Hawk Eyes – Ideas

It's safe to assume that Hawk Eyes (formerly Chickenhawk) hold the mighty riff close to their hearts; the Leeds quartet relentlessly work through dozens of creatively crafted guitar jams on Ideas, their appropriately titled sophomore full-length. Although oozing with a smirking sense of attitude recalling the likes of Big Black and Mclusky, there's also a chugging, robotic feel to the whole affair, a notion made whole by the trigger-happy use of synthetic effects, particularly noticeable in the vocals.

 

Paul Astick is a versatile frontman regardless, like Mike Patton at his most demented on Milk Hog, then an impassioned Mike Vennart on Headstrung – both album standouts. Ideas seems tailored towards disgruntled members-of-society-working-menial-jobs everywhere, seeking to satisfy the primal cravings we all get for fist-pumping guitar rage from time to time. Hawk Eyes are unafraid of showing their influences, so don't expect a game-changer, but when the planets are correctly aligned the results here are often irresistible.