Price of Progress by SMILE, a relatively straightforward post-punk record that substitutes the genre’s typical washed-out singing for spoken, socially conscious poetry.

From experimental vocal jazz to energetic, action-packed afrobeat, this week’s popular releases had it all! Come dive in with us!

Rage generally motivates the mic in hip hop, but a far more menacing, brooding, pure negativity permeates the sound of Cells Impact by Easymind and oddeen.

From the conventional to the downright strange, the world of underground dance gave us no shortage of music to move to this week!

Originally written while the artist was living alone in a foreign city and revamped following the onset of the pandemic, this dark wave post punk release exemplifies melancholy both instrumentally and lyrically.

We saw a ton of fantastic releases this week, but the real winners may be the diehard extreme metal fans. Here’s our breakdown of the amazing new material that came out this week!

Unschooling is clearly confident enough to experiment, feverishly stitching together familiar influences with an energetic yet lofi sound that inspires repeated listening.

For all of the gothic-tinged post punk we’ve been seeing recently, bands like EXEK that take the same sensibilities in a more experimental, kraut-rock-oriented direction feel ever more refreshing.

The sound of cosmic music is revived and redefined on The Ineffable Consequence of Dreaming, the latest release from UK spacegrind act Worm Hero.

Population II doesn’t solve the fundamental tension within the Quebecois spirit, but their meditation on the issue excites all of our longings to belong and exposes the way in which our Anglophone North American culture harms all of us, even if we grew up immersed in it.

Badway identifies vague threats to human wellbeing and responds with the equally scattered will to fight back, acknowledging the absurdly uphill battle that lies ahead to deal with issues of atomization, public health, and industry greed.

With all the major album releases coming this time of year, it’s hard to keep up. Here’s our guide to some of this week’s hottest records!

We may have gone a little dark on the metal roundup this week, but what else were we supposed to do to kick off October?

Like much of Porter’s work, this atmospheric composition takes inspiration from traditional witchcraft, although listeners need not be experienced hedge riders themselves to partake in this ritual.

Exploring boundaries and separation, vulnerability and permeability, Tender Membranes casts off barriers between natural and synthetic sound.

It’s hard to pin down a real definition of “internet music”. Is this a discrete movement, or more of an umbrella term to encompass hyperpop, chillwave, cloud rap, and other genres that seem to originate from online culture?

Once you reach the Lower Midnight zone, the water above crushes down with an unimaginable force of 11,000 PSI. This region is the inspiration for contemporary composer Ulrich Krieger’s new release Aphotic II — Abyssal.

Sitting with an album sometimes gives you a sense that you personally know the artist, and in no place is that more true than with God Is Luck by Bad History Month.

Discordant harmonies and full-bodied percussion deliver a fascinating sense of unease as pitches bend and the instrumentation becomes more intense, squirming synthesizers and train whistles interrupted by milliseconds of silence to keep you on your toes.

Wild, improvised instrumentals serve as a constant reminder of ensuing chaos, interrupting the speaker’s attempt to relive tranquil, safe moments from their past through their pristine classical vocal performance.