Love is Noise – to live in a different way | Album Review

A debut album that is front to back bangers is no mean feat, let alone to do it all showing an emotional intent far beyond the usual expectations. The hard work on crafting this has well and truly paid off.

Where to even begin with Love Is Noise and their debut album to live in a different way? The range of influences present that absolutely should not work but boy do they ever? The expertly curated soundscape showcasing the very best that can come out of some guitars and drums? Or the outrageously catchy, soaring melodies and vocal hooks that will have you belting them out before the end of the first chorus?

Ultimately it doesn’t matter where we begin with this. to live in a different way demands your attention and you should listen up. To go from sounding like the bouncing rebirth of Brit rock’s most loud and obnoxious best, shoegazing melancholic beauty, pulling at the emotional strings with deep and contemplative riffs and melodies, right through to alt and nu metal grove and aggression, and back again is one hell of a journey to make. Love Is Noise wear their influences clearly on their sleeves and still carve out a sound that is entirely their own.

The most obvious talking point here is those vocals. From the very opening of ‘Devotion’, listeners will be hit with a powerhouse voice, mastered control over pitch and depth, power when power is needed, subtlety and introspection at the softer moments. Each and every single one of these songs is festival field ready; you can already hear thousands people singing along with every single hook, feeling the absolute euphoria that this brings. Still this wouldn’t be out of place in dark and dingy clubs, collecting everyone together to experience something so beautiful people will be talking about for years to come. Everything melds together perfectly, so much passion and emotion resonates all over this album, listeners are sure to feel an intense emotional connection to every phrase.

This is about more than catchy singalongs though. Instrumentation is simply stunning, atmosphere and intensity, with some carefully selected electronics dissolve into dreamy riffs, which further break down into undeniable rock bangers. With ‘It Hurts To Know You’re There’, they’ve made the best Oasis song written since the 90s and they do so expanding that rock’n’roll vibe further into alternative territories than the Mancunian legends would ever dare to. ‘Jawbreaker’ is a further standout moment hitting the intensity of early Deftones material, showing just how good the songcraft here is.

There is so much to digest in this, you could be forgiven for getting lost in the sheer ambition of it, all the different moving parts, sometimes you just need a moment to sit back and let it all wash over you. What’s most impressive is how none of this ever feels bloated or self-indulgent. Every choice feels deliberate, every detour serves a purpose, and by the time the final notes ring out, you’re left with that rare feeling—like you’ve witnessed the birth of something truly special. An album that doesn’t just demand your attention now, but one you’ll be revisiting for years, discovering new depths each time.

Beyond the absolute power and technical brilliance, what truly sets To Live in a Different Way apart is its deeply emotional core. This is a record that bleeds vulnerability. A raw pain stitched into the fabric of every chorus, a sense of catharsis in every crescendo. Tracks ebb and flow between defiance and despair, hope and heartbreak, capturing the kind of emotional turbulence that makes you feel like you’ve lived through something. It might be the aching introspection of quieter moments or the euphoric, fists-in-the-air release of the heavier sections, it does not matter, there’s a uniting human spirit running through every word, every chord. It’s music that doesn’t just resonate—it connects, reminding you that someone else has felt this way too.

Frontman Cam Humphrey has said his goal is to create change in the alternative space, and there is no doubt that this record could achieve that. It wouldn’t be surprising for this record to be discussed in years to come.