The first few chords of “White Lines”, the opening track of Renegades, give a good idea of what to expect of this latest installment from this Welsh trio. It’s been thirteen years since Feeder released their first album, Polythene, but they clearly are still immersed in the 90s alt-rock sound of noisy guitars and processed vocals. Coming out today, Renegades feels somewhat dated. However, those with a deep affection for the rock music of the decade before last will likely find more to appreciate here.

First and foremost, the album is loud. Frontman Grant Nicholas’s guitar is the dominant presence, and the sonic wall it creates is what pushes each song forward. Unfortunately, when repeated over a dozen tracks, the effect quickly becomes bland. With the exception of “Down to the River”, other tracks hover around the three-minute length, and on songs like “Left Foot Right” and “This Town”, the band’s approach feels more than a little formulaic.

There are, however, a few bright spots. The varying tempos and “hey! hey!” cheers of the title track are engaging and catchy, and “White Lines” makes the best of the band’s alt-rock formula. However, “Down to the River” is likely Renegades’s most successful track, a spacious, contemplative song that provides a needed break from the high-volume cuts that dominate the album.

To be fair there is little to find fault with in the band’s technique. The guitar work is excellent throughout, and when the drums are given enough space, such as on “City in a Rut”, their texture provides an engaging accompaniment to Nicholas’s vocals. The flaw here is not in musicianship, but in material. It’s a pity that Feeder, already a talented group, did not make Renegades a more interesting album.