Milwaukee’s queer indie/emo stalwarts Killer High Life are back with “kittens and puppies,” a new single that dropped last Friday and proves the trio hasn’t lost an ounce of intensity since their lauded 2025 self-titled debut.

Don’t let the adorable title fool you—this isn’t a lullaby. “kittens and puppies” barrels forward with a driving, aggressive pulse in an unconventional 3/4 time signature that keeps listeners perpetually off-balance. It’s a swirl of shoegaze textures and Midwest emo angst, punctuated by the kind of raw, high-energy delivery that’s made Brennan Deshotel, Adam Belker, and Adelaide Light White fixtures on Milwaukee’s punk and indie circuit. The track carries a dark, minor-key melancholy that belies its cutesy name, wrapping heartbreak themes in walls of distortion.

Since dropping their debut, Killer High Life has been tearing through local stages at venues like Cactus Club and X-Ray Arcade, and “kittens and puppies” feels tailor-made for those sweaty, cathartic live moments. If you’re into the dreamo/shoegaze crossover space or just want to hear what happens when emo gets a shot of punk adrenaline, this one’s essential listening.

Stream “kittens and puppies” now: