The year is slowly coming to an end, and while the first Christmas sweets are aggressively displayed in the grocery store of you choice, I indulged in the tidal waves of releases October offered me – from my experience, October tends to be one of the strongest months in terms of new records. Peak autumn, so to speak. I could have listed so many albums in this new episode of The Noise Of, but I decided to cut down my shortlist significantly to give you only the best of the best. So let’s get into it!
Jessica O’Donoghue – Rise Up
October 7 // Art As Carthasis
AAC is always a sign of quality, and they definitely prove that with their second art pop release of the year. After the phenomenal new record by Lack The Low, Jessica O’Donoghue‘s Rise Up combines sophisticated pop sensibilities with modern classical elements and an overly charismatic voice.
Gillian Carter – Salvation Through Misery
October 7 // Skeletal Lightning
Gillian Carter announced a new album, and my excitement went through the roof – and when they released Salvation Through Misery, they exceeded my already high expectations. This album is dark, heavy, and gritty; it honors its skramz roots while incorporating all kinds of different elements. Fantastic balance between basement show energy and professional production!
Fucked Up – Oberon
October 7 // Tankcrimes
Aenaeon – Mnemosyne
October 7 // Agonia Records
Vessel Of Iniquity – The Path Unseen
October 7 // Sentient Ruin Laboratories
NNAMDÏ – Please Have A Seat
October 7 // Secretely Canadian
When I first heard of NNAMDÏ, I was solely interested in his stuff because he played drums for Monobody, and Monobody are an awesome band. I enjoyed DROOL quite a bit back in 2017, but didn’t really follow up with NNAMDÏ – up until the first singles from his new album Please Have A Seat dropped. Now, this fascinating mixture of art pop and math rock totally captured me, resulting in one of my favorite albums of the year. This is absolutely and utterly brilliant.
Bonny Light Horseman – Rolling Golden Holy
October 7 // 37d03d
Elena Steri – Soft Trigger
October 14 // ListenRecords
Her fanastic EP, her work with Like Lovers – Elena Steri is one of the most exciting art pop artists in Europe. And if her previous work wasn’t proof enough, her new album Soft Trigger is a statement – gentle, yet powerful; playful, yet empowering. A beautiful piece of art.
Desbot – Pass Of Change
October 14 // Art Of Catharsis
Daeva – Through Sheer Will And Black Magic...
October 14 // 20 Buck Spin
Nothing short of one of the best metal records of the year. Psychedelic and progressive but razor-sharp and focused. 20 Buck Spin prove to be a fantastic label for forward-thinking metal, and Deava is some top-notch black metal with a phenomenal record under their belt.
Birds in Row – Gris Klein
October 14 // Red Creek
Apparitions – Eyes Like Predatory Wealth
October 14 // The Garrote
This hits you like a truck on a street covered in the thickest fog. You won’t see it coming, but when it hits you, you just have to travel along.
Firtan – Marter
October 14 // AOP Records
Palm – Nicks and Grazes
October 14 // Saddle Greek
Mykki Blanco – Stay Close To Music
October 14 // Transgressive
Handbook – Glint
October 14 // Loci Records
Arny Margret – they only talk about the weather
October 21 // One Little Independent Records
An overlooked gem, suprisingly beautiful, surprisingly deep – after her fantastic EP earlier this year, I was waiting eagerly for Arny Margret‘s full-length the only talk about the weather. Unsurprisingly, it didn’t disappoint, and I’m looking forward to spinning it throughout the cold months.
Loyle Carner – hugo
October 21 // EMI/Universal
There is not much I can say to add to the level of admiration I already expressed for Loyle Carner – like the one time his album Not Waving, But Drowning was Everything Is Noise‘s album of the year. Or any other occasion I used to praise his work. I’m tremendously grateful that we can experience his growth as an artist with each release, and that he shares his intimate storytelling with us. hugo is another blessing.
Brutus – Unison Life
October 21 // Hassle Records
Devenial Verdict – Ash Blind
October 28 // Transcending Obscurity Records
Finnish death metal act Devenial Verdict are definitely a bit rough around the edges, but damn, their branch of slightly dissonant and heavily atmosphere metal really does wonders for me. I don’t know if I will get back to this record regularly, but for now, this is fucking awesome.
Implore – The Burden of Existence
October 28 // Church Road Records
Psychonaut – Violate Consensus Reality
October 28 // Pelagic Records
A The Noise Of episode without a Pelagic release wouldn’t feel right – luckily for me, Psychonaut are making this an easy pick. I’m always extremely impressed if a band manages to take a huge leap in quality, and no other band other than Ithaca showed such an improvement in quality as Psychonaut did with Violate Consensus Reality!
Sugar Horse – Waterloo Teeth
October 28 // Small Pond
OISEAUX-TEMPÊTE – WHAT ON EARTH (Que Diable)
October 28 // NAHAL Recordings
Arm’s Length – Never Before Seen, Never Again Found
October 28 // Wax Bodega
How do other bands in the genre feel like when they check out Arm’s Length? Inspired? Desperate? The thing I know is that their songwriting abilities are extra-terrestrial, and this was never more jaw-dropping then on their new album Never Before Seen, Never Again Found. It’s crazy.
Nosaj Thing – Continua
October 28 // LUCKYME®
Nosaj Thing is one of the first artists who made me fall in love with electronica – next to other artists like Aphex Twin, Lapalux, Tipper or BT, his music shaped my interest in electronic music until today. With Continua, Nosaj Thing proved his artistic relevance once again, and that I still adore his music.
The Brother Moves On – $/He Who Feeds You…Owns You
October 28 // Native Rebel Recordings
Thanks for scrolling.
