Feeder - Renegades

Dark and heavy

Feeder seem to have been around forever haven’t they? Although a little quiet of late they now return with album Renegades. It’s quite a loud album in terms of it being laden full of heavy riffs and stomping drums and rocking bass lines. It’s not quite what I was expecting, perhaps I’ve missed a few steps in the Feeder album history because most of this album doesn’t sound like the Feeder I know at all. One track stands out as being anything like their previous work and that is current single Call Out and even that has quite heavy undercurrent. Feeder have always been a bit on the rockier side but there was always a distinct pop sound about it too and Call Out has that.

There are some decent tracks on this album but I do feel that overall it is a little disappointing. For a band that have been around for a long time you would expect them to push forward somewhat but there’s nothing really here that can compete with past tracks such as Buck Rogers, Lost And Found, or Just The Way I’m Feeling.. If anything this album relates more in parts to their debut Polythene with its punkier sounds, at least here you can hear their maturity showing. I know each album should be taken on its own merits as well so the rest of the review I’ll do just that.

There is some great music on this album, but it sounds a bit like Green Day in parts, not that there’s anything wrong with Green Day per se but it just feels like Feeder haven’t grown into their own skin properly. Vocally there should be some strong performances here but the production brings into question the quality of vocal because it has all been recorded in a way that makes it feel lacking somehow especially with tracks White Lines and Sentimental. There are a few possibilities for potential future singles here though and that’s always something positive, because if you can’t even see that in an album that’s a very bad sign. The first one I’d put up for single nomination is City’s In A Rut, one of the less heavier album tracks with a fine chorus that people can sing and shout along too. Then I’d actually say that title track Renegades might actually make for an interesting single too, a great little introduction, some great pace behind it and I can so imagine people jumping around like lunatics, if the band are playing any festivals this would go down really well in the mosh pit I’m sure.

As for the tracks I’m not so keen on especially Left Foot Right, which feels like a feeble attempt at Punk Rock and actually makes me cringe somewhat with it’s “left foot right” lyric being shouted out. It has to be said it is much more to do with personal taste that I don’t like much of this album. I’m not really a fan of overly heavy guitars or heavier rock music and much of this album is very much heavier rock orientated, tracks such as Barking Dogs, Sentimental and The End are the heavier tracks on the album. Whilst there is a token slowy on here by the name of Down By The River, it actually feels pretty misplaced to me, despite the attempt to heavy it up a bit with some really dark bass and guitars. Overall it’s not a terrible album, but not really to my taste, there are some highlights and some great promise but I do quite miss the lack of more uplifting tracks.

30/06/2010 - Elena