You have to think of Rhaast in this one as Kayn's intrusive thoughts, something that is always and will always be with him, he just might let it out sometimes where he becomes full Rhaast with Kayn still in there

Funny how you compared Sett and K'Sante, cause to me it's literally the other way around. Sett had a great piece in the Paranoia video, both visually and musically, and he carries over his lore quite well with "his mom made his hat" bit. On the other hand, K'Sante, while undoubtably rocking that jacket, appeared visually only during Ezreal's chorus and basically wasn't on the screen during his own singing part of the video (not to mention, the voice doesn't really match the character). So, to me, K'Sante was just a second Sett, not the other way around like it was described here.

i love heartsteel kayn and i think rhaast is kayn's "the voices™" personified so him taking over is kinda like a personality switch. Bro has a bit of a screw loose, nothing new. Others also thought that rhaast might be still an actual demon who gives kayn his music talent and in exchange kayn must let him let loose sometimes

"3 years since our last music performance" *Sad Pentakill Noises*

I personally love the whole line and Heartsteel as a whole. I like to play as every champ here so seeing them all be in a band and have great personalities of them working together is really nice. With the Kayn/Rhaast dynamic, I think it’s meant to be some kind of schizophrenic experience for Kayn where Rhaast is his alternate personality that interacts with him

You're technically right, Yone isn't part of the band itself, he's their producer. I personally think he fits quite nicely, he seems like the "mom friend" of the group and the lore about Yasuo being inspired to pursue music because of him is very cute and ties things nicely. Ezreal, Kayn, Aphelios and Sett were pretty much essential for the band because that was the original headcanon made by fans. I really loved Heartsteel for making that headcanon come alive. They're definitely my favorite musical project from Riot and I hope they get more content in the future.

It's straight up confirmed by people who worked on it that Rhaast and Kayn are in a classic deal with the devil for music skills scenario. Kayn's eye is red and their skin is literally purple when Rhaast takes over. It's just nice to see them as buddies rather than the usual frenemies dynamic.

I have the opposite feelings on Sett and K'Sante. Sett felt much more natural than K'Sante as a member of a boy band and I love his attitude in the music video

one idea that i had was, if aphelios was the legendary, to Alune be a vocaloid created by aphelios or something remixing the songs, aphelios can't sing so it would be pretty cool

Absolutely not my style but I've learned to love these skins because of the music video. I'd argue that while maybe the music isn't as good as the previous bands, the clear dynamic between The Boys depicted through the storytelling in the music video makes them far more entertaining as characters than KD/A and Pentakill ever were. The skins aren't brilliant by any means but I can look at the more mediocre ones like Sett, remember some kind of funny interaction or moment he had in the music video and it brings a smile to my face. I really love this goofy bunch.

Imo heartsteel is the best band because (and this might just be me) they feel like an actual group... if you watch all the music videos I think heartsteel gives you the best incite on what these characters are, in both k/da and true damage the group is separate until the big dances or the end whilst with heartsteel they are always vibing together.

Rhaast is 100% just his intrusive thoughts voiced out loud.

Tbh, I love this band; they feel more down-to-earth overall from what they showed in their backstory. They're basically a group of guys who all failed in their solo careers and ended up making things work pretty well together. (Also, loved the bloopers video. Gave me vibes of old Pixar movie credits bloopers) Maybe I just have a soft spot for failboys, to borrow the term.

4:30 I chose interpret Rhaast as Kayns intrusive thoughts and find that it makes the skin 100x funnier

The ghostwriter line was pure comedy gold😂

To be honest, I've been waiting so long for a new skin for Aphelios and for the first time hearing about him being included in this skineline,I was so happy because many wanted to see the emo boy theme .That's good , visually speaking it's good ,but I cannot forget the audio ,there was sooooooo much potential for Aphelios/Alune interactions(in the voice call Aphelios spoke so he's not completely mute), that's the only thing that bugs me , we've seen her in the splash art ,yet no new voice lines....is it only me?

At the very least, Riot learned from how Seraphine was handled initially and rather than setting the band up as something entirely different and detached from Riot altogether It was an “account takeover”, with the band hijacking the Riot Music account and just vibing. It was clear it was a marketing stunt and I actually really enjoyed watching it all play out, even with Kayne apparently sneaking back on and doing more after it was already supposed to have ended As usual, the true issue ended up being the handful of fans who got a smidge too enthusiastic about it

BUYING KAYN THE SECOND HE DROPS IN 30 MINUTES LMAO

I think Aphelios' makes sense in a metaphorical sense. He's the producer, multi-instrumentalist virtuoso of the group, and that gets represented by him handling a shitload of different weapons (instruments) very well. Maybe they could've made the weapons resemble instruments more but I think it works

At first I didn't know how to feel about them but thanks to the amazing music video I've grown to love these goofy goobers

As someone who has been playing Kayn since release it's actually nice to have a skin where you can hear both voices in either form.

