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Hometown: Sheffield, UK
Label: Gabadon Records
Management: Chris McMahon
Website: www.gabadon.co.uk
Sounds Like: Jethro Tull, Genesis, Pink Floyd, Yes, Led Zeppelin Official
Genre: Rock
New studio album from legendary Sheffield band Haze
'Back To The Bones' GABCD21 on Gabadon Records out 4th July 2020
Sheffield progressive rockers Haze have just released 'Back To The Bones' their first studio album of new material since 2013's 'The Last Battle'. Out on 4th July on CD and download/stream from Bandcamp and all the other usual places, the album features 10 original songs.
This is the first studio album to feature new drummer, and guitarist Paul McMahon's son, Danny McMahon, who also produced & engineered the album.
The album is probably the heaviest sounding release from the band, marking a definite 'back to our roots' direction, although there is still some of the folky influence from 'The Last Battle' apparent in some songs.
All songs were written by guitarist/vocalist Paul McMahon, with 3 co-written by Catrin Ashton, one with Chris McMahon and one with Danny McMahon.
In fact the song 'Lockdown', was entirely written and performed by Danny McMahon, with Paul McMahon just adding lyrics, vocals & slide guitar & Chris adding bass.
In keeping with a long-standing Haze tradition, we've included one very old song on the CD 'To Us All', written in the 70s when Chris & Paul were still teenagers!
Although we have been unable to perform live due to lockdown, the band have been performing regular Sunday afternoon concerts, livestreamed from our Cellar Studio, which have attracted a good following, and may have contributed to this being our fastest selling album to date, despite having no distribution or record company support.
We have one live show pencilled in with the John Hackett Band at the 1865 Club in Southampton on Sunday 8th November, but it's too early to say whether this will go ahead or not.
For the moment we are continuing with our Sunday afternoon lockdown livestreams, which are streamed live to our Facebook page and posted to our YouTube channel
HAZE 'Back To The Bones'
Released on Gabadon Records GABCD 21 on 4th July 2020
Track listing:- 'See You On The Other Side' (6:03), 'Faces On The Wall' (3:58), 'The Snake' (8:04), 'The Last Post' (6:38), 'Suzanne' (2:31), 'To Us All' (9:20), 'Lockdown' (5:05), 'The Awakeners' (6:54), 'A Call To Arms' (8:25), 'The Summoning Dark' (11:51).
Haze Personnel:-
Danny McMahon - drums
Paul McMahon - guitar, vocals
Chris McMahon - bass, keyboards, vocals
Catrin Ashton – fiddle, mandolin & vocals
BIOGRAPHY
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 80s. The band released 2 LPs, 3 singles & many cassettes, and 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, but reformed Haze in 1998 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 recorded by tour promoter Daniele Castracane and released as the “in that branch of the lake” DVD.
In 2013 the band released a new studio CD of original songs; “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.
Just before it's release, 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 had been playing drums for over 7 years, and has frequently guested with the band at local shows.
The band took part in the 2weeks 2make it video competition in 2013 with 'The Last Battle' and in 2015 with a new song ‘Faces on the Wall’, and again in 2018 with an animated video for 'The Snake' which won the Scott Sparanza best video award.
In 2018 the band celebrated their 40th anniversary, with, predictably enough, two shows, a double CD and a live DVD, these being the first recordings to feature Danny on drums.
The band have just released their first studio album in 7 years 'Back To The Bones' on Gabadon Records on 4th July 2020, and are performing lockdown livestreams every Sunday afternoon to Facebook.com/HazeUK
Despite building their reputation as a progressive rock band, Haze have always drawn on a wide variety of influences, ranging from pop, rock, folk, metal, meandering psychedelic jams to tightly structured prog epics.
“Haze are a similarly long established concern who have just recently suffered a major blow with long-time drummer Paul Chisnell announcing his retirement after recording their most recent album 'The Last Battle'. Happily, however, this has proved an opportunity rather than the mortal blow it could have been, as guitarist Paul McMahon's son Danny has taken up the drum stool. At 14 years old, it would not be hyperbole to describe this young man as a prodigy, as he not only player the material brilliantly, but actually grabbed it by the scruff of the neck and revitalised it - there were times when I found myself specifically watching the drummer's performance, and it has to be good to make that happen. As Paul said after the show, he may not be as good as Neil Peart yet, but he's certainly as good as Neil Peart was at 14! This extra dimension made for a tremendous show, and I for one will be looking to catch them again before too long if I can.”
Steve Pilkington - Classic Rock Society Magazine
“'in that branch of the lake'
This time it’s Italian tour promoter Daniele Castracane who’s done the business, with a recording of the band’s April 2010 show from Lecco on Lake Como.
The band - augmented for about half the set by Treebeard’s Ceri Ashton on flute - is on top form. ‘The Vice’, in particular, is a blisteringly visceral performance and ‘Seven Stones’, with Ashton’s contribution drawing it closer than usual to ye olde Cellar Tapes original, is really rather special. There are, encouragingly, enough new tracks to be well on the way to an album, with ‘The Last Battle’ being particularly strong.
While the filming is very good, though, sound quality leaves something to be desired, with the mid range rather ‘boomy‘, smudging some of the subtleties - and Haze’s music has always been about nuances.... this results in a disc that will be enjoyed by fans - and I'm one myself - but still isn’t the DVD we really want.”
Oz Hardwick - Rock'n'Reel (R2)
“It's a flawless welcome on stage for Haze as the ballardry and swaying mood change of For Whom follows on from the lively opener Turn Around. Engaging and varied in their delivery throughout, the band have swollen to a quartet now, with flute player Ceri Ashton...
...each song is greeted with well deserved enthusiastic cheers. Highlight of the evening is undoubtedly the achingly beautiful The Edge Of Heaven.
It beggars belief why they never quite got the breaks earlier on in their career, and it's a real shame because Haze should have been as popular if not more so than their counterparts during the early 80s; their neo-prog influence should have enjoyed far more success. Yet to see this band still tread the boards after over 30 years - albeit as sporadically as they do nowadays - should make anyone's musical journey that little bit more complete.”
Richard Thompson - Classic Rock Presents Prog
“Sheffield's Haze appear as a quartet tonight with female flute player Ceri Ashton giving their neoprog classic sound a more folksy feel. Opening in spectacular form, The Vice is a mix of guitar flurries & furious basslines. Haze are a joy to watch. Band of the day.”
Richard Thompson - Classic Rock presents Prog
“A two and a half hour set, so amazing I couldn't believe it was really happening at times; so euphoric and dreamlike. If you were there you'll know what I mean, if not, do yourself a favour and get the live CD of the night,”
Wondrous Stories - Dave Kennedy
“What can you say about Haze? Certainly one of the hardest working bands ever to get lost on the A1(M), they are still seen as being a very important influence on many of today's bands.”
Kev Rowland - Feedback
“Three cheers and general hats-in-the-air type behaviour for this CD issue of Haze's 1984 album and 1985 EP - a release which will delight and amaze...”
Oz Hardwick - Wondrous Stories
