Halloween is just around the
corner and we’ve arrived at the last Saturday of October! It’s time for the
Harbinger’s Killer Picks. Autumn is the most stacked time of the year for new
releases so I’ve got plenty for you this month. So, without further ado, here
are my top eight picks for October, in chronological release order.
First, local Québec francophone rock ‘n’ roll heroes
Vilain Pingouin are back to complete their trilogy of EPs which started in 2018
with Coup d’coeur followed by 2022’s Coup d’main and culminates with Coup de grâce which came out on
September 30th. The band is on its final tour across Québec at the
moment and this is their final EP/album. Lead singer Rudy Caya has said that he
will continue to make music but it will be via different projects in other
music genres such as hip hop, reggae, electronic, heavy metal, jazz, and blues.
I, for one, look forward to hearing whatever the man does. I’d been eagerly
awaiting this four-track EP ever since the release of the catchy first single,
“Eh oh!”, this summer. Vilain Pingouin is my all-time favourite French-singing
band and their 1990 self-titled debut album is a desert island disc for me; a
stellar record from top to bottom that I still listen to regularly to this day.
Coup de grâce is a fitting way to
end; three terrific songs and a superb instrumental. If you’re into hard rock,
francophone music, or just love solid songwriting, pick it up (as well as the
other two equally awesome EPs). For whatever reason, the EP isn’t on Bandcamp
with the rest of their discography (only the lead single is), but I’m posting
the link to their BC page and to Spotify where you can listen to the whole
thing. Les pingouins nous
quittent sur une bonne note! (The penguins exit on a strong note).
Vilain Pingouin on
Bandcamp
Coup de grâce EP on Spotify
Second, New Jersey’s Ruby the Hatchet celebrated the tenth anniversary of their breakthrough album, 2015’s Valley of the Snake, by doing a live in-studio re-recording of it back in February-March earlier this year over at Retro City Studios in Philadelphia, PA. It’s an unexpected follow-up to 2022’s masterpiece, Fear Is a Cruel Master. The results are phenomenal and even outclass the original LP, in my humble opinion. Valley of the Snake: Live to Tape at Retro City was released on October 3rd, exclusively on vinyl. When you purchase the vinyl, you get a bonus digital download with it. You can listen to the entire album on YouTube at the link below. They’d also released a bonus digital track back in September from the same sessions; a cover of Quarterflash’s 1981 gem “Harden My Heart”. I won’t get into a track-by-track rundown, but two of the highlights of the six-track LP are definitely the acoustic renditions of “Heavy Blanket” and “Tomorrow Never Comes”. Bottom line is, get the vinyl or listen to it on YouTube, buy the digital track; find a way to get this LP to your ears ASAP, you won’t regret it. Jillian Taylor’s soulful vocals are in a league of their own and the entire band shines on this release. This is old school, heavy psych rock at its finest, folks.
Ruby the Hatchet on Bandcamp
Valley of the Snake: Live to Tape at Retro City on YouTube
Third, the mighty Ripple Music just released a
one-two punch yesterday with two awesome LPs; the first being Connecticut heavy
rock band Bone Church’s third outing, Deliverance.
Third time’s the charm for Bone Church and the boys have really hit their
stride—Deliverance is a splendid
album in every aspect. The band’s sound has changed and evolved for the better
since their self-titled debut EP in 2017. Five long years have elapsed since
their first LP, Acid Communion, and
it’s less about Sabbath worship than it is about good old rock ‘n’ roll from
the ‘70s à la Allman Brothers and ZZ Top, which in my opinion, suits them a lot
better. It’s especially the case for Jack Rune’s vocals which sound tailor-made
for singing this kind of material. The quintet is clearly passionate about this
special bunch of songs they took years crafting to perfection and the delivery
is both soulful and vibrant. From the opener, “Electric Execution”, a feel-good
rocker, to “Lucifer Rising” with its occult vibes and addictive riff, to the easygoing
“Goin’ to Texas” which ZZ Top would certainly approve, to the humoristic,
groovy, bass-heavy “Muchachos Muchachin'”, to the kick-ass first single, the
anthemic “Bone Boys Ride Out”, to the absolute epicness of current single and
what may very well be the best song they’ve ever written, “Deliverance”. That
song truly is a modern-day classic rock gem loaded with feeling, a catchy
melody, and a gorgeous mid-section. Deliverance,
the album, has it all. Long-time Bone Church fans will cherish it and newcomers
will be blown away by just how great and tight the band sounds. If you’re a fan
of classic rock and miss the good old days of blues-laced numbers by the likes
of Led Zep and Lynyrd Skynyrd, then don’t hesitate to dive into Deliverance.
