Best New Releases September 2024
September has been...interesting.
We all know that a ton of highly-anticipated albums were released this month. While a few of these albums were just as good (and better) than I'd hoped for, there were a few that just weren't for me in the end. Interestingly, it was the unexpected, lower-profile albums that ended up rocking my world, and that's great, actually... That's why we're here: to shine a light on those that may have been flying under the radar.
So here's exactly what I submitted to the Doom Charts in September. I'm going to start listing them in descending order because I'm a big fan of anticipation and surprise. 🙃
9. Hylko - The Man Comes Around
Hylko is a very unique project from Japan that utilizes electric bass with drums and tribal instruments. While simple at face value, this combination along with Hylko's thoughtful compositions create a massively immersive, bewitching, and heavy stoner/psych sound, proving that you can often do more with less.
Favorite Track: Enter DishMancion
8. Psychlona - Warped Vision
Warped Vision, the fourth full-length album from UK stoner/psych masters Psychlona, leans heavily into the band's psychedelic influences while continuing to evolve into a more atmospheric sound. Make no mistake, Psychlona is still as riff-driven as ever, keeping things heavy and immersive but never bogged down. Psychlona expertly harnesses the contrast between the delicacy of psychedelic rock and the burliness of stoner, with their songs as wispy and flowing as smoke one minute and barreling across the desert with massively heavy riffage the next. The most notable difference on Warped Vision is its lyrical deep dive into some tougher topics, which is executed in a very open and honest way. This feels like a very personal album for Psychlona, filled with fond memories, heartache, and frustrations, but Warped Vision takes plenty of time to celebrate the good times too.
Read my full review here.
Favorite Track: Jasmine
7. Bird's View - House of Commando
Bird's View is a young and upcoming band from Germany. Merely in their early 20s, the band has toured with big names such as Skid Row, Soulfly, and Dirty Honey, and has just released their sophomore album, House of Commando. Bird's View's sound can be described as primarily melodic alt-rock with stoney/grungy tendencies. There are also some high energy punk rock tunes dotted throughout their music. The most incredible thing about Bird's View is their ability to create the sheer number of earworms that they do...both their albums are track-after-track of insanely infectious anthem-like tunes from start to finish. The high octane instrumentals and spirited, soaring vocals will have you blissfully singing and jamming along...it's virtually impossible to listen to this album and not get a boost of energy and a wave of the most carefree, happy feeling.
Favorite Track: White Barriers
6. Gnome - Vestiges of Verumex Visidrome
Gnome is, in many ways, the Devo of the stoner/doom world, and not just because of their penchant for silly hats. In spite of a layer of humor, there's no denying Gnome's instrumental prowess, songwriting chops, and ultra creative storytelling ability. With their new album, Vestiges of Verumex Visidrome, Gnome delivers their most sophisticated, layered, varied, and heaviest release to date. It's still very much the Gnome we know and love, goofy moments and catchy headbangers included. This time, there's a greater emphasis on instrumental and stylistic variety, but my favorite improvement has to be the massive increase in the amount of vocals. These things combined highlight Gnome's legendary yarn-spinning skills infinitely more (a quality demonstrated brilliantly on one of my favorite songs, The Ogre). Between the captivating tales, hooky riffs, and Gnome's trademark sense of witty humor, Vestiges of Verumex Visidrome almost feels like too much of a good thing...almost.
Favorite track: The Ogre
5. Sbarco - (self-titled)
The debut album from Milan-based heavy/alternative rock trio Sbarco plays out much like the nautical adventure depicted on its cover. (Sbarco is Italian for "landing" after all, the end goal of finding a safe place to fall after a treacherous journey).
The first half of the album maintains a bright, optimistic alt rock tonality, with a punk rock undertow amidst the soaring guitars and vocal harmonies. Squarely in the middle of the album, you'll find the song "The Dream", which stands out beautifully with its eerie, mournful lull. Calming yet anticipatory, it's the eye of the storm through which our vessel must pass.
