Hawk Eyes

Hawk Eyes are a rock band from Leeds, United Kingdom, active since 2004. Their sound sits in alternative rock, post-hardcore and rock, and they emerge from the Leeds underground DIY metal and hardcore scene.

Formation and early releases

The band forms in late 2004 and spends its early years playing house shows, small venues and self-organised tours around Leeds and beyond. During this period, it releases small CD splits and self-released CD-Rs, recorded with Ross Halden at his home basement studio, Ghost Town Studios. Brew Records includes the band on its 2007 compilation Volume 1, which brings them into a closer working relationship with the label.

Hawk Eyes then records enough material for a debut album using sessions with Chris Fielding at Foel Studio in Wales and Jason Sanderson in Barnsley. That self-titled album is released in a limited run by Nottingham label Sound Devastation in 2008. Reid joins the band soon after to complete the line-up and help with continued touring.

Breakthrough and first album on Brew Records

In 2008, the band films its first music video for “NASA Vs ESA”, taken from the self-titled debut. It later returns to Jason Sanderson’s studio to record its first material with Reid, resulting in the EP A. Or Not?. The EP is named after a close friend and promoter.

Hawk Eyes releases “I Hate This, Do You Like It?” as a second video in collaboration with photographer Danny North. The EP follows in late summer 2009, after the band’s first festival appearance on the BBC Introducing stage at Leeds and Reading and a UK tour with Kong. Around the same time, Dance To The Radio asks the band to contribute a track to its 4 X 12 series; the track used is “Scorpieau”, recorded again by Ross Halden at Ghost Town Studios mark II.

In 2010, the band tours with The Computers and Outcry Collective and records at BBC Maida Vale Studio in London for Mike Davies’ Radio 1 punk rock show. It also plays more than 10 festivals that year, including Leeds & Reading, Hevy Festival and Sonisphere. Brew Records releases Modern Bodies in 2010, collecting songs from earlier limited releases and presenting them with remixed audio, remastering and new artwork by Reid and Danny North. The album is followed by UK and UK/European tours supporting We Are The Ocean and Alexisonfire.

Later line-up changes and releases

Between January and October 2011, Hawk Eyes records the follow-up releases Mindhammers and Ideas. In November, it tours the UK with Turbowolf and The JCQ, and in December it tours as main support for Ginger Wildheart. Mindhammers, a five-track EP, is released in December on download and limited 10-inch vinyl.

Ideas is released in 2012 through Vinyl Junkie in Japan and Fierce Panda in the UK. By this stage, drummer Matt Reid has left and Steve Wilson, previously of Japanese Voyeurs and Dinosaur Pile-Up, has joined the band. Hawk Eyes tours extensively across the UK, Europe and Japan during 2012. Ideas receives strong coverage in the rock press and is nominated for Best Newcomer at the 2012 Kerrang! Awards.

While still touring, the band releases That’s What This Is in 2013 through Pledgemusic. It also starts writing and recording a new album, and in 2014 continues recording its third album with producer Andy Hawkins. The album Everything is Fine is planned for release in 2015, with the lead single “Die Trying” premiered on Dan Carter’s Radio 1 rock show.