One thing that would improve Heartsteel Yone would be making him the visual effects guy of the group. Then there would be actual contrast between him and True Damage Yasuo. But no, doing th e same thing twice is way easier so they had to do it.

as the target audience of this skin line i am very happy

Unrelated to the skins, but I love the editing on this video. Your editing being great is expected, but I burst out laughing multiple times on this one and reminded a bunch just to laugh again. I love your work, Mr Boi!

If I was still 13 I would probably go too deep into this stan culture but since I'm an adult now I can view it as a way to truly satisfy the calls for a boyband like K/DA. I enjoy it a lot but it does involve a lot of my favorite male characters so I understand my bias. I like the song too but I've been a Baekhyun fan for years so...

I really was waiting for this, I agree I find it weird having base kaon VO when Rhaast but I have looked past it as being almost like having multiple personalities or intrusive thoughts so it works out. But I think the slight animation changes shown are great and the skin is very nice

"What are your thoughts on the new skinline and boyband" Well... I totally haven't been listening to Paranoia nonstop throughout everything I do since it came out, not while bathing, not while sleeping, not while cooking, not while working, not while at school, not while gaming... Yeah.

Tobias screaming MEEEEEEEEEEEN put randomly in the video is just tradition at this point and i love it

Sett had to be there by default, he's aphelios' boyfriend.

I love Sett's skin. I love the character in the band and everything but also the skin in game. I love that he is just wearing like casual clothes that wouldn't really fit on the rift, and that he just looks good on them. Like Ezreal, the skins are quite simple/basic but I like that aesthetic in this theme. Also what makes Sett skin is the sound, the q and aa sound is impeccable, it feels really nice to hit opponents and hear the music. I tried both soulfighther and heartsteel sett in pbe to decide which one I preferred, and soulfighter ended up being quite overwhelming and a bit messy. Heartsteel is simple but clean, and truly fits imo.

Another great review, sir NickelBack

"3 years since our last music performance" Didn't lost chapter happen 2 years ago or that doesn't count?

1:53 He is that one quiet kid in class...and Phel was is will be perfect manifestation of that quiet kid

As a Sett main I felt that 5/10

Cant wait for bee skin review

Sett and aphelios were already a couple in the spirit blossom universe

Not the Sett and Yone slander... Sett was one of the most expected champions to be made part of the boy band!!! In any case, K'sante was definitely the surprise! And even then, Sett and Ksante have very different personalities. While K'sante is cheerful, but he is the more responsible and reliable one, he is the kind of guy you go ask for advice, or ask for help when you need it. Sett is way more goofy and chaotic, a lot more of a showoff, very dumb, but charming! Heartsteel does such a good job at writing the personalities, relationships and interactions between all these characters that no one feels out of place. Yone is as indispensable of a member as all of the other guys, he is a lot more quiet than the rest, yes, but in a very different way that aphelios is. Yone is the mom of the group, the one that keeps everyone (especially Kayn) in check, the true brain of Heartsteel!!! The characters that Heartsteel build are so full of personality and life, and that's just something that all of the other bands don't have. They are chaotic, fun, and full of joyous whimsy. Is such a shame that you don't enjoy them that much, but I guess it just isn't for everyone.

Man, I was hoping for Taric get in this line, he is a perfect fit for a boy band with his muscles and beauty, and he can represent what Yone represents in this line--- being the guardian and mama bear of the group. Plus if you really want a GAY relationship you can always have Taric/Ezreal........right, that was a thing.......I´m old (existential crisis)

When I saw this announcement I said, out loud, "how is there no Taric?" It's the most no brainer- goddamnit Riot

thank you nickboyyt for the midriff shot at the start

can't wait to see more songs from this band and more skins, I hope people love it as much as kda, had the song on repeat the day it came out

i like the idea of rhaast just being kayn's intrusive thoughts

I always thought Yone wasn't actually just pulled out of a hat for this skin since this is supposed to be Ocean Song Yone, but moving to greater projects since he vibes with the team. (he's even still a DJ!) Turns out that's a whole different universe and I'm stupid

The idea of Rhaast being Kayn's on stage alter ego or intrusive thoughts (still not sure which one it actually is), is so interesting and honestly, I dig it. I'm just glad we got another Kayn Legendary because that means we get to hear more of Robbie Daymond killing it with his performances, mans a legend and I will never get tired of hearing more of him!

a caddicarus reference?! in a nickyboi video?! this must be my lucky day

thank you for speaking on the injustice done to taric, i knew it was over once they made space groove but it still hurts

This video reminded me of the Men go in clip, and I love it more than I did. Oh yeah, the skins are cool too. Phel and Ez have gotta be my favorite for sound design reasons.