We cautiously move out of the eye and into choppy, storm-churned seas as illustrated on the latter half of the song "The Siren". From here, the sailing and the resulting attitude of the sailors alternate between propitious and ominous, as metal textures dance with captivating tales and moods as woven by progressive rock. Suffice it to say, the "landing" is reached in a supremely heavy way, prompting this listener to wonder whether our adventurers were just particularly psyched about reaching dry land or if they were ultimately consumed by the tentacled creature depicted on the album cover. A giant octopus, or a more sinister monster of sorts? This is the stuff of legend.
It is certain, however, that Sbarco's debut isn't an expedition to be missed. Providing ample variety, intrigue, and skillful storytelling worked deeply into its composition, this album will bewitch you.
Favorite track: The Landing
4. Spirit Mother - Trails
Spirit Mother's highly-anticipated second album, Trails, maintains the band's base of folk and retro rock, swirling with strong notes of psychedelia, alternative, and wisps of occult magic. This time, their music is covered in a noticeable veil of darkness, resulting in an album that's both haunting and enthralling, with the power to both soothe and enchant with trance-inducing tones. That is, until the occasional throaty, bloodcurdling scream from the vocals jars you in the most delightful way. Trails is a savory experience, a winding path meant to be hiked slowly with wonder and appreciation, composed of various terrains, twists and turns. My favorite thing about this album is the vivid imagery it evokes in my mind as I float along on its spooky vapor, sending me to the edge of a dense forest at sunset, the chill air and acrid smell of wood smoke burning in my lungs as I journey down the tangle of trails within.
Favorite track: Veins
3. Kant - Paranoia Pilgrimage
Kant is an up-and-coming band from Aschaffenburg, Germany, known for their high octane live shows and raw, yet hypnotic vintage sound. Taking all the best elements from the psychedelic 60s, traditional doom, and heavy metal, Kant has concocted something absolutely delicious. Their second album, Paranoia Pilgrimage, shows the band taking a more sinister approach to their sound, resulting in an album that has a conspicuous occult rock flair. The unfettered, expressive vocals really take the album to the next level, drawing the listener in deeply to its dark tales.
2. Fátima - Eerie
Fátima is a Parisian band who expertly weaves artful tapestries of doom-laden rock with ribbons of Oriental influence throughout, complete with a grungy vocal delivery. Eerie proves to be the band's most layered, sophisticated release yet, on which their wide variety of creative influences shine though brilliantly in their eclectic style. Haunting, echoing melodies create vivid imagery that sets intricate scenes as stories both ancient and futuristic unfurl.
Favorite Track: Hypericum
1. Slomosa - Tundra Rock
Slomosa knew that they wanted their sophomore album to be a natural continuation of their highly successful debut, while incorporating some darker elements and more melody to represent their emotional side. The band accomplishes this and then some on Tundra Rock, their latest release named for their specific heavy riffing yet impassioned brand of stoner/desert rock. Slomosa's sound is expanded upon even further, their gritty stoner/desert textures gathering even more depth and dimension, surrounding the listener like a sandstorm (or perhaps a blinding blizzard). Rather than settle for playing one genre incredibly well, Slomosa ambitiously (and successfully) adds in a hint of grunge and even experiments with the pacing of techno on one song. However, my favorite thing about Tundra Rock remains my favorite thing about Slomosa as a band: their soaring, relatable, heartfelt melodies against a massive wall of sound, a combination that gives me cold chills every time. To say that the sky is the limit for Slomosa would be a massive understatement.
Read my full review here.
Favorite Track: Cabin Fever
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That's it for September! Stay tuned, as October (and the rest of 2024, frankly) is shaping up to be another month chock full of killer new releases.
Don't forget to check out this month's Doom Charts for many more great albums, and as always, show your favorite heavy underground artists some much-deserved love!
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