Ripple Music’s Bandcamp Page for Bone Church
Fourth, the second part of Ripple
Music’s dual release from yesterday comes in the form of The Obsessed and Saint
Vitus’s legendary frontman, Scott “Wino” Weinrich with his latest solo album, Create or Die. This exquisite new
collection of songs goes along much in the same vein as his previous solo
effort, 2020’s excellent Forever Gone,
featuring a good balance of acoustic and electric tunes. Chronologically for
Wino, this follows last year’s remarkable The Obsessed record, Gilded Sorrow. After the laid-back
opener, “Anhedonia”, we’re treated to the first single, the jewel that is “New
Terms”; this is how you write and perform an acoustic song—pure perfection!
Then he plugs back in for “Carolina Fox” and its head-bobbing riff; “Hopeful
Defiance”, a song of protest, is a banger; “Us or Them”, the second single,
will rock you gently; “Cold and Wrong” unplugs again, another beauty in a style
that has very much become Wino’s signature sound; “Lost Souls Fly” is the best
track of the album, in my humble opinion, an otherworldly, hypnotic piece that
will go down as a classic I’m sure; “Bury Me in Texas” is a lovely ode to Texas with quite a bit of
country jabbed into it for good measure; and the acoustic closer, “Noble Man”,
had me picturing James Clavell’s John Blackthorne from Shogun in my head, a very cool song. With Create or Die, Wino strongly reaffirms why he’s such an icon of the
heavy rock/doom genres. As much as I’m a fan of The Obsessed and Saint Vitus, I
gotta say, these last two solo outings have been exceptional and might very
well surpass the quality of his celebrated bands’ latter-day output. Create or Die has a timeless quality to
it and shows that Wino has no shortage of creativity. We are lucky to have him
continue to create music for us after so many decades. Highly recommended!
Ripple Music’s Bandcamp Page for Wino
Fifth, Portland, Oregon hard
rockers Alpha Destroyer are set to release their debut LP, Fast Lane, on Halloween via Necromantic Press Records. This is one
hell of a fun record, folks! An amalgamation of ‘80s hard rock with smatterings
of old school metal, this rock quintet sure knows how to party. The four
singles released thus far are all standout tracks and an excellent
representation of the album: the barn-burner “Straight into the Grind”; the
latest single, “Masterplan”, channelling Rush; the fiery “Lobotomized”; and the
title track, “Fast Lane”, with its mystic flavour. Other highlights for me
include “Sweet Dreams from Oblivion” with its tremendous guitars, the catchy “Manic
Messiah”, reminiscent of Cheap Trick at times, and my personal favourite, the
closer, “The Prophet”, with its gloomy, doomsday atmosphere. It’s got plenty of
rapid-fire riffs and guitar solos to feed guitar lovers’ appetites, along with
flamboyant basslines, and pummelling drums. Alpha Destroyer delivers the rock
and metal goods in spades, wearing its Def Leppard, Van Hagar, and Morbid Angel
influences on their sleeves, infusing its sound with a contagious energy. Fast Lane features a top-notch
collection of bangers and is a solid meat-and-potatoes hard rock album. Highly
recommended for hard rock and metal fans who miss the heyday of arena rock.
Alpha Destroyer on Bandcamp
Sixth, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK’s
post-punk/goth rock quartet Social Youth Cult will unveil their debut LP, The Lighthouse, on November 2nd.
This is one hell of an atmospheric record, folks. From the opening rhythms of
the insanely catchy lead-in track, “Venus”, you know you’re in for a treat. The
LP’s first and only single, “Close to Nothing”, follows with strong early
Bauhaus vibes; a great representation of The
Lighthouse as a whole. Other highlights for me include “The Man in the
Photo” which feels like it’d be right at home in a David Lynch film while “She's
Dread” is a beautiful, slow, and moody number. Also of note, “Strange Times”, a
hypnotic tune, with singer Shaun Greer channeling Peter Murphy post-Bauhaus. This
brooding band’s sound is reminiscent of ‘80s goth rock all the while instilling
it with a vigorous, bleak energy that will keep them relevant for years to
come. This English group serves us with a solid gothic music record that you’ll
want to listen to over and over again during the cold, gloomy days of November
and December. If Social Youth Cult is what post-punk sounds like nowadays, then
please inject it into my veins!
Social Youth Cult on Bandcamp
Seventh, NYC hardcore/punk
pioneers Agnostic Front will unleash their 13th studio album, Echoes in Eternity, on November 7th
via heavyweight metal label Reigning Phoenix Music. Full disclosure: Until
hearing Echoes in Eternity, I’d never
listened to a single Agnostic Front song. I was well aware of them and of their
importance in the hardcore/punk pantheon, but had yet to lend them my ears. Founded
in 1980, the New York quintet is led by vocalist Roger Miret and Vincent
"Vinnie Stigma" Capuccio on lead guitar. When the YouTube link to the
first single, “Way of War”, popped up in my inbox, I felt compelled to click it
and really dug what I heard so I figured I’d give Echoes in Eternity a chance. I’m very glad I did. I’m really not
into hardcore music, and aside from a few classic punk albums from the Sex
Pistols and The Clash, I don’t listen to punk, so I went into this record with nearly
virgin ears. I’m aware that punk songs are quite short, but still, this album’s
got 15 songs for a stretch of 27 minutes—now that’s really short! Nevertheless, there isn’t a dud for the duration of
its brisk runtime; all tracks are absolute fire. Touching on themes as broad as
injustice, self-doubt, fascism, and tyranny, Echoes in Eternity is a Molotov cocktail of an album. Aside from
the blistering first single and opening track, some of the highlights for me
include the anthemic “You Say” with its killer riff and sing-along chorus; the second
single, the punchy crossover hip hop “Matter Of Life & Death” featuring RUN
DMC's Darryl “DMC” McDaniels; the unbelievably catchy “Sunday Matinee” (my pick
for best track on here); the kick-ass “Turn Up the Volume” with its metal
leanings; the infectious “Shots Fired”, and “Skip the Trial”, a great punk rock
tune with a cool guitar solo. Agnostic Front are highly regarded as pioneers of
the crossover thrash genre and it’s showcased throughout this record, much to
this reviewer’s pleasure. I honestly don’t know how it will fare with hardcore
fans and long-time Agnostic Front devotees, but to this listener’s ears, it
more than hit the mark. Unapologetic and brimming with adrenaline, Echoes in Eternity is an outstanding
album that shows that Agnostic Front still has plenty of tricks up their sleeves
even after 45 years of relentless aggression.
Reigning Phoenix Music’s Page for Agnostic Front
Eighth, yet another Ripple Music release coming your way on November 7th, Black Sabbitch paying homage to Black Sabbath with their live LP Unrest in The West. This all-female Sabbath tribute band is nothing short of spectacular! Their choice of going for deep cuts rather than a crop of the more well-known Sabbath tunes is refreshing. So, no “Paranoid”, ‘’Iron Man” or “War Pigs” here. Black Sabbath’s music is just as relevant now as it was 50 years ago and that’s quite a statement. The founders of Doom and Heavy Metal can be proud of the mark they’ve left in the world of music, having influenced musicians from all ages and all walks of life. I don’t know about you, but I’m always up for a Sabbath cover song. There have been many great Sabbath tributes released over the last couple of years, including two pretty awesome ones from Magnetic Eye Records; two from the legendary Zakk Wylde and his band Zakk Sabbath; and more recently the Back to the Beginning concert last July paying homage to Ozzy and Sabbath with an all-star cast of performers. Black Sabbitch gives us an all-female perspective and puts a nice spin on things. The L.A. quartet has even performed at the inaugural Ozzfiesta at the personal invitation of Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne, so they’ve more than paid their dues. I’d heard of Sabbitch online, seen some clips on YouTube, and was eagerly anticipating this LP’s release. It consists of eight tracks with a runtime of 45 minutes from Sabbath’s Ozzy era. Since they’re a tribute band, they don’t deviate much from the original songs; it’s basically a classic Sabbath show with a female lead (and backup band playing). From the superb doomy opener, “Wheels of Confusion / The Straightener”, we get terrific renditions of “A National Acrobat”, “The Wizard” (a personal favourite of mine), the lesser known “A Hard Road” from Never Say Die, “Lord of This World”, “Hole in the Sky”, “Children of the Grave” (my all-time fave Sabbath tune), and they close out fittingly with “Into the Void”. Unrest in the West treats us to a spellbinding performance that is an instant classic for Sabbath fans. It’s a must-have record for metal and doom aficionados alike. I wonder if Black Sabbitch would be up to doing another album, this time focusing on Sabbath’s Dio era. That’d be a really cool listen and something we don’t hear too often. Who knows!
Ripple Music’s Bandcamp Page for Black Sabbitch
And this brings the October issue of HKP to a close! The Harbinger’s Killer Picks will return on November 29th for the last time in 2025 as December makes way for my Top Ten Albums of the Year. Until then, stay safe, have a spooky Halloween, and crank up the tunes!