They seem much more down to earth compared to all the other music groups Riot created, maybe I should just be concerned about the music but the way the characters are presented seem so much more friendly and welcoming as opposed to "haha look at us we are divine/have-an-actual-god(ess)-complex/too-cool-for-school" (I think thats the correct order) which, in Pentakills case is kinda fun and engaging but the others dont seem to be played for laughs (am I missing something?). Out of the members of KDA and True Damage I guess I can forgive Eves character since she is easy to understand because she is a little bit like her base version, and I might forgive Yasuo cause even if he doesnt do anything he got a genuinely really cool skin out of it, but everyone else? Hollow is the word that comes to mind, that and forgettable. I realise they are just supposed to be stereotypes but I kinda wish that wasnt the only thing they were. Music is still pretty fire obviously Riot music is on top of their game.

god that necrit hehe was amzing

Oh my god,6 skins 6 minute,nice job nick you are back at the rapid fire format again

Alright hear me out, what if Kayn was a Pentakill fan outside of being part of Heartsteel, and his Rhaast side would be his metalhead part and when he turns into red form he becomes a Pentakill fan (kinda like what they did with Snowmoon Rhaast being a Bloodmoon, or Odissey Rhaast being a Dark Star). Might be a bit confusing and not too seeling for the boybands skins tho, but could've been fun

Hey! Your back, Nicky!!! Yeah, Heartsteel skins for me are 8/10.

on god i just imagined in this universe rhaast was an actual ALTER in kayns brain, like as in having did or osdd, but thats just my headcanon honestly since the two interact and swap between whoevers in control like switching out whoevers fronting, since alters can communicate with each other inside the body

I think True damage is by far the weakest of the bands, never seen the appeal on them really. KDA is very well put together as it is, a band of pretty girls who share a "profesional" relationship with each other and nothing else, which is kind of the antithesis of a band, but it works because each of them are a diva who stuck together to get the KPOP band appeal. Meanwhile Hearthsteel is a bunch of bros doing stupid stuff and having fun, you do really feel like they are actual friends having a good time, except for Yone who isn't really a part of the band but a temporary collaboration.

Rhaast is the introsive thoughts winning

"It should have been Taric" NickyBASED as usual king. 👑

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH I've been waiting for this boy band to happen for years omfg

i love that kayn still banters with rhaast even when you pick form, its a nice change. anyways i love it

Heartsteel makes me very happy because i had had the exact same idea last year. Before the avalanche of skins of 2023, I told my bf that it would be cool to have a boyband skinline, so my fav champions could have pretty skins. My idea was more inspired by western 90s-00s boybands, specifically over Turning Red's 4town, so i had imagined white uniforms and ultra cheesy music. First i had thought about it over Sett, my little meow meow, who would be the muscle boy; Aphelios would be the Sentimental one, then to add more champions with less cute skins I added Kayn who would be the Bad Boy, and Gragas would be the Producer/manager(very Big Time Rush now that I think about it). The idea was to include champions that hadnt had skins too recently. What im missing from Heartsteel in particular is dancing. KDA blessed us with many choreos, and i was hoping to see dancing emotes, maybe to see something fresh instead of Sett's classic crunches.

That Tobias clip was on par, definitely caught me slackin

I don't play k'sante...yet, but I really like his skin from this line. It's the perfect balance of attractive and cool for me.

but tbh as a tobi lou fan him being the voice of ksante made me more intrigued than anything else, tobi is a really cool musician and i hope more people get to know him through heartsteel!

Should have replaced yone with RAKAN! Given him the prestige too. But I can never be mad about more settphel

Everyone got it wrong Rhaast is not his Alter Ego He is The Voices

Will you do a skin review for all the TFT/LoR exclusive skins?

3:19 I like to think that Fifth Age Taric is some sort of pop icon, since you can see DJ Sona in the splash art Background. So it could probably still work.

I mean, the Kayn/Rhaast dynamic is portrayed as a mix of Rhaast being his stage persona and his intrusive thoughts. For all that Heartsteel Kayn is fun, sane he probably isn’t.

