A note to industry tastemakers, who apparently have learned nothing in the past five years: Nothing kills momentum quicker than hype and hyperbole. So while the Stateside capitol of those two forces, last week's SXSW festival, was good to Nine Black Alps—their set got favorable buzz and the band is probably in la-la land right about now, rearing to take over the world and such—let's pause and take stock. These four British kids aren't going to save rock 'n' roll. Conscious grunge homages aside, they're not the next Nirvana. What they've got in their corner is a fine debut record, Everything Is (Island), with torrential, hopped-up-on-Sparks energy that might not be entirely original, but is damn effective. Take "Shot Down," where an immediate juxtaposition of distorted guitar and squealing feedback hits you right out front. Singer Sam Forrest dives into the melee with his minor-key drone, sprinting along to harmonized hooks and offbeat drum fills. You don't hear one thing that isn't a tried-and-true textbook technique, but you also don't hear anything that doesn't work like a mofo. When they take the North Star stage tonight, Nine Black Alps isn't going to reshape the musical landscape of the next decade. But they might just make power chords cool again.

Thu., March 30, 9 p.m., $10-$12, with Duke Spirit and Five O'Clock Heroes, North Star Bar, 2639 Poplar St., 215-787-0488, www.northstarbar.com.