Yashin: The Renegades

They don’t play by the rules, they calculate by them

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On the surface Yashin look in good health, but if you dig just a few millimeters you’ll find these men are devoid of any honesty, feelings or passion.

They’re empty husks trying their best to emulate every support band on the planet. Attila-esque gut growls and poptastic vocal lines litter this 12-song monstrosity with all the cohesion of two breeze blocks smashing into each other. Was it recorded in different rooms with different backing tracks? The metalcore trope of scream a bit/sing a bit/scream again is hammered home with every ounce of sentiment wrung out.

There are glimmers of hope in the few ‘heavy bits’, but these musical punches constantly fail to hit the target.

And the hilarious ‘Now lose your shit’ in the voice of Microsoft Mary before the break in D.E.A.D. is the worst piece of electronics ever committed to a metal record.

Luke Morton joined Metal Hammer as Online Editor in 2014, having previously worked as News Editor at popular (but now sadly defunct) alternative lifestyle magazine, Front. As well as helming the Metal Hammer website for the four years that followed, Luke also helped relaunch the Metal Hammer podcast in early 2018, producing, scripting and presenting the relaunched show during its early days. He also wrote regular features for the magazine, including a 2018 cover feature for his very favourite band in the world, Slipknot, discussing their turbulent 2008 album, All Hope Is Gone.