Hi there everyone! Some staff and contribs have decided to start a new series featuring our top songs of each month. Hope everyone enjoys!

Hawks’ SOTM: Eos by Der Weg Einer Freiheit

“The guys in Der Weg Einer Freiheit always know how to draw listeners in with their extraterrestrial riffage and soaring atmospheres. Eos starts with a two-minute post-rock(ish) buildup before unleashing a blizzard of tremolo picking, hellish blast beats and a cult-like throat-singing. This track is both an atmospheric clinic and a furious black metal banger. The back-and-forth between the “softer” and more maniacal parts makes for a beautifully monumental track altogether that takes the listener on a macabre rollercoaster ride. If you aren’t a fan of black metal, I’d say that Eos, and the whole new album in general would be a great starting point. Cleaner production in this genre can sometimes be detrimental, but here, it helps everything breathe naturally, and therefore excel in making what is possibly my SOTY.”

Calc’s SOTM: Stuck by Vower

“I had initially chosen “Marimba” by Vianova as my song of September. Its straight-forward, relentlessly energetic structure reminiscent of early Periphery and Tesseract stood out on an album of *thoroughly* modern metalcore where the production job was as much a highlight as the actual music itself. But then England’s Vower went and dropped “Stuck,” and immediately became one of my most anticipated bands of the year. Born from the graceful sunsetting of Palm Reader, Vower treads much of the same territory while adding a bit more progressive elements to the music (think a more -core leaning Karnivool). However with “Stuck,” Vower are operating at the height of their powers. The song is anchored by an absolutely filthy riff as vocalist Josh McKeown belts a powerful message of the pain and shame of self-stagnation. The latter further cementing himself as one of the premier hardcore vocalists on Earth with his impressive range and razor-sharp tonality. It’s always nice when you can bop to a tune, but when it comes packaged with as much emotion and intensity as Vower exhibit with “Stuck,” that’s what lifts a song from simple banger to potential renowned status. It’s actually so good I’m a bit fearful of the rest of the songs on the upcoming EP ‘A Storm Lined With Silver’ not measuring up in comparison but for now, anyone with a tangential curiosity in post-hardcore needs to get this in your ears.”

JoyfulPlatypus’ SOTM – Second Sleep by Magdalena Bay

“To put it bluntly, Magdalena Bay cannot stop winning. Roughly a year since ‘Imaginal Disk,’ the synth-pop duo remains as busy as ever. Despite being on tour as I write this, they surprise-released two new singles this month. Both are amazing, but Second Sleep is a goliath—a top-to-bottom, extraordinary pop song. The song begins with soft keys and lead singer Mica Tenenbaum’s ever-unique vocals before exploding into an unforgettable crescendo featuring soaring, anthemic vocals and an epic string arrangement. The song’s energy gracefully flows like ocean waves, ending with a bombastic, fierce conclusion where the band cranks the instrumental distortion up to eleven. Second Sleep not only lives up to the band’s ever-growing standard, but it feels like an incredibly natural (and dare I say perfect) evolution of their sound.”

Futures’ SOTM – Unmarked Graves of the Autochthonous by Grenadier

“I always find lead singles to be interesting. Do you go with the safest option and give fans more of what they want? Or do you flat out pick your best song regardless of style and hope it connects with fans? There are a lot of different factors to weigh. “Unmarked Graves of the Autochthonous” was an absolutely inspired choice to kickoff ‘Wolves of the Trench’. Grenadier’s first album was solid but they were firmly on their knees in prayer in the church of Arghoslent. This new track is a perfect showcase of the fresh, blackened additions to their sound. It’s a logical and natural progression of the unique style of melodic death metal. The previous album had short bursts of black metal shrieks, but the track unleashes them in full fury to dominate the track giving it a slightly manic edge to go along with their furious, triumphant melodies, the ruthless assault on the kit and those nonstop bouncing riffs. They have such remarkable power and venom behind them, a perfect match and I hope the band leans further in that direction in the future. The song also just showcases everything that Grenadier has to offer in one complete package with a bow on. It has some of the catchiest galloping riffs you’ll ever hear, dynamic vocal variety, abrupt riff transitions, relentless blastbeats and gorgeous harmonies all played with impressive speed before taking a slight breather towards the end only to build right back up. It even features a very brief section with operatic clean vocals, a fascinating touch that really does work. If you are a fan of metal at all, this is a song and album you want to check out. There are so many distinct well-written individual sections that still feel so cohesive, there is bound to be something you connect with. Thanks Grenadier for taking over the mantle of classic heavy metal influenced melodic death metal from a bunch of backwoods Klansmen.”

Shamus’ SOTM – Antidote by Daughtry

“Ostensibly closing the book on the Shock To The System era, Chris Daughtry reflects on the personal turmoil that has defined the last two years of his life from a vantage point that allows him to finally transcend it and move on. “It’s hard to watch the poison take control,” he solemnly laments in hindsight. Daughtry lays his soul bare, calling out to his young stepdaughter, who tragically took her life in 2021, still willing to take her place if it meant giving her life back. Whereas the rest of the project’s instrumentals are more explosive and flashy, this song’s composition is relatively contained, but the lyrics and Chris’ vocals still hit harder than anything this band has ever done. Quite a far cry from the neutered synthpop of ‘Waiting for Superman’ (no shade to that track).

By bringing his lived experience to the fore, Daughtry creates a visceral and captivating masterstroke that sends off the project in the best way possible. I think it’s the best song he’s ever recorded.”

Well that’s all for the month! Hope you guys enjoy and feel free to comment and let us know what songs are your favorites for September!