Nine Black Alps (Tiny Evil)
By
Tuesday. Aug 30, 12:00 AM
A teaser EP showcasing unlimited potential to come.

With a name taken from a Sylvia Plath poem, you'd expect Nine Black Alps to be lyrically morose. Well, they are. Good! Lyrics point out the listener’s weaknesses ("Cosmopolitan" boasts the opener "you're not pretty enough"), but these boys from Manchester are along for the ride with you ("we'll be dead by sunrise"). Double good!

The five-song, U.S.-only EP shows an intense commitment to creating driving guitar rock, but it's unfortunate that these are the five songs chosen to represent a band of seriously unlimited potential. Tracks like "Over the Ocean" sounds like cookie cutter – I hate to say it – pop, and luckily does not show up on the full-length that's already out on the other side of the Atlantic.

Ultimately, this EP is just a Stateside showcase of the two lead singles ("Cosmopolitan" and "Shot Down") off the UK album, but the rest just falls flat. "Ilana Song" has moments of brilliance, but actually is hurt by sounding, well, the same as the rest. Hold out for the fall release of Everything Is, which is chock full of gorgeously ambling yarns ("Unsatisfied") and balls to the wall pseudo-punk anthems ("Not Everyone") worthy of gushing over.
www.nineblackalps.net
www.tinyevil.com

Click here to buy this EP on iTunes!

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