UK-based post-hardcore outfit Love Is Noise has carved a niche for themselves in the alternative scene with their blend of shoegaze, hardcore, and post-rock influences. Their debut album, To live in a different way, is an immersive and emotionally charged experience that seamlessly balances ethereal atmospheres with intense, visceral soundscapes. Formed in 2021 by vocalist Cameron Humphrey and former guitarist Tom Mellon, the band first gained recognition with their 2022 EP Euphoria, Where Were You?. This full-length debut expands on their signature moody, reverb-soaked aesthetic, delivering a profoundly introspective record that encourages self-reflection and raw emotional exploration.
To live in a different way opens with Devotion, a track imbued with a haunting sense of longing and passion. It carries romantic undertones that remain unspoken between two individuals. The layered instrumentation builds a hypnotic soundscape, setting the tone for the journey ahead. Soft Glow follows, contrasting its gentle name with grittier and harsher elements. The emotional weight is carried equally by Cameron Humphrey’s vocals and the instrumentation. The interplay between gentle shoegaze textures and more aggressive post-hardcore elements makes for a compelling listen.
take.one.minute begins in a hazy, dreamlike manner before shifting into an unexpected rush by the song’s end. A visceral scream accompanied by a drum solo mirrors the sudden, overwhelming nature of life’s emotional upheavals, making for a dynamic and cathartic moment. The heaviest song on the album, Jawbreaker, delivers a sonic curveball, much like the unpredictability of life itself. The track transitions between a crushing breakdown and softer, introspective vocals, before closing with raw, unfiltered screams that provide an intense emotional release.
Evelyn, reminiscent of Jeff Buckley, is one of the album’s most soulful and vulnerable moments. With groovy, reflective guitar work and raw, uninhibited vocals, the song lays bare every emotion Humphrey is feeling, making for a deeply personal and resonant listen. It hurts to know you’re there stands out with a melancholic guitar solo that evokes a Creed-like atmosphere. Lyrically, the song delves into unresolved heartbreak and lingering emotional pain, encapsulated by lines such as “The way you said goodbye to me, it hurts to know, it hurts to know you’re there.” The combination of moody and melodic elements makes this a deeply affecting piece.
As the album’s title track, To live in a different way encapsulates the overarching themes of self-reflection and existential questioning. The whimsical, shoegaze-inflected melodies blend seamlessly with Humphrey’s emotive delivery. As the song progresses, clear Deftones influences emerge, reinforcing the album’s immersive and layered production. Despite its name, Sunshine is drenched in a deep sense of isolation, disillusionment, and yearning. The repeated lyric “Sunshine, come to me” acts as a mantra for escaping darkness and seeking emotional warmth. The contrast between the song’s external brightness and internal turmoil creates a poetic reflection on modern emotional struggles.
Anemoia is a Radiohead-esque composition featuring delicate electronic synths, atmospheric soundscapes, and intricate guitar work. The xylophone-like elements add an ethereal quality to the track, which explores themes of existential questioning, nostalgia, and searching for meaning. Lines like “Frozen again / Will I leave this prison? Falling again” convey a deep internal struggle with identity and displacement. Serving as an interlude, … Mist offers a moment of introspection and respite. Its soft-spoken lyrics, “When you are hurting, remember you are inside my heart”, convey a deep sense of devotion and vulnerability, leaving the listener to ponder the weight of past emotions and the uncertainty of moving forward.
The album’s six-minute closer, Ascending, provides a slow-burning, contemplative resolution. Beginning with a mellow, reflective introduction, the track builds towards a stirring conclusion, encapsulating themes of healing, acceptance, and personal growth. Ascending leaves the listener with a sense of hope, emphasising the importance of living in the present and embracing life’s uncertainties.
To live in a different way carries the cinematic and nostalgic weight of a coming-of-age film, blending youthful angst, euphoria, and deep introspection. It’s an album that acknowledges the mistakes and risks of life while championing the idea of living unapologetically. The Valentine’s Day release date feels poetically fitting, adding an extra layer of meaning to its themes of love, loss, and self-discovery. Love Is Noise has crafted a debut that is both powerful and poignant, leaving listeners with a lasting emotional imprint and a yearning to experience the journey again.
For fans of: Deftones, Loathe, Moodring, Thornhill
‘To live in a different way’ by Love Is Noise is out now on Century Media Records.
Words by Zena Morris
