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

What else can I say about this album that you haven’t already read in our review? The praise this album has received, at least from us, is enormous and it’s well deserved. This album is something very special and nothing less than one of the best albums of the year.

Bandcamp // Youtube // Review

DEVENIAL VERDICT – Blessing of Despair

October 4 // Transcending Obscurity Records

After the fantastic Ash Blind, I was really looking forward to what these Finns would cook up next. Blessing Of Despair is a roaring and abrasive monster, full of intense riffs and a cold, unsettling atmosphere.

Bandcamp // Youtube

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.

Bandcamp // Youtube // Review

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.

Bandcamp // Youtube // Review

Thee Sacred Souls – Got a Story to Tell

October 4 // Penrose Records

The Drip‘s latest album made me realize how much I was missing some old school soul this year. I’m glad that Thee Sacred Souls apparently heard my lament and delivered some of the most wholesome and warm soul you’re likely to hear in 2024.

Bandcamp // Youtube

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.

Bandcamp // Youtube

Palomino Blond – You Feel It Too

October 4 // Kanine Records

My kind of shit. Since The Noise Of is kind of my personal musical diary, you might have already learned how much I love the sound and aesthetic of ’90s alternative rock, grunge, and anything that sounds like it wears a flannel shirt. You Feel It Too, right?

Bandcamp // Youtube

Dawn Richard & Spencer Zahn – Quiet in a World Full of Noise

October 4 // Merge Records

It took a while for it to really click with me, but in the end, Quiet in a World Full of Noise really blossomed into the spectacular display of artistry it was meant to be. A fantastic marriage of two interesting artists that only gets better the more time you spend with it.

Bandcamp // Youtube

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.

Bandcamp // Youtube

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.

Bandcamp // Youtube

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.

Bandcamp // Youtube

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.

Bandcamp // Youtube // Review

Oranssi Pazuzu – Muuntautuja

October 11 // Nuclear Blast

Pretty sure you can’t go wrong with Oranssi Pazuzu at this point. Your favorite cosmic psychedelic black metal band are the kings of their own cvlt, and they own it with their trademark mix of elegance and weirdness.

Bandcamp // Youtube // Review

Henny Herz – We All Heal At Night

October 11 // Inselgruppe

A most beautiful piece of music. Captivating, tender and with tremendous depth, the third album by Munich-based artist Henny Herz is an ultimately wholesome experience from start to finish.

Bandcamp // Youtube

Office Culture – Enough

October 18 // Ruination Record Co.

I love the vibe of this album because it oozes cool. Take the smooth, groovy pulse of Men I Trust and the dreamy, jazzy look of Mild High Club and you get a good idea of what Office Culture has to offer on their new album.

Bandcamp // Youtube

Svaneborg Kardyb – Superkilen

October 18 // Gondwana Records

Nothing short of being one of the best jazz albums of the year. Svaneborg Kardyb was always an interesting project, but with this new album, they totally took a step up with their songwriting and arrangement. An absolute delight.

Bandcamp // Youtube // Review

Immortal Bird – Sin Querencia

October 18 // 20 Buck Spin

What a riff monster. I honestly didn’t expect that album to go that hard, but here we are, and mothertrucker, that hurt like a butt cheek on a stick – in terms of how heavy those riffs slap. Ah, vine nostalgia and metal, my love language.

Bandcamp // Youtube

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?

Bandcamp // Youtube // Review

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.

Bandcamp // Youtube

Porridge Radio – Clouds In The Sky They Will Always Be There For Me

October 18 // Secretely Canadian

Charmingly British, Porridge Radio oddly reminds me of a ’90s alt-rock version of Florence + The Machine. A charismatic vocal delivery and colorful yet dark songs make for the perfect fall soundtrack.

Bandcamp // Youtube

Meimuna – c’est demain que je meurs

October 18 // Radicalis Music

I only checked out this album because I liked the cover, and once again this way of choosing music didn’t disappoint. The Swiss dream folk project Meimuna gave me a warm hug and healing. This is so breathtakingly beautiful.

Bandcamp // Youtube

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.

Bandcamp // Youtube

Buñuel – Mansuetude

October 25 // Overdrive Records & SKiN GRAFT Records

The world is just fine as long as Eugene S. Robinson is making music. The new Buñuel marks the first release since Robinson’s departure from Oxbow, and they once again deliver a blistering collection of songs full of extravagant industrial punk.

Bandcamp // Youtube

Ghosts of Glaciers – Eternal

October 25 // Translation Loss Records

I have not seen much coverage of this album, which is a shame. A really cool mix of post-metal and black metal, very dense atmosphere, and massive riffs. Check it out.

Bandcamp // Youtube

THAW – Falling Backwards

October 25 // Agonia Records

An onslaught of noise and goodness. Wave after wave of crushing riffs and menacing soundscapes, Fading Backwards is THAW at their best. As one of the most interesting metal bands from Poland active at the moment, you shouldn’t miss them.

Bandcamp // Youtube

Trauma Ray – Chameleon

October 25 // Dais Records

Dais Records is one of the best labels out there, so anything they put out is worth checking out, and I’m glad I followed my own rule with this fantastic new album from Texas alt-rock/shoegaze outfit Trauma Ray. And yay, you guessed it, full of awesome ’90s vibes.

Bandcamp // Youtube

Sordide – Ainsi finit le jour

October 25 // Les Acteurs de l’Ombre Productions

Even though everything about it screams black metal at first, this is a super cool punky, grungy rock album at its core. Sordide have always been an interesting band, but with this one they really hit the bull’s eye. Super driving and cvlty.

Bandcamp // Youtube

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.

Bandcamp // Youtube

Flock – Flock II

October 25 // Strut

Our much-needed dose of London jazz. Flock are fucking good, and in their typical fashion, this new album is fluid and spiritual in all the right ways. A great record to get high to.

Bandcamp // Youtube

Fievel Is Glauque – Rong Weicknes

October 25 // Fat Possum Records

There is no band like Fievel Is Glauque, and I will die proudly on this hill. With each record they solidify their unique approach to jazz and art rock. If you don’t give them a listen, you’re missing out on something truly great.

Bandcamp // Youtube

Che Noir – The Lotus Child

October 25 // Poetic Movement

This isn’t the flashiest year for hip hop, but rap still delivers. I didn’t know there was a new Che Noir album coming out, but I was very happy when it came out of nowhere, at least for me. Their storytelling is amazing and I just love listening to them.

Bandcamp // Youtube

Chained to the Bottom of the Ocean – Sisyphean Cruelty

October 25 // Independent

One of the best bands you’ve never heard of. So dark and gritty and packed to the brim with fantastic riffs, Chained to the Bottom of the Ocean will hit you with all the death/doom riffs you need in your life.

Bandcamp // Youtube

Thanks for scrolling.

Toni Meese

Toni Meese

I know more than you.

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