Rock/Review Killing Kind - Being Human
Killing Kind began as a pandemic-era project in 2021, formed by Mats Molund (formerly of post-punk acts such as Fahrenheit, Schnabel, and Lee Harvey Oswald Ensemble), Mats Wigerdal (Kitchen & the Plastic Spoons, Hörförståelse, Oven & Stove, and Ubangi), and Björn Norberg (Quantum Leap). All three are well-known figures in the Swedish post-punk scene, with roots stretching back to the 1980s.
With their second album “Being Human,” Swedish band Killing Kind plunge deeper into the shadows of their sonic universe, delivering a gripping fusion of post-punk angst, synth-pop atmosphere, and gothic weight. What began as a pandemic side project has now grown into a fully realized artistic force, and this record proves just how far the band has evolved. Recorded at the iconic Sunlight Studio with legendary producer Tomas Skogsberg, the album carries a raw, cinematic energy that feels both intimate and immense.
Killing Kind balance haunting melodies with a sense of urgency, threading sci-fi dread and horror imagery through songs that reflect the confusion, fragility, and dissonance of modern life. The production is sharp yet shadowed — shimmering synths collide with driving basslines, jagged guitars, and vocals that oscillate between vulnerability and menace. The result is a sound that feels like walking through a neon-lit apocalypse: cold, beautiful, and strangely comforting.
Where their 2023 debut established their identity, “Being Human” refines it. Tracks like their globally recognized singles “This Beautiful World” and “Desperately Holding On” hinted at their potential, but here the band embraces bolder storytelling and a richer emotional palette. Themes of survival, alienation, connection, and existential drift run throughout, giving the album a cohesive narrative weight.
“Being Human” is not just a collection of songs — it’s a dark, reflective journey through what it means to exist in uncertain times. Killing Kind have crafted a sophomore album that solidifies their unique vision while pushing their sound into deeper, more daring territory.