It is starting to get just cold enough to wear a sweater, but not cold enough to freeze the stadium-sized gears on our delicate machinery here at the Old Caustic Factory. As we toss more coal into blazing ovens beneath huge conveyor belts, our trusty machines spit out another stellar list of fresh releases from October, a month competing to be one of the most exhilarating of 2025. This week, we have sophomore efforts that solidify bands as mainstays of their genre, daring genre leaps that redefine beloved artists, and triumphant returns from legendary musicians from alt-rock to country.
Check out Glide’s selections for the week’s best new music, and be sure to head over to our Spotify Caustic playlist to catch up on what the rest of October has offered so far.
Militarie Gun – “I Won’t Murder Your Friend”
God Save The Gun
The anticipated follow-up to post-punk’s latest sensation, Militarie Gun, has finally arrived in the form of a dark, confessional, introspective slice of vulnerable experimentation. God Save The Gun is a 14-song exploration into the middle of a vicious addiction, with vocalist/songwriter Ian Shelton holding nothing back as his acrobatic vocals deliver harsh realities. “I Won’t Murder Your Friend” is the centerpiece of Militarie Gun’s latest, with heartbreaking imagery colliding with a soaring, cinematic arrangement that only emphasizes the vividly painful lyrics.
Luther Dickinson & Datrian Johnson – “Little Red Rooster”
Dead Blues Volume 1
Modern blues renaissance man, Luther Dickinson, teams up with vocalist Datrian Johnson for Dead Blues Volume 1, a honed effort capturing the natural chemistry between the duo. The magic of Dickinson’s daring approach to tradition proves to be a beautiful landscape for Johnson’s vocals to frolic, creating sentimental balladry and psychedelic funk that sound right at home on the same tracklist. “Little Red Rooster” is a 70s-tinted highlight with twisting guitar work that boosts the rugged vocals to otherworldly heights.
Katie Schecter – “Gust of Wind”
Empress
On her first album in five years, Katie Schecter employs a hazy atmosphere that blankets the psychedelic soul and artistic maturity in a warm familiarity. Empress is an eleven-song dive into a new era for Schecter, one that allows jazzy flourishes to dance with unassuming yet potent vocals, creating an immersive listen from an anticipated release. “Gust of Wind” is a moving highlight with breezy tones that paint a stunning portrait of longing.
Tame Impala – “Not My World”
Deadbeat
Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker seems to be thriving in the mystique he built around his acclaimed psych-pop project, and his latest LP under the moniker arrives with colorful disregard for expectations. Deadbeat finds Parker creating dance-pop excellence with blinding grooves that glisten under neon-light-tinted textures, ushering in a dance-floor-ready era for one of modern music’s most beloved acts. “Not My World” is a freeing highlight that finds Parker realizing how big the world actually is, and spinning this scary thought into subdued dance bliss.
The Barr Brothers – “Upsetter”
Let it Hiss
We haven’t heard much from The Barr Brothers since their 2017 LP, and the folk duo breaks the silence with a 10-song exploration into their creative range. From ambient balladry filled with imagery to infectious folk-rock anthems, Let It Hiss marks the return of The Barr Brothers with an undeniable presence. The rocking “Upsetter” closes out the LP with a powerful punch of swinging melodies and jangly textures.
Sudan Archives – “THE NATURE OF POWER”
THE BPM
Sudan Archives, the moniker of singer/songwriter/producer/violinist Brittney Parks, shocks and amazes with an electro-dance fueled follow-up to her 2022 LP. THE BPM is Parks as you’ve never heard her before, with the multifaceted artist diving into the history of dance music for a 15-song concept album that cements Parks as a genre-less entity. “THE NATURE OF POWER” is a hypnotic highlight with thudding drums that explode into crashing crescendos.
The Last Dinner Party – “Count The Ways”
From The Pyre
After crashing into the modern alt-rock pantheon with a comet-sized impact on their 2024 debut, pop-tinted outfit The Last Dinner Party proves to contain multitudes. From The Pyre finds the band leaning on the unconventional elements of their sound to craft a sweeping LP that successfully seizes the buzz the band has built for itself. “Count The Ways” is a gothic stand-out with dramatic vocals navigating an operatic arrangement with singular ease and grace.
