When I was a young whipper-snapper growing up in South Yorkshire, the then emerging New Wave of British Heavy Metal scene was very much thriving in the region.
Not least a band named after an aurally challenged breed of large cat and one after a Germanic tribe (can you guess their names…..?) who went on the big things – amongst others who did not such as Geddes Axe, Heritage and Limelight.
Also around at the time was a band called Haze. Formed in 1978 by the MacMahon brothers, Haze had very much progressive style and rather popular in and around Sheffield with a strong local following. Saw them quite a few times back then.
They originally split in the mid-1980s though have remained sporadically active since. Indeed – I’d forgotten all about them until hearing that they’d released a new album recently titled The Water’s Edge. A strong feeling of reminiscence came over me and I ordered a copy.
Excellent stuff it is too. Generally what you might call typically English prog though with some nice chunky, flowing riffs, fluid guitar breaks and nice use of flutes giving a nice folksy feel to it also.
The opener – Flight Behaviour – being an instant example of all that. An engaging chunky prog-folk rocker not too far removed from say a mid-1970s Jethro Tull. The mid-section has some fine interplay between guitar and flute.
Not Alone comes in with a big free-flowing riff and short fluid guitar runs then a thumping bass line as the biting lyrics carry the song along with a nice catchy chorus. Those biting lyrics being rather observant on some of the troubles of the world. For example: do you think our democracy’s descended in to farce, do you wish our politicians knew their elbow from their arse.
Give it a listen:
The Waters Rising and Belong are a couple of gentle ballads – though sandwiched between is the heavy twisting and turning prog/folk of The Outlandish Night. It starts off in traditional folksy style for a couple of minutes or so until the thunderous riffage kicks in then the song ebbs and flows over the eleven minutes or so. Quite sublime in its composition and performance.
Drinking With the Devil is nicely fun and upbeat bringing some bluesy southern rock influences to the album.
More variation with Parasite being a driving, spiky number with a something of an unsettling undertow.
Redemption closes out the CD version in some style over eight minutes – the first half being half a sweeping symphonic ballad and the latter half an extended play-out with superbly emotive and engaging guitar work over the lush keyboards.
In my opinion, The Water’s Edge is a fine album with something for everyone. Yes, generally progressive though has plenty of “meat” to it and the folky parts add to the variation and substance.
Available from the Haze Bandcamp page. If you go for the digital version there are a few bonus tracks which are not on the CD version.
https://hazeuk.bandcamp.com/album/the-waters-edge
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