Looking outside the window, seeing the grey sky and the foggy air, there is nothing better than snuggling under a blanket with a cup of warm tea and writing a new episode of THE NOISE OF – by now, it’s such a reliable constant in my life that it gives me the same comfort like the embrace of a loved one. Sad when you think about it, but here we are, a month full of good releases behind us, and I will guide you through that noisy jungle. Take my hand, kiddo.
Lowen – Do Not Go To War With The Demons Of Mazandaran
October 4 // Church Road Records
DEVENIAL VERDICT – Blessing of Despair
October 4 // Transcending Obscurity Records
Sugar Horse – The Grand Scheme of Things
October 4 // Pelagic Records
Say what you will about Sugar Horse, but they are pretty good at subverting expectations. Their early material has a wacky, flamboyant vibe, but with The Grand Scheme of Things the band create a surprisingly dark and introspective album, more monotonous than their previous work, but at least as intense as anything they’ve done before.
Blood Incantation – Absolute Elswhere
October 4 // Century Media Records
Hailed by many as one of the best metal records of the year, Blood Incantation‘s highly anticipated new album meticulously channels the band’s love for ’90s death metal and ’70s prog. While I think the blend of these two sounds could have been a bit more symbiotic, I’m still very impressed with the organic and authentic sound and phenomenal songwriting on Absolute Elsewhere.
Thee Sacred Souls – Got a Story to Tell
October 4 // Penrose Records
Jonah Yano – Jonah Yano & The Heavy Loop
October 4 // Innovative Leisure
One of those records that you put on and immediately know you have something special. Jonah Yano captured my heart so quickly that I wasn’t even able to think about it, and it cemented itself at the top of my AOTY list in no time at all. How much it reminded me of Morly‘s ‘Til I Start Speaking definitely helped.
Palomino Blond – You Feel It Too
October 4 // Kanine Records
Dawn Richard & Spencer Zahn – Quiet in a World Full of Noise
October 4 // Merge Records
Touché Amoré – Spiral In A Straight Line
October 11 // Rise Records
A lot of people who generally like Touché Amoré seem to be a bit disappointed with this one. As someone who never really cared much for this band, I really like it. Funny how things work out sometimes. Came at the right time. Great album. Might want to try their catalog again now.
Delta Sleep – Blue Garden
October 11 // Sofa Boy Records & Wax Bodega
I’m not really sold on the idea of having a ‘favorite band,’ but if I did, Delta Sleep would come pretty close. Case in point – Blue Garden is one of the best records of the year, but it’s the one album from this band that took me the longest to really get into, and I still feel like I’m not fully immersed. Still, Delta Sleep is Delta Sleep.
Evan Chapman – Reveries
October 11 // Better Company Records
Tycho-ish electronica with real drums and a little jazz swing thrown in – if that’s not a recipe for something great, then fuck it. Evan Chapman‘s mesmerizing new album Reveries immediately grabbed me and has left me speechless ever since. Fantastic textures, compelling pacing and tremendous sound design.
Chat Pile – Cool World
October 11 // The Flenser
While God’s Country definitely made the bigger splash within the scene, Chat Pile‘s second album Cool World builds on their established sound with more musicality and a more diverse approach to songwriting. This band is obviously influencing so many other groups left and right, and I’m pretty sure they’ll continue to do so for a long time to come. Nothing like Chat Pile.
Oranssi Pazuzu – Muuntautuja
October 11 // Nuclear Blast
Henny Herz – We All Heal At Night
October 11 // Inselgruppe
Office Culture – Enough
October 18 // Ruination Record Co.
Svaneborg Kardyb – Superkilen
October 18 // Gondwana Records
Immortal Bird – Sin Querencia
October 18 // 20 Buck Spin
FIVE THE HIEROPHANT – Apeiron
October 18 // Agonia Records
When black metal and dark jazz are REEEEEAAAAAALY in love with each other, they drop their pants, put on some Barry White and get down to business. And if we are lucky, we get a new FIVE THE HIEROPHANT album. And really, isn’t it all about the FIVE THE HIEROPHANT album we got along the way?
Samora Pinderhughes – Venus Smiles Not in the House of Tears
October 18 // Independent
Two years ago, Samora Pinderhughes released GRIEF, which ended up being my #1 favorite album of the year. It was such an understated masterpiece of art-pop, modern classical, and jazz that nothing came close. Now Samora is back with his new album, and while I’m not as blown away by it, it goes down as one of the certified highlights of 2024.
Porridge Radio – Clouds In The Sky They Will Always Be There For Me
October 18 // Secretely Canadian
Meimuna – c’est demain que je meurs
October 18 // Radicalis Music
Kinkajous – Nothing Will Disappear
October 18 // Running Circle
Great band in the vein of modern, ECM-influenced jazz, heavily influenced by electronica patterns. Kinkajous may be one of the lesser-known bands in the realm, but they prove time and time again that they should be one of the bigger names in this particular style of jazz. Forward thinking and undeniably dynamic.
Buñuel – Mansuetude
October 25 // Overdrive Records & SKiN GRAFT Records
Ghosts of Glaciers – Eternal
October 25 // Translation Loss Records
THAW – Falling Backwards
October 25 // Agonia Records
Trauma Ray – Chameleon
October 25 // Dais Records
Sordide – Ainsi finit le jour
October 25 // Les Acteurs de l’Ombre Productions
Soccer Mommy – Evergreen
October 25 // Loma Vista Recordings
I really appreciate what Soccer Mommy has done here. After the home run that was Color Theory and the more experimental approach of Sometimes, Forever, Evergreen is an album that goes back to her roots while sharpening her artistic profile. Not the head-turner that her previous stuff was, but one with the same charm that Clean had.
Flock – Flock II
October 25 // Strut
Fievel Is Glauque – Rong Weicknes
October 25 // Fat Possum Records
Che Noir – The Lotus Child
October 25 // Poetic Movement
Chained to the Bottom of the Ocean – Sisyphean Cruelty
October 25 // Independent
Thanks for scrolling.
