YAK make a daring statement revealing debut album Alas Salvation.

The London rockers, known for the ferocious nature of their live sets, and newly favoured by The Last Shadow Puppets – are on a roll, and it’s a big one. Their energetic debut album, Alas Salvation, leaves little doubt that this is a band that will make it big.

The album kicks off with a bold statement of a tune – Victorious (National Anthem), energetic guitar and the lyrical repetitiveness slams the message into your ears. This opening incarnates many of the albums absolute best features. The combination of vigorous guitar, an unapologetic vocal works wonders. 70s punk and 60s garage rock, a nod or two in The Stooges directions, all represented in a fresh and new way on this album.

The second track, Hungry Heart, makes you want to jump around, start a mosh pit and break something, it is filled with such a liberating energy – there is no wonder their live shows are bonkers.

Though they are definitely the best with their high energy tracks, YAK prove that they can take it down a notch. Tracks like Take It and Roll Another are slower and more dragged out which give the album the diverse dynamic that is so often ignored on debuts.

If you dig into the lyrics, it might feel more shallow than you hope for, yet YAK have their moments of undeniable lyrical melancholy. Hold me closer, hold me tight, my body is broken, can’t see the light (Roll Another). Though coming across straightforward these boys do have a thing or two to say and don’t feel the need to hide behind phoney poetic slur.

The title track, Alas Salvation, is one of the bolder songs on the album. It’s a bit rude and, in true punk manners, it is only about a minute long. The seductively dark Smile follows up with a slowly evolving tune that suddenly heads into a drum shattering climax.

Their raw potential could possibly need some polishing, yet the honest surface of their tunes is exactly what makes them stand out. It might be too rough around the edges for some, yet if you are into garage rock with a punky twist you will most likely enjoy this album.

Overall it is a very well made album that definitely reinforced my faith in the future of Guitar music.

Words: Aurora Henni Krogh