretion," "Youth" likely offers a different perspective, perhaps a moment of hopeful yearning that punctuates the EP's deeper explorations of disillusionment and hidden truths. It paints a picture of youthful idealism against the potential darkness, rendered through a nostalgic 80s lens.

Given the band's stated sonic evolution towards electronic music, drawing inspiration from Kraftwerk and New Order while nodding to the Chemical Brothers and Daft Punk, "Youth" blends their signature dark post-punk sensibilities with a more electronic pulse, while "Disco Kills" 's two last songs, "Discretio" and "Youth", turn it into a thoughtful and sonically adventurous EP, using the dance floor as a backdrop to examine deeper personal and social themes relevant to contemporary youth.

Building upon the exploration of youthful experiences, the remaining tracks, "Ego," "Obsession," "Apathy," and "Illusion", likely delve deeper into the complexities hinted at the concept. Given the band's interest in the "hopes, obsessions, illusions, and disappointments" of young people in social settings, "Ego" dissect the inflated sense of self or the fragile identities often projected in these environments. "Obsession," a previous single, already hints at the EP's darker undercurrent, prompting contemplation on the unhealthy dependencies raised by materialistic society.

"Apathy" explores the emotional detachment or disillusionment that can arise from these intense social and personal landscapes. It captures a sense of indifference in the face of overwhelming stimuli or repeated disappointments. Finally, "Illusion" delves into the deceptive illusion people construct or the distorted perceptions that can develop during the search for one's true self. With Kill Your Boyfriend's sonic shift towards a more electronic sound while retaining their dark post-punk roots, these tracks will likely weave together compelling rhythms and atmospheric textures to further explore the EP's introspective and potentially unsettling themes. The inspiration from electronic music pioneers suggests a sonic palette that could range from stark and mechanical to more ethereal and dreamlike, perfectly complementing the exploration of these emotional states!

"Disco Kills" Out digitally and on LTD Edition Vinyl 12" (as part of a split release with Neu Oscuro) on May 9th, 2025 via Sister9 Recordings.

Kill Your Boyfriend are Matteo Scarpa and Antonio Angeli. All songs written and produced by Kill Your Boyfriend.

Info:

https://killyourboyfriend.net/

https://facebook.com/kyboyfriend

https://instagram.com/killyourboyfriendband/

https://killyourboyfriend.bandcamp.com/