I know how it goes, I’m doing it for many years – with September hauling in, you know the dog days are over. You don’t have to collect the crumbs to get something to eat; you actually have to carefully pick when and what to eat. When I got the shortlist for that episode together, it was longer than the eye can see, so rigorous trimming was in order.
It ended up being manageable, but my oh my, September 2026 was a treat.
Spit Vision – The Morning Has Gold In Its Mouth
September 1 // Independent
Remember Sunflo’er? They had a little bit of momentum a couple years back, especially with their 2022 album all these darlings and now me – so I was curious what happened to those guys. Apparently, they did this, at least two of them, and it’s such a ridiculously heavy, face-slapping album that I can’t get over it!
Depiction of Man – Depiction of Man
September 3 // Independent
A knight in shining armor in a beautiful meadow – and then you press play, and some nasty, noisy skramz roars out of your speakers. This is a fun little gem with tons of good, mean energy.
Chat Pile – Who Loves The Sun
September 4 // The Flenser
The buzz Chat Pile created with their previous albums (aside from their collab with Hayden Pedigo) was crazy, and it was notably absent with Who Loves The Sun. I’ve heard people saying that the novelty of what they had to offer is gone, and that’s fair. Nevertheless, the more mature and varied take on their sound, including Nirvana-worshipping on “Same Rules” and folk-ballading on “October All The Time”, is right in my ballpark.
mr.phylzzz – Fear the Lord
September 4 // Amphetamine Reptile
Grungy noise rock is obviously in high demand right now. There seems to be an abundance of bands gaining traction with that kind of sound (could that be because the band I talked about in the blurb above?), and while there is a lot of vibe-slop oversaturating the scene, there are also bands like mr.phylzzz, with their fantastic sense for dynamic songwriting and their amazing flair.
Sun Guts – Supervoid
September 4 // Independent
Second solo album by Greg Kubacki from Car Bomb this year. While Kilonova lacked a bit of character because it felt like an instrumental version of Car Bomb tracks, Supervoid has way more identity. Sure, the typical crazy math metal parts are still there and good fun, but there is a just more to the compositions than that. Feels like progress to the formula.
Liana Flores – And so it goes…
September 4 // Independent
Bossa Nova influences in indie pop is also an interesting trend I’m observing, maybe it’s part of the tremendous wave of fantastic Latin-based or originated pop artists in recent years, but I applaud Londoner Liana Flores for leaning into that on her new EP, resulting in a wholesome and coquettish vibe throughout.
corto.alto – SOME SMALL FORTUNE
September 4 // Ninja Tune
Karkait – To All That Cannot Be Undone
September 4 // ORTHODOX
Some of the coolest doom-adjacent things this year. This is gazey and disgusting, contemplative moments are chased by massive walls of despair. Mighty fine.
Late Again – I Dreamt I Was Awake
September 4 // Independent
David Thomas Broughton – Heavy Thoughts
September 4 // The state51 Conspiracy
Sněť – V bažinách vědomí
September 10 // Dark Descent Records/Me Saco Un Ojo
When Dark Descent Records and Me Saco Un Ojo, two of the best extreme metal labels around, are teaming up to release something, you know you are in for a good time. Czech death metal band Sněť play pummeling gerumpel, dark and pulsating riffs, and old-school sensibilities.
Asia Menor – Vaho
September 10 // Sello Fisura
hubris. – White Shores
September 10 // Independent
For way over 10 years, Swiss act hubris. is a shining light in an ocean of mediocrity, which is the post-rock genre. The consistency this band displays culminates in almost certainty that a new album will slap, and will be one of the best releases in the genre in its respective year. This year’s White Shores is no exception.
Wrong Man – Here’s That Feeling
September 11 // Deathwish Inc.
After a couple EP’s, this Belgian band featuring members of Partisan and Oathbreaker debuts their first full-length album which is a very cool mix of post-punk and post-hardcore – adding enough cool non-post-punk shit to lure in someone like me who isn’t the biggest fan of the genre. So if you like post-punk in very specific moderation, this could be something for you.
Haruomi Hosono – Yours Sincerely
September 11 // Ghostly International
Point Nada – retain an air
September 11 // Independent
This project released three EP’s and a whole album in September, which is kinda strange, and there is not much I can find about it beyond that. From all the releases, this EP is my favorite. I hope it’s not AI, but it doesn’t feel like it. Feels human, but I could be wrong.
Odessey & Oracle – Technicolor
September 18 // Dur & Doux
Jacob Wick – I’ll make you coffee while you still sleep
September 18 // Ropeadope
One of the most beautiful trumpet-focused jazz albums I’ve heard in a while. Bringing together some old-school phrasing with a modern production is something which you stumble upon quite often in jazz, but rarely is it done with so much elegance.
