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Dec 19, 2024 Web Exclusive By Marc Abbott

The sophomore album from Oklahoma City’s Chat Pile is an expansive, genre-defying deep dive on themes of violence and despair that grips you from its opening riff and dumps you 40 minutes later in a metaphorical vacant parking lot.

While retaining the quartet’s trademark sludge-infused approach, this record reflects a surprisingly wide range of influence. Bassist, Stin, echoes this, saying “We knew…we’d want to stretch the definition of our ‘sound’ to reflect our tastes beyond just noise rock territory.”

This sets the tone for the juggernaut riffs of Big Black-infused opening track “I am Dog Now,” the borderline-anthemic, almost Arcade Fire-flavoured chorus of “Shame,” jazz-tinged interludes (yes, really), and the clashing combination of bright guitar tones and industrial terror on “Frownland.”

Frontman, Raygun Busch, demonstrates a breadth of vocal delivery that variously evokes traditional screamo, early ’90s grunge, Brian McMahan of Slint (“Tape”), Black Country, New Road’s former frontman Isaac Wood (“Funny Man”), and the late, great Steve Albini. And penultimate track “Milk of Human Kindness” wouldn’t sound out of place on IDLES’ TANGK.

“Masc” melds an industrial edge with metal-gaze guitars, and remains the most conventional verse/chorus track here, but there’s nothing conventional about this album. Retaining the band’s dark edge, it’s a vital, sweeping achievement from start to finish. (www.chatpile.net)

Author rating: 8/10