Everyone loves a sequel right? Manchester heavy hardcore outfit released their first aptly-titled Kill List EP back in December 2023 — sandwiched tightly between their killer debut full-length, What Makes You Tick? from earlier that same year, and the even better Die Fast LP in April 2024 — and now it gets a somewhat unexpected but no less vicious follow-up in the form of the self-released Kill List II.
With seven tracks clocking in at just 11 minutes, and only one clearing the two-minute mark, this is the band at their very best: short, sharp and bristling, with something of a newfound brutality helping to evolve the sound ever so slightly.
All four members of Going Off were kind enough to share some thoughts on the new EP, a few highlights from their experiences as a band so far, and of course some of their favourite sequels of all time (although, no Blade II, fellas?).
You guys have been very prolific over the past few years, how do you maintain that creativity?
(Jake Huxley, vocals): We keep it fresh. We finish music and then move on. It’s about creating new art and not focusing on stuff already realised.
What connects Kill List II to the previous Kill List EP?
(Jake): The tuning and the heaviness more than anything - thematically this record deals with a huge amount of loss and grief. Originally, it had a different title, but then calling it Kill List II just felt right.
These tracks really feel like your most sonically brutal to date - does that feel fair to you and was that intentional if so?
(Jake): I don’t think it was intentionally done, but it’s very correct. I think it’s because this record came from such a personal place. We really needed it there and then.
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Both EPs have a very specific visual identity, where did the inspiration for that come from?
(Jake): We’ve all grown up with love of horror movies. Making Kill List both visually and sonically dark and heavy allows us to get creative and really lean into the evil tone and negativity of the record. Shout out @rileykerrtattoos for all the KL series art.
Could you elaborate a bit on the EP’s main theme of loss?
(Jake): After writing our first EP, Destroy, about forms of mental and physical self-destruction, there is a lot of loss to process throughout life. I needed to explore some of those and find some catharsis.
If you’ll forgive the tangent, it feels fitting to ask you about some of your favourite sequels of all time….what have you got?
(Nate Worrell, guitar): The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Part 2, A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors, Hellbound: Hellraiser II, Friday 13th Part 2, Demons 2, The Devils Rejects.
(Alex Sladen, drums): Terminator 2: Judgement Day, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Part 2, Zombi 2 (although it’s not a direct sequel but it was originally intended to be one), The Empire Strikes Back.
(Jake): The Devils Rejects, Hellbound: Hellraiser II, Saw II.
(Charlie Wyatt, bass): Aliens, Airplane 2: The Sequel, all of the Naked Gun sequels.
You’ve been going pretty hard and playing a lot of shows for a good few years now, how has this shaped the band as it is today?
(Charlie): Sladen and myself joined mid-tour this time last year. I think really putting miles on the road and in the air has turned us into a real dangerous unit live. Playing away from home and your comfort zone is always guaranteed to make you play better and our ratio of touring to
home shows greatly reflects that.
(Jake): We’ve shifted shape and taken on new forms as a live unit, and even as a writing unit as a whole now. Most of the OG members have stepped down now, so we play live as a four-piece and some of the former members still operate from the shadows. We all have full-time careers and lives to pursue, so the next record is gonna be crafted over more time now. We want to enjoy every moment.
(Nate): We realised pretty quick after starting the band six years ago that we were all at different stages in our lives, so in order to keep up the momentum of the band then we’d have to utilise getting our friends to fill in when needed. Jake and I have played every single show since the
band’s inception, and we’ve been lucky to have such talented pals that were willing to drop everything and rock with us.
We locked in this current lineup last year when we did our European tour, with Charlie and Sladen quickly becoming full-time members during the run. They’re both phenomenal musicians, they fit the GO dynamic well and we all just have a blast together. Very excited to continue writing together for the next release.
Do you have any specific moments or experiences that stick out to you as particular highlights so far?
(Nate): The short run we did across Ireland with our friends Scowl was definitely a highlight for me. We played 2000 Trees that year too which was pretty wild, and our first European headline tour we did last year was insane. Those European shows were the first shows we did with our
current lineup.
(Sladen): The entire past year has been a bit of a whirlwind of big experiences, it’s hard to pick just one but ripping it up across the world with my boys is pretty goated.
(Charlie): Our first show together was in Umeå, Sweden is one of my favourite places to visit and play. I invited Dennis from Refused to come out and he did! Bloody nice guy.
(Jake): Too many to mention. Honestly, we’re almost six years deep now and this band and its music takes us around the world. Every date and every show has its moments. There was the time we had to take three flights to play for 20 minutes in Sweden, the time where Sladen cracked a rib walking into a set of stairs in the dark, and every time we play rooms and have people shouting my words back at me. It all just sticks out to me
Do you have any bucket list bands you’d still like to play with?
(Nate): American Nightmare for sure, please make it happen, Wes!
(Sladen): Suicidal Tendencies would be the one for me, to be fair.
(Jake): Gulch.
(Charlie): Trash Talk if we’re talking present bands, and Crossed Out if we’re talking bands that are long-gone.
What are some of the up and coming UKHC bands that you are particularly excited about?
(Nate): Overpower, Nylon and Flesh Creep are good pals of ours, and have been grafting for as long as we have, so it’s super cool to see them doing so well!
My daughter Ellie is finally in a band too. They’re called Consigliere, and they’ll be dropping a demo soon. I’ve heard some of the rough mixes already and they’re sounding sick!
(Charlie): I really dig Ritual Error, who are on more of a Dischord and Gravity Records kinda vibe. Also, that new Crowquill EP is deadly!
(Jake): Overpower are constantly on the rise, I see big things for them on the horizon. Shoutout to Manchester’s own Telltale too, featuring Sammy who filled in for us last year and plays drums on Kill List II.
Lastly, the question on everyone’s minds…Will there be a Kill List III?
(Charlie): We don’t have a set path on how we write. We’re still building those mind reading powers with all the kick ass material that’s out already. When we get it together to write in this framework you’ll know about it.
(Jake): No comment on KL III, to be honest. If it comes about at a time in our lives, then so be it. Right now, we’re just enjoying the good we have.
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