Love/Hate
Nine Black Alps · 2007
45 min · 14 tracks · alternative rock
A gritty blend of alternative rock grit and melodic hooks that captures the angst of a generation.
Top tracks — play these first
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Bitter End — Opening with explosive energy, this track sets the tone for the album's exploration of emotional turmoil and disillusionment.
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Burn Faster — With its driving rhythm and urgent lyrics, this song encapsulates the band's signature sound while addressing themes of frustration and urgency.
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Happiness and Satisfaction — This track stands out for its juxtaposition of upbeat melodies against darker lyrical content, showcasing the band's ability to blend contrasting emotions effectively.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album blends energetic rock with introspective moments, showcasing solid songwriting but lacking in overall cohesion.
What we noticed
- The first half of the album maintains a high energy level with driving guitar riffs and aggressive vocals, while the second half introduces more melodic and introspective tracks.
- Several tracks feature dynamic shifts, alternating between quiet verses and explosive choruses, creating a sense of tension and release.
- The lyrics often reflect themes of disillusionment and personal struggle, which are delivered with a raw vocal style that enhances their emotional impact.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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6/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- steady, consistent energy levels
- reflective mood exploration
- short, engaging listening sessions
- dynamic emotional journeys
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in 2007, Love/Hate is Nine Black Alps' second studio album, following their debut album, Everything Is, which established them as a notable band in the UK indie rock scene. The band aimed to build on their initial success while exploring darker and more introspective themes throughout this record.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Biffy Clyro· The Cribs· We Are Scientists
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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Future Wife
The moment shifts perspective where the narrative voice directly addresses an imagined future partner, revealing insecurities through vivid imagery.
This direct address adds intimacy to the song while highlighting the contrast between hope and self-doubt present in other tracks.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Bitter End 3:12
- 2 Burn Faster 2:48
- 3 Everytime I Turn 3:02
- 4 Pet Hate 3:33
- 5 Painless 3:30
- 6 Future Wife 2:39
- 7 Heavier Than Water 4:18
- 8 Happiness and Satisfaction 3:22
- 9 So in Love 2:12
- 10 Forget My Name 3:16
- 11 Under the Sun 3:46
- 12 Overdramatic 2:36
- 13 In and Out of Reach 3:09
- 14 The Future Is Perfect 3:29
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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