Chickenhawk - Modern Bodies
by Paul Waller
published: 12 / 11 / 2010

Label:
Brew Records
Format: CD
intro
Ferocious, but riveting second album from Leeds-based hardcore band, Chickenhawk
Imagine if when Nirvana released 'In Utero' every song on it was as furious and angry as 'Tourette’s'. Then multiply the ferociousness by thirty and take away the melody and what you have left would be the second album from Chickenhawk. At least that is what I thought at first. Forget the ridiculous name. Many awesome bands have had worse. What we have here is a band so full on that they have created an album that even for these hardened hardcore ears is just so over the top and full of rage it becomes a personal challenge to get through the record the whole way through in one sitting. A task I have succeeded only one time. 'The Pin' holds up the best here in this situation. The pace is slowed down which makes the riffs thicker and at this speed the off the wall solos make a lot more sense. The band even injects a few electronic elements to keep thing fresh. By the time 'The Pin' turns up the song almost comes across as relief. An interesting thing happens though if you come at the tracks on a random shuffle on your iPod. Those melodies begin to break through. Songs like 'I Hate This, Do You Like It?' become potential hit singles and before you know it your humming the insane guitar solos on the way to work. So is this a good review? Well, yeah I think it is. I challenge anyone to come across a riff on any record released this year as hook laden and crunchy as My Name Is Egg’s main belter. Chickenhawk can easily rank themselves amongst the best of Leeds current crop of noisy guitar bands. So, I hear you ask. How much would I like to watch them play with label mates and fellow Leeds bruisers Humanfly? Quite a lot actually. Now that would be a show built for the strong of heart only. Leeds, you got it goin’ on.
Track Listing:-
1 Scorpieau2 NASA Vs ESA
3 The Letdown
4 Soon Of Cern
5 The Pin
6 I Hate This, Do You Like It?
7 My Name Is Egg
8 Mandarin Grin
9 Kerosene
10 Gravitronic Life-Ray Table
11 Bottle Rocket
bandcamp
reviews |
A Or Not? (2009) |
![]() |
First rate debut EP from completely uncompromising Leeds-based hardcore outfit, Chickenhawk |
most viewed articles
current edition
Pennyblackmusic - Writers and Photographers' Albums of the Year 2024Man From Delmonte - Interview
Peter Perrett - In Dreams Begin Responsibilities Interview Part One
Clive Langer - Interview
Pennyblackmusic - Book of the Year Award 2024
Johnnie Johnstone - Interview
Marianne Faithfull - Reflections
Laura Nyro - Profile
Johny Brown - Corpse Flower
Vinyl Stories - Vinyl 2024
most viewed reviews
current edition
Dorie Jackson - Stupid Says RunRingo Starr - Look Up
Pixie Lott - Encino
Dusty Springfield - The BBC Sessions
Beabadoobee - This is How The World Moves
Unthanks - In Winter
Oïmiakon - Comptoir Des Vanites
Joan Armatrading - How Did This Happen and What Does It Mean?
Rosie Lowe - Lover, Other
Emily Burns - Die Happy
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart