YAK- The Most Exciting Band in the UK

YAK- The Most Exciting Band in the UK

               I can honestly say; I have never been so excited by a band since I heard The Orwells back in 2013. YAK have got to be the most exciting band the UK has seen since The Libertines. With a chilling resemblance to The Wytches, this London based trio are tearing up venues all over the UK by blowing a combination of harsh and anger induced breath all over them. Their song ‘Hungry Heart’, containing hints of brutality found in songs from FIDLAR’s second album Too’ and the vocals edging more towards Iggy Pop’s in Lust For Life, was the first YAK song I heard and I’ve been hooked since. They really are fully justifying the hype that is starting to surround them.
                Their EP titled “NO” has a screeching cover that doesn’t hold back which is a perfect representation of what you can expect from the EP itself; it’s loud, messy, full of chaos yet still perfectly beautiful. With the frantic track ‘Plastic People’ starting off the EP it puts into exact perspective what we can expect from this band in the future, a furious start with no intent to slow down. Endearing front man, Oli Burslem, isn’t afraid to hold back with lyrics on this track with lines such as “I don’t think you look nice” and “How can I breathe when you’re right next to me?”. These London boys really aren’t afraid to hold back on lyrics and are willing to shout whatever they want.
                ‘Smile’ is another one of YAK’s tunes starting off with an almost western introduction that sounds like the love child of ‘Wide At Midnight’ and ‘Part-Time Model’ by The Wytches. The ghostly vocals on this track start off sounding similar to those of Nick Cave. If that doesn’t make you feel on edge though, the opening lyric of “tongue tied, I can’t smile” creates a massive contradiction to the name of the song creating more of an on-edge feeling towards this track. The vocals mixed with the goulish guitar and uneasy drumming creates a sense of trust in this band making them seem like preachers from the after-life that one has no other option but to trust as they lead us through this song.
                Their song ‘Distortion’ though is by far my favourite. The teasing introduction to this song leaves the listener hanging for a little more than is comfortable whilst waiting to see where this song is going to take them. ‘Distortion’ sounds like YAK’s twisted version of a lullaby with a refreshing hint of Velvet Underground included. With an anxious guitar and sudden bursts of energy throughout this song, it is the perfect ending to the emotional ride that YAK take you on throughout their EP. With the lyric “When you can’t see straight, ‘coz you’re going round a bend. They’re gonna get you but you don’t know when” being spat by Burslem over the increasing tempo, this gut grabbing tune is the one that helps with the much needed recovery after being taken through the intense, emotional maze led blindly by this band. It is an emotion prodding track that is bound to give any listener butterflies.
                YAK seriously are THE band to watch and are exactly what we need to be tearing up our local venues. YAK are something else and although bear lots of similarities to other bands, they have still managed to mould themselves into something new and exciting. I can’t help but fall more and more in love with them as I listen to them and like I said, I have not been made to feel this excited by a band in a very long time. Expect big things...

YAK upcoming tour dates http://www.bandsintown.com/YAK (but none local to me- thanks boys...)

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