Local Review: The Alpines — Dying Star

The Alpines
Dying Star
Self-Released
Street: 09.12.2025
The Alpines = Metric + PVRIS

Cooler weather is finally here, and so is the perfect soundtrack for it:  The Alpines’ second album, Dying Star. This dreamy record has everything I love when it comes to indie rock, such as catchy guitars, melodic female vocals and interesting, relatable lyrics. It transports me back to high school in 2014 when it felt like everyone was obsessed with supernatural teen drama TV shows that were soundtracked with indie rock, wearing Doc Martens, and autumn just lasted forever. Dying Star captures that nostalgia perfectly while not feeling stuck in the past — it’s fresh, alive and absolutely magnetic.

Tracks “Endless Winter” and “Spring Fever Pt. 2” are two of my favorites. “Endless Winter” is a plea for help to  get them through the harshness of the colder seasons, while “Spring Fever Pt. 2” is the other side of the coin. It breaks through the chill, happy to have accepted the warmth and comfort from someone else despite the season not being quite over with. It’s romantic and sweet, while a little dark, reminiscent of a Florence + The Machine song.

What makes Dying Star special is its emotional journey throughout the album. The record flows back and forth from heartache and lost love to moments of joy and hope, much like a literal dying star building toward its final supernova and then to darkness, a spiritual rebirth. Dying Star ends with “Liars,” a track that paints a picture of moving away from the pain you’ve felt in the past to a new era with those you can love and trust; it’s a hopeful note to end on.

If you’re an indie rock fan or just looking for a soundtrack to your crisp autumn evenings, Dying Star is a record you can’t miss out on. It invites you to lose yourself in its melodies, revisit memories and emerge feeling renewed, looking towards a new day. For me, it’s a reminder of music’s power to transport, comfort and inspire me. I’m sure I’ll be returning to it every fall for years to come. —Cherri Cheetah

Read more local album reviews from SLUG:
Local Review: Lost Lotteries — Continuous Growth
Local Review: Dwellers – Corrupt Translation Machine