Hitlist's 'Human Cereal' is a chaotic, character-driven introduction that refuses to sit still

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There’s something deliberately unruly about 'Human Cereal' that feels like a snapshot of a band mid-explosion. On their debut EP, Leeds' Hitlist lean into disorder by shifting tone and texture from one moment to the next with an energy that feels instinctive.

At its core, the EP sits somewhere within alternative rock, but it rarely stays there for long. Elements of wiry post-punk urgency brush up against looser, funk-leaning rhythms, while bursts of abrasive guitar work cut through with a kind of restless momentum. There are faint traces of acts like Talking Heads in the rhythmic playfulness, but also the sharper edge of contemporary guitar bands in the mould of Shame. The result is a sound that feels constantly moving, occasionally abrasive, but rarely predictable.

Lyrically, 'Human Cereal' is preoccupied with contradiction. It circles around the frustrations of human behaviour while still acknowledging the strange necessity of those same relationships. There’s a sense that the band aren’t interested in offering resolution; instead, they present these tensions as something ongoing, something messy and unavoidable.

But what gives the EP its identity is the way it embraces excess without losing direction. The performances feel unfiltered, but not careless, offering a clear sense of intention behind the shifts in pace and tone, even when the songs seem to veer unexpectedly.

Moments of melody and rhythm occasionally surface through the noise, hinting at a more accessible side, but Hitlist rarely linger there. They push forward, keeping us slightly off balance throughout. It’s a choice that won’t appeal to everyone, but it reinforces the band’s commitment to doing things on their own terms.

As a debut collection, 'Human Cereal' functions as an introduction to a band still exploring the edges of their sound. It’s energetic, uneven in places, but suggests a group with a clear sense of identity, even if they’re still in the process of refining how it’s delivered.