Southampton's HAEZE Invites You On A Fuzzy Journey With New Track "Rise"

Haeze - fuzzy Southampton rock [photo: Haeze]

Four-piece HAEZE are slowly carving a name for themselves in Southampton's rock scene. First appearing on people's radars (including mine) back in February with grunge-laden "Window in Time", the band are back with follow up single "Rise". Where "Window..." was firmly in the fuzzy psychedelic lane, "Rise" sees a more ambitious attempt at straddling genres, balancing technicality with groove.

Starting with a slow atmospheric build up, the track takes its time to introduce itself. Light fuzz and a groovy rhythm help keep the flow. The band are at their strength here, their influences worn on their sleeve.

When the full band kick in, the distortion increases and the track enters familiar, stoner-tinged territory.

It might be almost a minute and a half before the vocals kick in, but the time goes quickly. In places, the distorted instrumentals drown out the vocals, but they at their clearest in the chorus, floating and reverberating effortlessly above the music as they guide the listener through the track.

A short guitar solo around the halfway mark has the familiar stoner, psychedelic sound, backed by appropriate levels of distortion. The solo gives way to the most ambient part of the track - swelling atmospherics with a guitar playing the main riff/motif. This is a short but beautiful piece of songwriting, flowing in and out of the track with ease. A second solo arrives on top, delivering melody and technicality in equal measure.

"Rise" is out now [photo: Haeze]

Everything is well structured and thought out, the band delivering a strong, coherent musical journey.

With influences including Soundgarden and Electric Wizard, the end result was always going to be a love letter to the fuzzier side of rock. Here, Haeze are two for two, delivering a strong follow up and a track that stands tall on its own merits.

"Rise" is out NOW on streaming platforms