Imagine if when Nirvana released ‘In Utero’ every song on it was as furious and angry as ‘Tourette’s’. Then multiply the ferociousness by thirty and take away the melody and what you have left would be the second album from HAWK EYES. At least that is what I thought at first.
What we have here is a band so full on that they have created an album that even for these hardened hardcore ears is just so over the top and full of rage it becomes a personal challenge to get through the record the whole way through in one sitting. A task I have succeeded only one time.
‘The Pin’ holds up the best here in this situation. The pace is slowed down which makes the riffs thicker and at this speed the off the wall solos make a lot more sense. The band even injects a few electronic elements to keep thing fresh. By the time ‘The Pin’ turns up the song almost comes across as relief.
An interesting thing happens though if you come at the tracks on a random shuffle on your iPod. Those melodies begin to break through. Songs like ‘I Hate This, Do You Like It?’ become potential hit singles and before you know it your humming the insane guitar solos on the way to work.
So is this a good review? Well, yeah I think it is. I challenge anyone to come across a riff on any record released this year as hook laden and crunchy as My Name Is Egg’s main belter. Chickenhawk can easily rank themselves amongst the best of Leeds current crop of noisy guitar bands. So, I hear you ask. How much would I like to watch them play with label mates and fellow Leeds bruisers Humanfly? Quite a lot actually. Now that would be a show built for the strong of heart only. Leeds, you got it goin’ on.
lostinrock 