Release Radar: September 2022
At the end of each month, Afterglow presents a staff-picked list of new albums and singles that left a lasting impression on our ears.
Written by Afterglow Staffers
Here are our favorite albums and singles released during September 2022. For more reviews of recent releases, check out our album review page!
Photos courtesy of Grant Butler, Ivor Alice, and Lusha Alic
Shiny Singles We Loved This Month:
“Boneless Skinless” by Sad Cell
The garage rock group of four returns with a static, heady single. Kicking off with coarse electric shreds, Sad Cell’s fast-paced track includes breakneck drum beats, a grounding bassline, and apathetic vocals that string the sounds together.
“Until the Kingdom Comes” by Sparta
After a lineup change turned the group into a duo, the Texas natives teased their upcoming self-titled album with their explosive new single. The drum-heavy track brings sonic catharsis through guttural instrumentals, including a persistent piano line that graciously closes the track.
“Whip” by Memphis LK
Melbourne DJ Memphis LK released “Whip,” an atmospheric Drum & Bass single that manages to be equally fit for a study session as it is for a rave. The DJ’s melancholic vocals glide off the track’s breakbeats. Deep, reverberating synthesizers apply a weighty sophistication to the dance single.
“THAT GIRL” by Bree Runway
The self-described “love child” of Mother Monster and Lil’ Kim stuns once again with a vogue banger. Nonchalantly asserting braggadocious lines like “My face stunning” and “I already been that girl” over lightning-fast beats, Bree Runway delivers the perfect party anthem for a night out at the club in the year 2050.
Arrangements by Preoccupations
Image courtesy of Flemish Eye and Jagjaguwar
After a four-and-a-half year leave of absence since its last record, Preoccupations recently released its fifth studio album, Arrangements. The four-piece began work on the record in 2019, but the COVID-19 pandemic required their work to be suspended and to complete it remotely. The project takes signature post-punk elements like hazy production, heavy rhythms, and abrasive guitars, and modernizes them with an explorative flare. The flickering electric shreds of opening track “Fix Bayonets!” establishes the dark transcendental tone that persists through the rest of the record. They further their dystopian tint in songs like “Slowly,” where beautifully distorted instrumentals conspire and create an atmospheric wave of dark harmonies. “Tearing up the grass” begins with sharp guitar strums that closely shadow vocalist Matt Flegel’s stark vocals. The track relays through full-bodied basslines and echoing drums as the track repeatedly builds in momentum and slowly descends back down, before it’s eventually carried out with a dusky array of blended melodies that close out the album. — Miranda Garza
CELEBRITY THERAPIST BY THE CALLOUS DAOBOYS
Image courtesy of MNRK Heavy
Those who missed out on the joys of mathcore during its heyday in the late ‘90s and early aughts should consider listening to The Callous Daoboys, who revive the subgenre with their latest release Celebrity Therapist. Over the course of eight tracks and 36 minutes, the Atlanta band frequently uses key changes, intense breakdowns, and even hints of jazz to deliver a sharp rebuke of idol worship while embracing mathcore as a medium for absolute chaos. Vocalist Carson Pace’s performances match the punk attitude of these instrumentals with bitter nihilism, as demonstrated by the delightfully dark outro of the album’s third track, “Beautiful Dude Missile,” in which he repeatedly sings, “There’s no answer!” over frantic percussion. But there’s also calmness in the eye of the storm, as demonstrated by the simply titled “Title Track” as well as single “The Elephant Man In The Room,” both of which feature softer moments amidst the crushing riffs. Overall, Celebrity Therapist is a wild ride, and a welcome addition to any mathcore or metal playlist. — Audrey Vieira
Running in Waves by George Riley
Image courtesy of PLZ Make It Ruins
George Riley’s second album, Running in Waves, opens with “Sacrifice,” a track defined not just by its calming vocals, but also the strings underlining the whole song. It may as well be a bold declaration of Riley’s willingness to dabble with sounds more reminiscent of late ‘90s R&B ballads than the soulful hip-hop tracks of her previous album. However, tracks like “Time” and “Running in Waves'' certainly try out unconventional harmonies and rhythms, similar to her previous discography. At the same time, the more melodic and soulful feel of “Jealousy” and “Desire” add a layer of comfort to the songs — one could certainly picture them being played at a quiet café on a rainy night. All in all, Running in Waves is a chilled-out album that feels new by virtue of incorporating old ideas. — Wonjune Lee