Pile   Sunshine and Balance Beams
3.8
excellent
Release Date: 2025
Tracklist

 Ratings (57) Give your Rating

4.5 superbbaseddook | August 13th 25

Equal parts serene and brutal - often all at once. Pile not only return to their post-hardcore roots but they return with what they've learned in their more linear and experimental detours from the past couple releases. Lush strings, beautiful duets clash with harsh scramz, filthy guitar licks, and angular melodies. Top tracks: Deep Clay, A Loosened Knot, Born at Night, Holds, Carrion Song.

3 Bumps | Bump

4.0 excellentpennyroyal22 | August 15th 25

Pile is a strange beast and their albums shift in my estimation seemingly year to year -- I doubt this will be any different. That said this album benefits from what is (to my early impression) much better production and mastering than any of their previous work. Kris Kuss' drums sound sublime, guitar tones and their dischordant, serrated jangling is moored in the mire deliciously, the bass is ugly and heavy and beautiful, and Rick's vocals sound great without the slapback cranked up to 11 the way it was the last couple releases. Add in some excellent touches with violin and additional strings and it makes for what may be the best 'mature' Pile album to date. (I would say 'mature' starts with 'Hairshirt of Purpose'.)

1 Bumps | Bump

4.5 superbvirpi | August 21st 25

Amazing album. Great sound, fantastic songwriting. Rick never sounded better. AOTY for me.

Bump

5.0 classicfurpa | August 15th 25

Fuck man they done did it again. Best band in the world.

Bump

4.0 excellentpjmoose | December 5th 25
4.0 excellentmattjedruch | November 26th 25
4.0 excellentDeathsThread | November 25th 25
3.5 greatHalapenYo CONTRIBUTOR | November 23rd 25
4.5 superbmufasa85 | November 11th 25
4.0 excellentpitchforkrates | November 5th 25
3.5 greatMinushuman24 | November 1st 25
4.0 excellentWillieD | October 25th 25
3.5 greathadriel | October 11th 25
3.5 greatMathyNoodles | October 8th 25
3.5 greatdoofy | September 28th 25
3.0 goodVsevoloddd | September 25th 25
3.0 goodAmerica's Favorite Hemophobe! ♦ | September 24th 25
3.5 greatLassie | September 18th 25
4.0 excellentkarlulol | September 17th 25
4.5 superbItsTheSquirrel | September 9th 25
3.0 goodAnthracks | September 8th 25
3.0 goodAdoreSwancore | September 4th 25
4.0 excellentAxeToFall93 | September 1st 25
4.0 excellentBlackFugazi | August 31st 25
3.0 goodDynosaurus | August 27th 25
3.5 greatStickFeit | August 26th 25
3.5 greatEdgy rap-rock. Not my thing at all. Feel free to move to Venezuela if Capitalism bothers you idiots | August 25th 25
3.0 goodAmbrosian | August 25th 25
4.5 superbMacck | August 23rd 25
3.0 goodwildman69 | August 22nd 25
4.0 excellentgorp | August 22nd 25
4.0 excellentthis space for rent | August 21st 25
4.0 excellentjmh886 | August 21st 25
3.5 greatHot Chocolate CONTRIBUTOR | August 20th 25
3.5 greatEmo | August 20th 25
4.0 excellentDeebo05 | August 20th 25
3.5 greatGerbilman | August 19th 25
2.5 averageTigermilk | August 19th 25
3.5 greatelephantREVOLUTION | August 18th 25
2.5 averageJamieNovak | August 18th 25
4.5 superbMatty CONTRIBUTOR | August 18th 25
4.0 excellentTranqyl | August 18th 25
4.5 superbnomistim9000 | August 17th 25
5.0 classicLeisureMuffin | August 17th 25
5.0 classicsonshynn | August 17th 25
4.5 superbbatstevens | August 17th 25
3.5 greatAffableMartyr | August 16th 25
4.0 excellenttruewill | August 16th 25
3.5 greatThuckabe | August 16th 25
4.0 excellenthesperus | August 16th 25
4.0 excellentiGuter | August 16th 25
4.0 excellenttheTourist | August 16th 25
4.0 excellentSowing STAFF | August 15th 25
3.0 goodmikep87 | August 15th 25
4.0 excellentIzzyTomy | August 15th 25
4.5 superbSlothy Seconds | August 15th 25
5.0 classicSlex | August 14th 25

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