Chris McMahon
03-25-2013, 08:36 AM
The first Haze studio CD in over 20 years 'The Last Battle' is official released today! Available from http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Last-Battle-Haze/dp/B00B4FAGHM and http://www.gabadon.co.uk
Here's the full press release:-
Veteran rockers Haze have recorded their first studio CD of new original
songs in over 20 years. "The Last Battle" features 14 new recordings by the
'classic' Haze line-up of the McMahon brothers and Paul Chisnell, with
sisters Cat & Ceri Ashton adding strings & woodwind.
Formed in the late 70s by brothers Chris & Paul, they were joined by Paul
Chisnell in '83 and established their reputation as one of the hardest
working underground bands of the 80. The band released 2 LPs, 3 singles &
countless cassettes & played over 500 shows around the UK & Europe before
disbanding after a farewell concert at Sheffield University in '88.
The McMahon brothers continued with World Turtle, who released 2 CDs on
Cyclops Records, who also reissued the Haze back catalogue on CD.
In 1998 Haze reformed for a 20th anniversary show, which was released as a
double CD on Cyclops Records.
For the next 10 years the band played intermittently together, including
European tours & festival appearances, but primarily concentrated on their
acoustic band Treebeard, who released 2 CDs & were very much in demand on
the folk & beer festival circuit.
In 2008 Haze got together again for a couple of 30th anniversary shows,
again released by Cyclops Records, and in 2010 toured Italy; one show from
this tour was released as the "in that branch of the lake" DVD.
Mainly due to persuading from the Italian tour promoter Daniele Castracane,
the band went into The Laundry Room studio in Sheffield to record drum
tracks for what was to become "The Last Battle".
Just before the CD was due for release, and the band were about to announce
tour dates, drummer Paul Chisnell retired from playing, citing increasingly
bad tinnitus for his inability to continue.
The band immediately recruited Danny McMahon, son of guitarist Paul to fill
the vacant drum stool. Although only 14, Danny has been playing drums for
over 7 years, and has frequently guested with the band at local shows &
parties.
Despite building their reputation as a progressive rock band, Haze have
always drawn on a wide variety of influences, ranging from pop, rock, funk,
metal, meandering psychedelic jams to tightly structured prog epics.
The new CD draws on all these, plus a strong folk, acoustic & medieval
influence from the use of acoustic guitars, bouzouki & mandolin, plus Ceri
Ashton's contribution on whistle, flute, clarinet, viola & cello, and sister
Catrin on fiddle & flute add a folky & sometimes classical feel.
Combined with Danny's love of modern metal we are confident this is the
beginning of an exciting new phase in the band's career!
Here's the full press release:-
Veteran rockers Haze have recorded their first studio CD of new original
songs in over 20 years. "The Last Battle" features 14 new recordings by the
'classic' Haze line-up of the McMahon brothers and Paul Chisnell, with
sisters Cat & Ceri Ashton adding strings & woodwind.
Formed in the late 70s by brothers Chris & Paul, they were joined by Paul
Chisnell in '83 and established their reputation as one of the hardest
working underground bands of the 80. The band released 2 LPs, 3 singles &
countless cassettes & played over 500 shows around the UK & Europe before
disbanding after a farewell concert at Sheffield University in '88.
The McMahon brothers continued with World Turtle, who released 2 CDs on
Cyclops Records, who also reissued the Haze back catalogue on CD.
In 1998 Haze reformed for a 20th anniversary show, which was released as a
double CD on Cyclops Records.
For the next 10 years the band played intermittently together, including
European tours & festival appearances, but primarily concentrated on their
acoustic band Treebeard, who released 2 CDs & were very much in demand on
the folk & beer festival circuit.
In 2008 Haze got together again for a couple of 30th anniversary shows,
again released by Cyclops Records, and in 2010 toured Italy; one show from
this tour was released as the "in that branch of the lake" DVD.
Mainly due to persuading from the Italian tour promoter Daniele Castracane,
the band went into The Laundry Room studio in Sheffield to record drum
tracks for what was to become "The Last Battle".
Just before the CD was due for release, and the band were about to announce
tour dates, drummer Paul Chisnell retired from playing, citing increasingly
bad tinnitus for his inability to continue.
The band immediately recruited Danny McMahon, son of guitarist Paul to fill
the vacant drum stool. Although only 14, Danny has been playing drums for
over 7 years, and has frequently guested with the band at local shows &
parties.
Despite building their reputation as a progressive rock band, Haze have
always drawn on a wide variety of influences, ranging from pop, rock, funk,
metal, meandering psychedelic jams to tightly structured prog epics.
The new CD draws on all these, plus a strong folk, acoustic & medieval
influence from the use of acoustic guitars, bouzouki & mandolin, plus Ceri
Ashton's contribution on whistle, flute, clarinet, viola & cello, and sister
Catrin on fiddle & flute add a folky & sometimes classical feel.
Combined with Danny's love of modern metal we are confident this is the
beginning of an exciting new phase in the band's career!