Bob Moses – “Higher Ground”
BLINK
Bob Moses, the indie rock-leaning, dance-oriented duo of Tom Howie and Jimmy Vallance, spent their latest LP polishing the nuances of their individuality and pondering how life seems to have no patience. BLINK is still the colorful, danceable rock the duo has established for themselves, but with more introspection and darkness, giving these 10 songs the air of personal growth. “Higher Ground” is a synth-drenched stand-out due to the nimble keys that dance with distant vocals.
Chrissie Hynde – “County Line” (feat. Alan Sparhawk)
Duets Special
The Pretenders’ Chrissie Hynde returns to the solo spotlight for a collaborative LP brimming with stunning harmonies and A-List guests. Duet Special is a moving, emotional, 13-song album of acoustic duets that finds Hynde teaming up with the likes of Brandon Flowers and Lucinda Williams, to name a few. The Alan Sparhawk-assisted “County Line” features cascading harmonies that make the ambient arrangement feel full of wonder and love.
Paz Lenchantin – “Wish I Was There”
Triste
Pixies’ Paz Lenchantin emerges with a wonderfully weird and beautifully experimental rock effort in the form of her latest solo effort, Triste. The complex yet inviting 12-song album features guitar-driven arrangements containing left-field tactics that give the LP an instantly recognizable singularity. “Wish I Was There” features sky-high harmonies that crash into searing guitar riffs, leaving behind awe-inspiring wreckage with smooth edges and jagged unpredictability.
Ron Gallo – “Giant Silent Disco”
Checkmate
It has been a busy year for Ron Gallo, the latest singer/songwriter craze from New Jersey. After releasing an EP of resistance songs in April, the artist returns with a proper full-length on Checkmate. The LP breathes new life into bedroom pop tropes, as Gallo’s poetic songwriting sways with quaint arrangements. “Giant Silent Disco” is an early favorite from the album, with Gallo’s raw vocals glistening next to the simplistic yet impactful instrumentation, as the artist ponders the disconnect between everyone we pass.
Todd Snider – “STONER YODEL #2 (RAELYN NELSON)”
HIGH, LONESOME AND THEN SOME.
One of the last true troubadours in country music, genre veteran Todd Snider returns with a minimalistic, raw check-in on HIGH, LONESOME AND THEN SOME. The wonky, lo-fi, 9-song LP proves that Snider is still capable of experimenting this far into his career, allowing his unpolished vocals to drive these simplistic arrangements. “STONER YODEL #2 (RAELYN NELSON)” features a subtle, jazzy swing paired with twangy guitars, creating an abstract backdrop for Snider’s soulful, bluesy vocals.
They Are Gutting a Body of Water – “sour diesel”
LOTTO
Philadelphia’s They Are Gutting a Body of Water is becoming one of the most innovative and forward-thinking acts in contemporary shoegaze, and their latest album already feels like a defining moment from the promising band. LOTTO is a dense, intricately crafted slice of refreshing shoegaze that recontextualizes TAGABOW’s songwriting for a captivating LP. The highlight, “sour diesel,” is only a preview of what makes LOTTO have such an immediate impact. The chugging guitars make just enough room for the ethereal vocals to deliver detailed imagery.
Danny Brown & underscores – “Copycats”
Stardust
The upcoming LP from Danny Brown is shaping up to be an electro-hip-hop, pop-tinted effort from one of Rap’s most underappreciated members, and the latest single only adds more fuel to the anticipation. The underscores-assisted “Copycats” is a hooky, radio-ready single with bouncy tempos and catchy verses from Brown. The artist’s new album, Stardust, is set to arrive on November 7.
Sugar – “House of Dead Memories”
Single
Bob Mould’s Sugar marks their triumphant return with a new single and their first live shows in over thirty years. The band is set to play two-night stays in New York City and London next May, and the exciting news is accompanied by the release of “House of Dead Memories.” The quick yet potent single is a subdued yet dynamic performance with passionate vocals creeping from behind a wall of neck-breaking drums and blazing guitars.
