Chickenhawk Eyes
Released in the middle of their UK tour supporting Ginger (of The Wildhearts fame), the "Mindhammers" EP treads out onto interesting ground, with the English foursome ultimately sporting an intricate rock album that strikes at you with a fair few fistfuls of bruising metal angst.
The novel harmonic style immediately catches the attention of your ears in opener 'Crack Another One' and the layering between the guitar leads and the bass works effectively. Title track 'Mindhammers' is tied together superbly by drummer Matt Reid and is a good showcase for the unity of this promising British act. The strains of melody drift effortlessly, having been juxtaposed with the fury of the song's verses.
'Dead Mans Hand' is characterised by jagged outbursts, but the effect-heavy vocals during the verses can easily slip out of consciousness; a problem that is not exclusive to this particular track. As it progresses, the song does gradually begin to settle and assert itself, but the staccato bursts do not initially achieve the force that they were presumably employed to. There is something about 'Eleven Years' that brings to mind the earlier days of Biffy Clyro, before they abandoned their inspiring originality and sadly sold out to the mainstream scene. Drawing the tempo back for this track, those seeking pulse-raising rage-a-thons may find themselves reaching for the 'skip' button at this stage.
'Hidden Hound' boasts a comparably fleshed-out sound and although 'Eleven Years' struck with its quirky rhythmic and harmonic twists, it is surprising how thin the finale's predecessor seemed texturally. The tight-knit harmonies of the closing track are beautifully reminiscent of Jerry Cantrell's solo endeavours, wound up with a climactic coda to conclude an impressive outing. Silence cuts in abruptly as this record rounds off, leaving you keen to hit 'play' and give this five-track an extra sneaky listen.
Quite an intriguing release from Hawk Eyes, the "Mindhammers" EP is certainly worth a listen if you like to balance on the fence between rock and metal. There are certainly elements that may well remind you of a number of various artists, but as a result, repeat listens of this five-track could be sacrificed for the revisiting of these emulated bands.