Ah a fellow Caddicarus enjoyer ai? I see you have good KZfaq taste

Rhaast is kind of like the manifestation of kayn's impulses also I look forward to the day a shadow assassin design is actually really good

the clip of tobias fate screaming "MAN GO IN" will never not be funny to me

just happy to see Necrit, both of you are precious

To me Kayn and Rhaast read sort of like a fantasy DID thing maybe? They're both there all the time, neither of them ever really shut the other out at any point, neither of them is ever hostile to the other outside of some mild annoyance from Kayn, it's just a matter of who's behind the wheel at any given moment. I wouldn't be able to speak on whether it's accurate to actual DID outside of being kind of reminded of a couple of my friends by it, but it's interesting and it does fulfill a thought that I've had for a while about wanting a skin where Kayn and Rhaast aren't trying to kill each other so that's cool.

My first theory as to how thye were going to introduce some sort of "narrative" within the Kayn skin was that Rhaast would be the form he adopted if he decided to leave the band to pursue a solo carreer while Shadow Assassin was him embracing Heartsteel to the fullest and becoming the fan favorite. But "intrusive thoughts Rhaast" is a pretty fun codnept, I have to admit.

Wait, I thought Yone was their producer more than their DJ.

I have to ask because I’ve seen it used in a couple of your videos now, but where does the “Men go in! MEEEEEN!” sound byte come from?

I would like to play Devils Advocate and say that Ahri got her Spirit Blossom Legendary one month before her KDA All Out skin, so Sett getting HEARTSTEEL 3 months after Soul Fighter isn’t the most egregious example… but yeah other champions probably should’ve gotten more skins instead

Brazil mentioned!! lesgoo

Please do a project skin review - some great skins there

Ezreal and Aphelios (safe for his stash of weapons) are amazing. Kayn is pretty funny if you think about their banter is just him talking to himself like a schizo (like Tenma and Albino LMFAO) Sett is there. K'sante looks cool, and finally who's the last one?

yo is that my other favourite youtuber in the first 10 seconds?

Ik its sounds dumb but i hope we get a punk rock theme band sometime. Think style and personality of misfits and the aesthetics and music of the gorillaz.

Ironcially enough Riot doesn’t miss when it comes to them making music groups and concepts for them. A fire line

Yeah, as a kayn player myself I knew from the moment that a new kayn legendary was confirmed that it probably wasn't gonna beat odyssey. Besides the pretty particle effects, some sound effects and the flashy recall, I still think odyssey is better in everything else. It's still really cool and might consider getting it, but I think I'll mostly stick to odyssey.

Illune is their manager and Yone is their producer.

Imagine a perfect parallel universe, taric in heartsteel instead of sett

Sorry nicky you're too late ive built my very concerning parasocial relationship with heartsteel kayn cuz ive been waiting for this video for so long! Kidding aside i actually love this skinline especially how 3 of my favorite champs are here although i agree with Sett. He's is too plain compare to the others and it would've been cool if they added a bit more to the skin. Though im sure this won't be the last time we'll see them and i can't wait for it already! Getting Heartsteel Kayn too 💖

Ngl, I really thing Aphelios if haf gotten the legendary skin treatment, it would've been so sick. Even have more interaction(even if he can't talk) with alune in his emotes or something. You know, something to make the skin feel alive. Don't get me wrong, it looks cool. But idk. Heck I'm sure all the other band skins have different dance emotes to their base skin. When I say band skins, I mean true dmg and kda.

Erm akshually, pentakill did a concert 🤓

1:24 I love how Nicky added in a Gorillaz reference, tho he did forget to mention that Jack Black was in that video

Best skin idea ever still hasnt come to pass, Farmer Soraka.

Love this review. I'm easy to please I suppose so I love yone and sett too but I'm still very happy with your review. To me heartsteel is amazing and I'm a huge fan but I understand why you'd find them mediocre.

OOOOOOOUGGH THE BOOOOOOYS ARE HERE

ooohhh yeah lets go boys

I love the HEARTSTEEL skinlines, and their respective champions, so much!

You see Nick, the logic behind his weapons is that he's the quiet kid who's just ONE minor inconvenience away from using them

My only question is WHERE THE HELL IS MY GRAGAS LEAD SINGER

Be awsome if they made a glam metal group based off Motley Crue, Ratt, and that sorta era

Kayn not getting a 10/10 for the TAKE OFF YOUR SHIRT KAYN line is probably the worst take youve given yet :(

Sett is my most played champ. Morde and Fiddle are the only ones coming close. but even as a Sett main I gotta say, give the boy some room to breathe riot. like damn he gets skins so often. i feel bad for other champs who rarely get skins

Oh I LOVE them