Hawk Eyes

Chickenhawk
Origin	Leeds, England
Genres	Alternative Metal Experimental Rock
Years active	2004–present
Labels	Sound Devastation Brew Dance To The Radio
Associated acts	Spider Wins Vadgeville Whores Whores Whores
Website	http://www.myspace.com/chickenhawk/
Members
Paul Astick Robert Stephens Ryan Clark Matthew Reid

Hawk Eyes (formerly known as Chickenhawk) 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.

History

Formation

Chickenhawk was formed in late 2004 by Paul Astick, Robert Stephens and Ryan Clark in Leeds, UK. Initial practices were held in the basement of the house they shared. The band came together after their previous bands, Spider Wins and Vadgeville had both become inactive. Clark and Stephens had been friends throughout school and lived together whilst at University where they met Astick. The three played loosely as Chickenhawk 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 Chickenhawk 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 Chickenhawk's 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

Chickenhawk 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

Chickenhawk are currently writing and recording for their follow up to 2010's 'Modern Bodies'.

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 guitar
• Robert Stephens – lead guitar
• Ryan Clark – bass, backing vocals
• Matthew Reid – drums

Discography

Demo's

• Chickenhawk demo (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)'

External links

• Chickenhawk Myspace Page
• Brew Records
• last.fm Page