Album Review: Hawxx – The World Splits Open (Self Released)

London-based progressive punk metallers Hawxx are back with their sophomore album, ‘The World Splits Open’. Out on June 26th, 2026.

It had to be the opener, didn’t it? From the moment I heard Resistance is Justified, it was clear that this new Hawxx album was going to come with more fire, intensity, and defiance than ever before. So, it kicking things off makes sense, as it is a track with some serious snarl, punky in spirit, but with heavy metallised focus. Hawxx throwing all their heart and soul into delivering something so powerful.

The soundtrack to rebelliousness, the refusal to accept the status quo, and music for people who are just so sick of all the injustices in the world.

Across the album, Hawxx’s passion boils over, and one of the best examples of that comes with Macho Bullshit. Hawxx at their darkest, heaviest, and angriest. Whereas Feral Mother soars in gripping fashion, We Are Nature’s outburst is highly emotional sounding, while having a notably thicker sound and a chaotic end, and Arm the Animals takes a more aggressive stance, especially via the vocals.

Hawxx aren’t being coy here. They want you to understand them, understand what makes them angry, and understand that their platform allows them to give a voice to the voiceless. There’s something so refreshing about them not really speaking in metaphorical terms and offering up very little room for misinterpretation.

Continuing to make a point, sharply and intensely, we have Bind, Sacred Water, and Shriek. A mixture of Hawxx’s heavy, punky, melodramatic, and ‘f**k you’ sides. Unflinchingly open and honest, and showing off notable growth as musicians, this section of the album features some of their most experimental ideas and some of their finest sounding music to date.

Perhaps the best example of just how defined Hawxx have become though is the penultimate track, Me Her and the Birds. Incredibly powerful, both instrumentally and vocally, it’s downright hypnotic with a notable ‘calm before the storm’ feel, and it will stay with you for a long while afterwards.

Finally, and in somewhat contrasting style, Be That Whore expands on the more chaotic side of Hawxx, while also delivering elaborate melodies and expressive punk-infused heaviness. A potent six-plus-minute effort that will leave no-one in any doubt that Hawxx’s impressive rise isn’t going to be halted anytime soon. Not only does it feel like a big step forward for the band, it showcases their identity in much clearer and relatable fashion.

Hawxx – The World Splits Open Track Listing:

1. Resistance is Justified
2. Macho Bullshit
3. Feral Mother
4. We Are Nature
5. Arm the Animals
6. Bind
7. Sacred Water
8. Shriek
9. Me Her and the Birds
10. Be That Whore

Hawxx Links

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