Yard Act – The Overload

There’s always a danger of over-hyping a new buzz band. Indeed, it’s hard not to roll one’s eyes on hearing of yet another guitar-based four-piece being compared to The Fall, possessing an “angular” sound. But if Yard Act’s debut LP is anything to go by, the hype is well and truly to be believed.

Vocalist James Smith comes hurtling out the gates on opener and title track The Overload. Poised somewhere between the Arctic Monkeys’ debut album and Alan Bennett, it’s one of the most instant first impressions a British guitar band has made in some time. Spiky beats combine with Smith’s dense, pointed lyrics and wonky yet catchy chorus to glorious effect. Power, melody and depth – that’s one way to set your stall out.

The momentum doesn’t let up quickly, either. Dead Horse, Payday and Rich all follow the same formula, and all deliver with the same success rate. What becomes evident quickly is that, unlike some of their peers, Yard Act have that all too elusive trait: charm. While their most obvious counterparts, musically speaking, are the likes of Sports Team and Fontaines DC, in spirit and approach they have far more in common with Blur, Pulp and even the early days of their Leeds compatriots Kaiser Chiefs. The album is positively teeming with goofy ad libs and cartoonish sound effects that, against all the odds, chime superbly well with the abrasive qualities elsewhere. Land of the Blind stops dead in its tracks to allow Smith to riff on a “magic trick” – something that threatens to derail the whole show, but ultimately is just too fun to deny.

It’s fair to say Smith is the trump card of The Overload. His narrative-based lyrics are inspired by the unlikely source of Louis Theroux, and seek to observe rather than sneer or punch down. Sam Shjipstone and Jay Russell all have standout moments on bass, guitar and drums respectively, but Smith steals the show.

Closer 100% Aggression is perhaps the only misstep on offer here. The most forward-thinking track, there’s far more in common with Easy Life and Rex Orange County than Mark E Smith, and it feels a little out of place. 

Make no mistake, though, that’s a very minor blemish on an otherwise pristine record. The Overload is the sound of a band worth taking notice of.

Charlie Peters

The Overload is released on 21^st January 2022. For further information or to order the album visit Yard Act’s website here.

Watch the video for Rich here: