Nine Black Alps - Love / Hate

So, turns out Nine Black Alps singer Sam Forrest got his heart broken a few times and he’s, well, a little angry about it. Yet, it doesn’t come as a big surprise that a band that got their name from a line in a Sylvia Plath poem would be a bit troubled. The product of all these festering emotions is the Manchester band’s sophomore effort, ‘Love/Hate’, a deviation from the band’s post grunge roots for a more alternative rock album with catchy pop hooks.

‘Love/Hate’ begins strategically, with ‘Bitter End’ flaunting single potential and widespread appeal. Despite its cynical title, it’s perhaps the sweetest and catchiest song on the album, with Forrest dutifully pledging to stick by his girl ‘until the bitter end’. While the subject of this first track differs greatly from the rest of the album as Forrest’s love life seems to rapidly go downhill over the course of the album, the musical formula by which the band abides remains painstakingly similar.

Opting to be powerful this time, Nine Black Alps incorporate into nearly every song a whirlwind of thundering drums, flashy guitar riffs, and a myriad of convincing hooks to make the perfect setting for tales of a love gone sour. In ‘Forget My Name’ Forrest overcomes his rage from a bad relationship with violent guitar riffs and bitterly strained vocals as he sings ‘leave me here so you can sell me, sell me down the river, find someone who’s better’. And if ‘Forget My Name’ isn’t enough to soothe Forrest’s angry heart there is always the ever similar ‘Burn Faster’ and ‘Every Time I Turn’ which aim to obliterate bad memories with the band’s signature raging guitar and racing tempos.

Thankfully, Nine Black Alps do occasionally branch out and the results are a pleasant surprise. ‘Future Wife’ is an especially melodic song and the swingy track ‘Happiness and Satisfaction’ both help to spice up the album. On the other end of the spectrum ‘So In Love’ is a spiraling tunnel of sound that borders on chaotic with Forrest shouting in a manner that is sure to make his voice go before jerking to an abrupt stop after a concise two minutes.

Nine Black Alps undoubtedly have a knack for creating some real head banging tunes as well as the potential to ensnare us with some rather catchy hooks and a powerful sound, but sparks of interest can’t help but fade with monotony. While our hearts go out to clearly distraught Forrest, Nine Black Alps seem a little too devoted to the bitter love song route and formulaic instrumentation wears quickly on our ears. We can only hope that Forrest’s luck changes. It seems that the best thing that could happen to Nine Black Alps is for the poor fellow to find someone new.