We have been long time supporters of Hawk Eyes here at HTF, right back to when they went under the moniker of Chickenhawk so you better believe we are excited to hear the latest album from these Leeds sludgy riff masters. The band have done like many others in the music world today and matters into their own hands by using the Pledge Music campaign and here we are with new album Everything Is Fine.
As soon as the distorted riff and huge first blast of drums hit to open ‘The Trap’ you know that the band have not lost a step. The wonderful thing about this band is their uniqueness, their eccentricity and thankfully they have lost non of that here. They have a certain nastiness that underscores the riffs that at times harks back to bands like the Melvins but with a delicious sense of melody which is all their own. This melodic sensibility is shown off on ‘Die Trying’ with an almost chant like vocal harmony that has a call and response with a deliciously filthy riff and perfect heaviness.
Although there is a very schizophrenic feel to the music the band never lose their path. Everything is done for a reason, nothing is done just for the hell of it, proved by the rhythm section being stupidly tight, driving each track from A to Z via who knows where you will go in between. The weight this band shifts is shown off in a startling fashion with the frankly amazing ‘The Ballad Of Michael McGlue’ which shows you don’t have to sacrifice heaviness to create a catchy number.
All in all Hawk Eyes have shown how special music can still be and by using Pledge Music have also shown that when a band is left to their own devices without interference the results can be as ambitious as they want. Here that is a very good thing. Everything Is Fine shows a band with a new confidence and maturity that is nothing short of exciting and we can’t wait to see where they will head next.
