Ufuk Önen, Hazy Hill and Murky Bedlam

1- Hazy Hill: A Legend is Born
80’s, 90’s, and the capital of Turkey, Ankara…
In those years Ankara was more than about being the capital city. It had soul and offered prosperity for the young residents who were keen on creating their rock/metal bands to sing not only in Turkey but also abroad…
We are talking about Hazy Hill, the legendary thrash metal band of 80’s and 90’s.  I have been their fan through my dear instructor Ufuk Önen, who happened to be the brain of this band, and watching his documentary “Black, Not Gray:Ankara Rocks!” convinced me that I also should share this extraordinary story with you… As you will listen to Ufuk Önen talking about this musical experience you will also have notion about those times of Ankara. So, be ready to read, watch and listen to this great journey of that legendary band through the his musical perspective. I am sure that you’ll be also fan of these successful musicians who were shining through the darkness of Ankara…

 
2- Vehement Desire for Rock and Obstacles
While the residents of Ankara were fogged in the city due to its famous dark and cold weather,  there were some who were able to see through the darkness and clear the mist…  Ufuk Önen and his friends,  a group of young professionals who were deeply enthusiastic about their love for rock and metal gathered in all of their free time to form their extraordinary band. The thrash band “Hazy Hill” was formed in 1988, and swept the music circles by wind right after they produced their first single, or as they call it, extended play (EP) Murky Bedlam…
In that era, Önen and his friends were astoundingly fruitful in their genre though they had many  obstacles. They lacked significant budget to the extent that they had to wait for one and a half years to afford the production of their first record, because they could not afford a recording studio to record their songs. But those difficulties couldn’t hinder their passion and eagerness about the music that they wanted to create…

3- Studio Ankara and Meeting with Ümit Eroğlu
Actually, it was those difficulties enabled them to create some sort of resistance to the obstacles that they had. During this early period, they had their rehearsals  in spaces such as in a coal bunker in the neighborhood, full of old and inadequate equipments. But they always wanted to record their songs in such a high quality which was the sole aim of the band. That perfectionism thrust them to meet Ümit Eroğlu the owner of Studio Ankara…
Though they had not enough money to record their songs in Studio Ankara they started to save their pocket money for recording. After they had enough money to record in the studio, they started to live their dreams…

4- Cooperation with Eroğlu, First and Most Successful EP “Murky Bedlam” and its prominence through Turkey and Europe
Thanks to  the cooperation of Eroğlu the band had a chance record their songs in a very high quality that enabled them to put their songs forward throughout both in Turkey and abroad. In that sense they recorded their most invaluable song which is called “Murky Bedlam”. Working with the high end musician and arranger Hazy Hill was promoted as a first rock/metal band in abroad thanks to their first demo/ep which is called “Murky Bedlam”. Though their first ep was very successful in Europe it wasn’t broadcast in Turkey due to the strict restrictions regarding the rock music and its content…
Then, Önen and his friends started to send their ep to the independent radio stations, magazines and record companies. While they were staging concerts both Turkey in Europe their reputation was mushroomed suddenly. Thanks to Murky Bedlam and its success Hazy hill was the first Turkish metal band which had a chance to broadcast their ep and other songs within the album of “Murky Bedlam“…
And now I introduce you to Ufuk Önen is talking about his journey with Hazy Hill and their most reputable ep Murky Bedlam…