Remote Viewing – STATE VIOLENCE
September 18 // Human Worth
Tokyo Tea Room – Feel Forever
September 18 // Nice Guys
It’s probably the album I’ve had the best time with this year. With a more funky version of the Men I Trust sound, Feel Forever is a beautiful, self-forgetting experience, an immersive collection of catchy songs, and after the album closes, you will feel a bit lighter, no matter the weight the world is throwing at you.
WELLNESS – WELLNESS
September 18 // Third House
The easiest way to convince you to listen to WELLNESS is to name-drop a couple bands which share members with this band: Liturgy, Massa Nera, Chepang, Heavenly Blue. Now have fun with that. Such a fucking ride.
Suffering Quota – Sisyphean Life
September 18 // Tartarus Records
Son Lux – Out Into
September 18 // City Slang
Pam Risourié – I’ll Never Be Human
September 18 // Shore Dive Records/Stellar Frequencies
Patrick Shiroishi & Jason Nazary – here i am no i
September 18 // We Jazz Records
Patrick Shiroishi‘s quantity to quality level is nothing short of astonishing. here i am no i is his first full-length collaboration this year, and there are also live recordings, and features on the new albums by LUGOSi and Emma Ruth Rundle. And he has quite the Midas touch with his material. Nevertheless, this album is an absolute highlight in his catalog, and one of the finest jazz albums of the year.
Lizzy McAlpine – Angel
September 18 // RCA Records
Agnes Obel – The Meaning of Flowers
September 18 // Deutsche Grammophon
I was so excited when this hit my inbox, because an Agnes Obel album is always a reason to get excited. There is a specific sound you have to vibe with, which I would call the ‘Anna von Hausswolff‘-vibe, and I personally love this sound – so my excitement ended up being more than justified.
Novae Militiae – Apocryphon Of The Unborn Light
September 18 // Serpent Sun Records
Burner – No One Is Coming To Save Us
September 25 // Church Road Records
It All Returns To Nothing was a fucking banger within hardcore and death metal, and I was very curious how they would follow that up. No One Is Coming To Save Us is missing the novelty of its predecessor, and it took me a bit longer to really get into it, but it’s a very strong next step for Burner.
megiapa – Intentions
September 25 // International Anthem
No episode without some love for International Anthem! This time, megiapa made it very easy since Intentions is such a phenomenal, unique album. There is so much going on here, so many different influences, yet there is a cohesive vision throughout the album which makes it such a compelling experience.
God Mother – Köttvärld
September 25 // Independent
A band that is doing their thing very impressively, without compromise. I remember seeing those guys open up for The Dillinger Escape Plan on their ‘last’ show in Europe, and they really incinerated the place. I’ve liked them ever since, and that new album unsurprisingly slaps.
UCHE YARA – BODYSCANNER
September 25 // Independent
Berlin remains one of the most important music cities in the world, and UCHE YARA is probably one of the most interesting artists out of there at the moment. Her new album BODYSCANNER is a wild ride with art pop and indietronica and dance and a bunch of other things, and it’s flamboyant and timeless in all the right ways.
Rorcal – Mahre
September 25 // Hummus Records
Many Blessings – Acts of Service
September 25 // Translation Loss Records
Ethan Lee McCarthy is a real busy bee in making abrasive noises, either in the shape of Primitive Man, Vermin Womb, or the talking point of that blurb, Many Blessings. The last collaboration with Our Wrongs didn’t really click for me, but I’m extra stoked about how amazing Acts of Service turned out to be.
Gurriers – Nobody’s Coming To Save You
September 25 // Play It Again Sam
Avid readers that I’m not the biggest fan of post-punk or its basic formula. I am, though, a fan of post-punk as a flavor mixed with other stuff. And probably no band did that flavoring part better in recent times than Dublin-based outfit Gurriers. Their new album Nobody’s Coming To Save You is really charismatic and, in a good way, cocky. Like post-punk is cocky, but with more grace.
Gilla Band – Pugnello
September 25 // Rough Trade
Brain Tourniquet – Sinking Deeper Into Madness
September 25 // IRON LUNG Records
A lot about this gives you the vibe of your typical powerviolence album, but there is actually more to Brain Tourniquet‘s Sinking Deeper Into Madness. This album carries an industrial punk energy with it which reminds me of bands like Model/Actriz, just way more raw and pissed. And if that sounds like a good time for you, then dig right in.
Hand Model – Stuffing a Large Black Bird
September 28 // dumb edge
GHOLA – Aeon
September 28 // Zegema Beach Records/Vamonos Records/Larry Records
Wait, two skramz supergroups in one episode? Is it Christmas already? Well, I take it. GHOLA‘s new album is simply one, if not the best skramz albums of the year, which takes the genre on quite the adventure with different stuff thrown on top of it. Featuring members of Crowning, Lord Snow, Frail Body and more.
Thanks for scrolling!
