Leeds-based heavy alternative duo Vazon return with their explosive new single ‘Hammerhead’, a fierce and uncompromising release that signals a defining moment for the band. Built on a stripped-back foundation of bass, drums, and raw vocal delivery, the track delivers a relentless surge of energy, proving that minimalism can still hit with maximum force.
Blending elements of rock, metal, and punk into a groove-heavy assault, ‘Hammerhead’ captures Vazon at their most focused and aggressive. Drawing influence from the likes of Rage Against The Machine and Royal Blood, the track carves out a sound that feels both familiar and forward-thinking, pushing beyond traditional genre lines.
Having already built momentum through relentless live shows and growing radio support, Vazon are quickly establishing themselves as one of the UK’s most exciting rising heavy acts. With ‘Hammerhead’ marking the first glimpse of their upcoming EP, it sets a bold tone for what lies ahead.
We caught up with Vazon to talk about their evolving sound, and what fans can expect from this next chapter.
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Can you tell us a bit about your background and how you got started in music?
Robin: “I grew up on my sister’s music, really. Anything pop-based from The Wanted, Sam Smith, Olly Murs etc. Then in my own freedom I was able to perform musical theatre through high school, discovered my love for rock music and my performance and music knowledge just kept on growing from there. I was always told I was a sh*t singer when I was young, but that quickly ended when I got into high-school and I’m not really sure why.”
Aidan: “I grew up on my parents music my earliest memories are going to local gigs at a pub close by seeing covers tribute bands and the odd originals band musics always surrounded my regardless of whether playing hearing or seeing live music
When I started high school it really clicked for me as soon as I picked up a pair of sticks for the first time it became very apparent this was for me
(even if I did originally want bass lessons!)”
Who are your biggest musical influences and how have they shaped your sound?
Robin: “Clearly, the science behind two-piece setups like Royal Blood and 21Pilots have a huge influence on me, but I always have liked the songwriting musically of the likes of Tigercub; the complete combination of dark, heavy and slightly progressive riffs with the layers of soft-touch vocals always get me. And lyrically, the likes of Hozier has always gotten me interested in new writing methods and different places you can be when you’re writing.”
Aidan: “My music taste is incredibly varied my favourite drummers include Christoph Schneider (Rammstein) Joey Jordison (Slipknot) Dom Howard (Muse) Arya Dred (Skindred) and Abe Cunningham (Deftones) but I also love artists such as Little Simz Ocean Alley Toska Nia Archives Anything with a good groove I’ll listen to in all honesty and then I’ll absolutely rip it off if I like it (sorry Abe)”
Was there a specific moment or experience that made you decide to pursue music seriously?
Robin: “Not really. From as little as I can remember I’ve been singing with my sister and wanting to perform to everyone and anyone.”
Aidan: “Performing in groups during music class in high school made me realise how much I enjoyed playing with others and how much I wanted to be in a band and play live I always enjoyed playing in a practice room on my own but as soon as I got to play with a guitarist bassist pianist even a singer it became a different experience entirely and that feeling still remains to this day.”
Can you walk us through your typical songwriting process?
Robin: “It always starts with some sh*t idea that means absolutely nothing, some voice note with no meaning. The type that would make you just giggle if you heard the actual raw ideas. Then that turns into an attempt at translation, I ALWAYS write on acoustic guitar. For me, I can hear everything on the acoustic guitar, every sound that I can possibly think of I can imagine from there. Usually, I’ll get a feel for a decent song structure and bring it to Aiden, then randomly spring it up on him and through improvisation we bring it to life. There have been anomaly incidents where we’ve completely improvised the full structure of a song and used that, and it’s sounded pretty good.”
How do you find inspiration for your music and lyrics?
Robin: “I always like to bury my song lyrics in deeper meanings. What I write about never truly reflects what you can hear or read, and I never like to explain the meaning of my lyrics. The art of the unknown always leaves that gap for the people to fill with their own imaginations and theories, and most importantly what THEY want it to mean. I would never want to ruin that for someone else and diminish their experience because what they interpret a song to be is “wrong”. That’s what music and poetry is all about.”
What themes or messages do you hope listeners take away from your music?
Robin: “I just hope people find it sick tbh. They can take whatever message they want from it, whether it’s what I intended or felt when I wrote it or not, it’s up to them. As long as they feel something, and they think it’s pretty cool, that’s good with me.”
Aidan: “If it made any kind of positive impact that’s enough for me everyone perceives lyrics differently I for instance had the wrong lyrics for a few of our songs in my head for multiple months!”
What challenges have you faced as an emerging artist in the music industry?
Robin: “That’s a list that could be ten miles long. I could name loads, from a lack of opportunities, to having people push you back for no reason, to lack of funding, but most commonly the entire industry revolving around trying to “cheat the system” to get your music heard, is just not good enough.”
Aidan: “Trying to find a balance between band business content creator and everything else involved at times it can feel like a real mountain to overcome especially when the thing you want most is to just make good music and play cool shows to likeminded people.”
What has been the most rewarding aspect of your musical journey so far?
Robin: “When you play a show and someone who goes, goes to another show, or buys merch. It means that they think of us as memorable and want more of what we like to make.”
Aidan: “For me it will always be seeing anyone at a gig that enjoys our music or feels inspired enough that they want to pursue music themselves there’s nothing more important than the current & next generation getting into music in my opinion I’ve met some of my best mates through bands and music it really is the gift that keeps on giving”
How do you stay true to yourself and your artistry in a constantly evolving industry?
Robin: “That depends on what you are true to. I have a serious, more business focused part of me, but the downtime part of me is just a p*isstake and I love to just have fun with everything we’ve got going on. It’s important to have that balance.”
Aidan: “For me it’s as simple as this. We all started playing music for the same reason: the enjoyment of playing music. Even in the darkest of times the music is what brought us all here regardless of AI industry pricks elitism or an endless list of other issues. As long as I’m still playing music I’m happy even if no one else cares.”
What can fans expect from you in the near future? Any upcoming projects or tours?
We have an upcoming EP later this year, called ‘Victims of the Abstract Universe’, which has two more singles after Hammerhead is released + 3 more EP exclusives. After that, we’ll figure out what’s right for us. Hopefully, it means connecting more with people in live show format.
Where do you see yourself and your music career in the next five years?
Robin: “Ideally, still making songs and touring. It would be nice to know that the “grind” phase of our career, so to speak, will have been worth it enough for us to still be going in 5 years time.”
Aidan: “Hopefully an album released and a solid tour to accompany that body of work anything more than would be welcome. The absolute dream would be playing Download fest but anything could happen in five years we might break up next year for shits n giggles now though.”
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Listen to Vazon’s new single ‘Hammerhead’ below.
