Hawk Eyes
Encyclopedia
Hawk Eyes are an alternative metal
band from Leeds
, England. They formed in late 2004 and released their official debut Modern Bodies on 1 November 2010 through Brew Records.
, UK
. Initial practices were held in the basement of the house they shared.
The three played together until the line-up was completed in 2008 when Matt Reid joined the group on drums after his previous band Whores Whores Whores split.
Early years (2004–2007)
The three-piece band played a part in the Leeds underground DIY metal and hardcore scene, amongst the local squats and dives. Some small CD splits and self-released CD-r's appeared during this time, all recorded with Ross Halden in his home basement studio Ghost Town Studios. Following years of house shows, small releases and three self-organised tours, Brew Records picked up on the band and included them on their first release in 2007, a compilation entitled 'Volume 1" featuring other local bands part of the same DIY scene. This was to become a much stronger relationship as time passed. The band next decided to make an album of all the material they had to date and recorded it in sessions between Chris Fielding at Foel Studio in Wales
and Jason Sanderson in Barnsley
. Nottingham
based label Sound Devastation released the self-titled debut on a limited run in 2008 and soon after Reid joined the band to complete the line-up and continue touring. The album and compilation both received great praise from press.
2008
In mid-2008 the band decided to film their first music video for the track 'NASA Vs ESA' (taken from the self-titled debut) and shortly after its release local Leeds
label Brew Records, offered to add Hawk Eyes to their growing roster (I Concur, Kong, These Monsters, Castrovalva
). They saw the year out with further touring and writing.
2009
In March they returned to Jason Sanderson's studio to record their first material with latest member Reid. An EP entitled A. Or Not? (named after a close friend/promoter), and in support of the EP's release, they produced their second video for the track 'I Hate This, Do You Like It?' in collaboration with the NME
/ SPIN Magazine
photographer Danny North. The EP was released in the late summer of 2009 following Hawk Eyes' first festival appearance on the BBC Introducing stage at the Leeds and Reading festivals
and a UK tour with label mates Kong. At this point another Leeds independent label Dance To The Radio
, asked the band to contribute a track towards their '4 X 12' series'. The track used was called Scorpieau - recorded by old friend and self proclaimed svengali, Ross Halden at his newly located penthouse Ghost Town Studios mark II. Both the EP and the 12" split received positive national recognition. They closed the year off with their largest tour to date supporting US outfit The Fall of Troy
across the UK including an invitation from Mike Davies to record at BBC's Maida Vale Studio in London for the Radio 1 punk rock show during the tour.
2010
Hawk Eyes started the year with several more tours and played over 10 festivals across the country including Leeds & Reading, Hevy Festival and Sonisphere. Brew then released Modern Bodies, a selection of songs taken from previous limited releases, collected together on one new album. Remixed, remastered and featuring brand new artwork by Reid and North. The album received critical acclaim worldwide. A UK tour supporting We Are The Ocean
and a UK/European tour supporting Alexisonfire
followed with positive reviews.
2011
Hawk Eyes have completed writing a new album and will release new Ep Mindhammers in Dec 2011
On 7 March, Chickenhawk announced their renaming of the band to 'Hawk Eyes'.
“When we named our band Chickenhawk after the book by Robert Mason, we never really,
like most bands probably, thought things would go as far as they have done for us!,”
explains singer Paul. “So, only now that we have possible US and European releases
of Modern Bodies, a new album being recorded in March and us trying to get our own
website up, it's appeared that we can't get the rights and/or any of the domain names
we wanted to and for Chickenhawk!! Frustrating, but, these are the breaks! So with
no further delay, we have simply chosen to drop the Chicken, move Hawk to the front
and add Eyes! Simple! Everything stays the same.”
(2005 - CD)
Split release's
EP's
Studio Albums
Compilation Appearances
Alternative metal
Alternative metal is a genre of alternative rock and heavy metal that gained popularity in the early 1990s. Most notably, alternative metal bands are characterized by heavy guitar riffs and experimental approaches to heavy music.-Origins:...
band from Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
, England. They formed in late 2004 and released their official debut Modern Bodies on 1 November 2010 through Brew Records.
Formation
Hawk Eyes was formed in late 2004 LeedsLeeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
, UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. Initial practices were held in the basement of the house they shared.
The three played together until the line-up was completed in 2008 when Matt Reid joined the group on drums after his previous band Whores Whores Whores split.
Early years (2004–2007)
The three-piece band played a part in the Leeds underground DIY metal and hardcore scene, amongst the local squats and dives. Some small CD splits and self-released CD-r's appeared during this time, all recorded with Ross Halden in his home basement studio Ghost Town Studios. Following years of house shows, small releases and three self-organised tours, Brew Records picked up on the band and included them on their first release in 2007, a compilation entitled 'Volume 1" featuring other local bands part of the same DIY scene. This was to become a much stronger relationship as time passed. The band next decided to make an album of all the material they had to date and recorded it in sessions between Chris Fielding at Foel Studio in Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
and Jason Sanderson in Barnsley
Barnsley
Barnsley is a town in South Yorkshire, England. It lies on the River Dearne, north of the city of Sheffield, south of Leeds and west of Doncaster. Barnsley is surrounded by several smaller settlements which together form the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley, of which Barnsley is the largest and...
. Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
based label Sound Devastation released the self-titled debut on a limited run in 2008 and soon after Reid joined the band to complete the line-up and continue touring. The album and compilation both received great praise from press.
2008
In mid-2008 the band decided to film their first music video for the track 'NASA Vs ESA' (taken from the self-titled debut) and shortly after its release local Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
label Brew Records, offered to add Hawk Eyes to their growing roster (I Concur, Kong, These Monsters, Castrovalva
Castrovalva (band)
Castrovalva are an English Noise Hop band, formed in 2007 in Leeds, West Yorkshire. Originally a duo of Daniel Brader and Anthony Wright , they expanded to a trio with the addition of Leemun Smith in 2009. Smith had previously guested on the band's self-titled debut album and provided the cover...
). They saw the year out with further touring and writing.
2009
In March they returned to Jason Sanderson's studio to record their first material with latest member Reid. An EP entitled A. Or Not? (named after a close friend/promoter), and in support of the EP's release, they produced their second video for the track 'I Hate This, Do You Like It?' in collaboration with the NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
/ SPIN Magazine
Spin (magazine)
Spin is a music magazine founded in 1985 by publisher Bob Guccione Jr.-History:In its early years, the magazine was noted for its broad music coverage with an emphasis on college-oriented rock music and on the ongoing emergence of hip-hop. The magazine was eclectic and bold, if sometimes haphazard...
photographer Danny North. The EP was released in the late summer of 2009 following Hawk Eyes' first festival appearance on the BBC Introducing stage at the Leeds and Reading festivals
Reading and Leeds Festivals
The Reading and Leeds Festivals are a pair of annual music festivals that take place in Reading and Leeds in England. The events take place simultaneously on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the August bank holiday weekend, sharing the same bill. The Reading Festival is held at Little John's Farm...
and a UK tour with label mates Kong. At this point another Leeds independent label Dance To The Radio
Dance to the radio
Dance To The Radio is an independent record label co-founded by Whiskas of Les Flames and ¡Forward, Russia! in 2004.It was named after the refrain of the Joy Division song "Transmission"...
, asked the band to contribute a track towards their '4 X 12' series'. The track used was called Scorpieau - recorded by old friend and self proclaimed svengali, Ross Halden at his newly located penthouse Ghost Town Studios mark II. Both the EP and the 12" split received positive national recognition. They closed the year off with their largest tour to date supporting US outfit The Fall of Troy
The Fall of Troy
The Fall of Troy was an American progressive math rock trio from Mukilteo, Washington. The trio consisted of Thomas Erak , Andrew Forsman and Frank Ene...
across the UK including an invitation from Mike Davies to record at BBC's Maida Vale Studio in London for the Radio 1 punk rock show during the tour.
2010
Hawk Eyes started the year with several more tours and played over 10 festivals across the country including Leeds & Reading, Hevy Festival and Sonisphere. Brew then released Modern Bodies, a selection of songs taken from previous limited releases, collected together on one new album. Remixed, remastered and featuring brand new artwork by Reid and North. The album received critical acclaim worldwide. A UK tour supporting We Are The Ocean
We Are the Ocean
We Are the Ocean is a 5 piece post-hardcore band from Loughton, Essex, England.The band has played hundreds of shows since their formation, including several festivals during 2008 such as Slam Dunk, Offset Festival, Middlesbrough Music Live, and Taste of Chaos...
and a UK/European tour supporting Alexisonfire
Alexisonfire
Alexisonfire was a five-piece, Juno-nominated post-hardcore band that formed in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada in 2001. The band consisted of George Pettit , Dallas Green , Wade MacNeil , Chris Steele , and Jordan Hastings .They describe their music as "the sound of two Catholic high-school girls...
followed with positive reviews.
2011
Hawk Eyes have completed writing a new album and will release new Ep Mindhammers in Dec 2011
On 7 March, Chickenhawk announced their renaming of the band to 'Hawk Eyes'.
“When we named our band Chickenhawk after the book by Robert Mason, we never really,
like most bands probably, thought things would go as far as they have done for us!,”
explains singer Paul. “So, only now that we have possible US and European releases
of Modern Bodies, a new album being recorded in March and us trying to get our own
website up, it's appeared that we can't get the rights and/or any of the domain names
we wanted to and for Chickenhawk!! Frustrating, but, these are the breaks! So with
no further delay, we have simply chosen to drop the Chicken, move Hawk to the front
and add Eyes! Simple! Everything stays the same.”
Band members
- Paul Astick – lead vocals, rhythm guitarRhythm guitarRhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...
- Robert Stephens – lead guitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
- Ryan Clark – bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, backing vocals - Matthew Reid – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
Discography
Demo's(2005 - CD)
Split release's
- Hawk Eyes / Castrovalva / Dolphins / Blacklisters (2011 - 10" Vinyl)
- Chickenhawk / I Breathe Spears / With Scissors Split (2006 - CD)
EP's
- A Or Not? (2009 - Enhanced CD Digipak)
Studio Albums
- Modern Bodies (2010 - CD Digipak)
- Self-titled [aka God Helmet] (2008 - CD)
Compilation Appearances
- Exploding In Sound - Battery Acid Audio (2011 - Free download)'
- Dance To The Radio - 4x12" Vol 3 (2009 - 12" Vinyl)'
- Salt The Wound Records - The sky is bleeding (2007 - CD)'