Kills Birds lets it all out on Crave

Aliya Sanchez

Music Journalist

Many new bands are drawing inspiration from the raw energy of 90s grunge and alternative rock. One band that is perfectly capturing this energy is L.A.’s Kills Birds. A four-member rock band led by vocalist Nina Ljeti; her vocals effortlessly shift from quiet vulnerability to raw, intense emotion. At the same time, both guitarist Jacob Loeb (guitarist) and Fielder Thomas (bassist) create a rich layer to the lyrics, shaping the band’s energetic sound. At the same time, Griffin Kisner (drummer) completes the band’s powerful sound with a tight rhythm. With their new EP, Crave, the band delivers five bold tracks showcasing their intense, powerful sound.

Coming off of their last album Married released in 2021, recorded at Studio 606 where they were personally invited by the owner Dave Grohl himself while their last album is alternative punk with a grungy raw sound to it they took a new sound up on their latest ep with a more focused melody on their songs as well as experimenting with loops, synths and samples creating a new different fresh sound to their music.

Released on April 11, 2025, Kills Birds return to the music scene with Crave, marking their first major release since 2021. Produced by Aron Kobayashi Ritch, the EP brings an explosive yet controlled sound. The influence of mid-90s grunge is very clear, bands ranging from Deftones to Sound Garden, even My Bloody Valentine’s guitar fuzz is within their music, yet able to capture today’s alternative rock sound.

Fronted by vocalist Nina Ljeti, she delivers strong vocals that anchor the band’s emotions On Crave, her delivery is flawless; her voice can catch the emotions the band aims to create while also being able to have room for reflection, even in between the chaos

The EP opens with the song “Behind” the beginning of the song starts off with quiet vocals and instrumentals before exploding into exploding into a powerful sound followed by both guitarist who drive the sound adding to the rawness off the song the song is heavily emotional including lyrics “Am I Breaking / Ripe for the taking / Completely and lovingly blind.” Capturing the vulnerable ability and emotional atmosphere Kills Bird can create through their music, setting the tone for the EP and giving the listeners a glimpse of how ready and emotionally intense the band is pushing themselves to elevate their sound to a new level.

“Pyre” follows with a steady rhythm and darker lyrics channeling inspiration from 2000s indie rock with a grungy undercurrent. The band leans more into loops and synths with added texture than they did in the past, keeping the mood of the song intense. The band’s Drummer, Griffin Kisner, provides a backbone for the song with his tight driving rhythm, giving the song its pulse.

“Madison” is the third track on the EP, written during a power outage while in San Francisco for a North American tour. The band explores adolescent angst highlighted by the lyrics “Carved his name / On her bed frame / Now he’s gone / Nothing’s the same.” The song shifts between quiet introspection to exploding into loud intensity; this contrast is essential to the song’s emotional energy, keeping the listeners engaged within the music and creating a feeling to look deeper within the lyrics and beat.

The next track is “Trace”, the most upbeat song off the whole EP. The band can capture the gentleness of falling in love with someone new. With lyrics like “All along and on and on / Your sweet face / I can trace,” the lyrics describe the journey and discovery of a new relationship with a brighter contrast than the rest of the EP’s shadowy tones.

The last track is the most popular “Hollow’ where the band leaves off the EP with a shoegaze-inspired sound that brings an overall dreamy tone. While it’s a slower song, it doesn’t lose the emotional depth the band builds throughout the whole EP, offering a reflective finish to the end of their project, leaving a lasting impression on the listener.

Kills Birds’ 16-minute EP captures their declaration and presence they have within the alternative rock scene, reminding listeners they are here to stay and make a long-lasting impact. Crave isn’t just a project following up Married Killers shows off their artistic growth and confidence they have gained since their debut, setting their place in the rising growth of the alternative rock scene.