With a name like YIEK, this four-piece Danish Hard Rock/Metal band makes a statement from the get-go. What does yiek mean, you might ask? There's a story behind the name. Guitarist Andy explained in an interview that the band's name came from an experience the band had where his '69 Strat started giving off weird feedback and screeching through the amps, hence the onomatopoetic "yiek". Despite being a fairly recently formed band, YIEK has already played concerts, in fact, they had one lined up for May 26th, where they tore it up at Westparkfest in Denmark. "The Drive", released in 2017, is the band's first-ever full-length album, where they promise to deliver explosive sound and energy. The group's high-energy persona matches their origin story, too. The four members met at a New Year's party, which ended in the cellar burning and the house being evacuated: "it welded us together" said Andy. Brand new bands always excite me. The first album release can make or break a musical group, and I was eager to give my feedback on YIEK.

"Toxication Party" opened up with an intense, Bluesy riff which melded with Malte's vocals perfectly. While I was hoping for a bit more complex drum work, the catchy chorus made up for the simplistic percussion. YIEK's Hard Rock/Blues groove draws distinct similarities to the Canadian group MONSTER TRUCK, however, YIEK utilizes a slightly heavier tone. "Little Bitch" is a heartbreak-fueled anger anthem, and the passion here makes this song possibly one of the best on the album. The choppy guitar riffs and steady drums highlight the vocals, which are a blend of Malte and Andy's voices. The layered vocals and instrumental isolations in this song make it complex and intriguing for the listener.

"Going Under- Going Down" starts out with a traditional and beautifully executed drum solo. It then tears into a classic Hard Rock rhythm, complete with whining guitar harmonics and booming vocals, which are a completely different style from the vocals in previous songs. I loved the uniqueness of this song, and the multiple rhythm changes which will keep listeners on the edge of their seats. The album's title track, "The Drive", is a musically uncomplicated but rhythmically solid song. I don't completely agree with the band's choice to make this the title track, it just didn't stand out to me. It was good, yes, but honestly a bit boring even with the addition of the drum solo.

Now, when I hear "Spit It Out," I immediately think of my Nu-Metal days with SLIPKNOT. However, this is about as far from SLIPKNOT as you can get. This song combines chugging, muted guitar riffs with a syncopated chorus. If there's one thing YIEK can do well, it's establishing and maintaining a solid rhythm. I did like this song, especially the chorus, but it just seemed to lack a bit of power, especially for the lyrics Malte was singing. "KNight Riders" was definitely faster than YIEK's usual style. The pounding drums combined with the almost percussive guitar definitely conveyed the image of a night rider, and the chorus was loud and energizing. "We're gonna rock all over you.." Malte shouts, and that's exactly what they did in this powerful Rock anthem.

In "Soul to Sell", the drums are again used in isolation as an intro. However, this time, the drums are the only backing for the vocals until the guitar and bass kick in a little later. The melody in the chorus is infectious, and the rhythmic guitar riffs during the verses add just enough heaviness to the song. "5KINGZ," despite the mysterious title, is a pretty solid track which is, again, drum-centered. It has strong Blues roots, and I think the strongest part of the track was the guitar. However, the energy of the guitar was considerably higher than that of the drums and vocals, and the track was slightly repetitive towards the end.

With the introduction of "Black Fridayz", I think YIEK should've taken the hint to move away from their pattern of the isolated drum solo. The overuse of the same intro makes the songs sound similar and blend them into one another. I did like the slightly choppy/rap style of vocals Malte introduced here, unfortunately, that was the only thing that distinguished this song from any of the others on this album. "Into Wine" is a high-speed, traditional, Hard Rock song, pure and simple. Yes, it's a bit pretentious: is Malte comparing the band to Jesus? Maybe. But it can't be denied that this song is one of the most interesting and musically complex on the album. The drum beats had good variation, and the guitar riffs swerved through and around the vocals nicely.

The last song, "Let Me Go", is a slow and slightly melancholy ballad which is different in style from the rest of the album, but wasn't my favorite. Even when the electric guitars kicked in, the song just couldn't hold my attention very well and the vocal inflections just didn't convey enough emotion. Overall, while YIEK has technical and musical talent, I wish I could've seen a bit more variation and energy from the band.