Laughing Hyenas was an American rock band that carved its niche in the underground music scene with a raw blend of punk, blues, garage rock, and noise rock influences. Formed in 1985 in Ann Arbor, Michigan, by vocalist John Brannon and guitarist Larissa Strickland, the band quickly established a reputation for their intense and emotional performances. Brannon, known for his time with the hardcore punk band Negative Approach, brought a visceral, howling vocal style that complemented Strickland's gritty and aggressive guitar work. They were joined by a rotating lineup of musicians through the years, including bassist Kevin Strickland and drummer Jim Kimball.

Their body of work spans across five intense years from 1987 to 1992, during which they produced a series of incendiary recordings that captured the attention of the underground music world. Their debut, "Life of Crime," was released in 1987, showcasing their signature sound that was both primal and haunting. Its follow-up, "You Can't Pray a Lie," continued their abrasive assault on conventional rock structure with Brannon's throat-shredding vocals at the forefront. "Merry Go Round" came out in 1987 and exhibited a slight shift towards a more structured, though no less ferocious, brand of noise rock. The band remained uncompromising in their art, with subsequent releases like "Crawl" in 1992, an EP that mixed blues edge with punk intensity, and "Hard Times," released the same year which would be their final full-length album. Although the Laughing Hyenas disbanded in 1995, their music still resonates with fans of ferocious and unbridled rock energy.