Noise Rock/Sludge Metal Collective CHAT PILE Share New Song/Video, 'FUNNY MAN' From Upcoming New Album COOL WORLD

Photo by Matthew Zagorski

As they prepare for the release of their highly-anticipated sophomore LP Cool World, Oklahoma City noise rock quartet CHAT PILE have revealed the album's third single Funny Man. The song is about "...being a servant, indentured or otherwise. I hate having to explain the content of these songs, because I want it to mean whatever it needs to mean to those listening, but essentially it concerns illusion vs reality in regards to America and war. The title comes from an obscure British movie but otherwise there’s no relation" says CHAT PILE frontman Raygun Busch. Bassist Stin adds, "My favorite thing about Funny Man is that we've finally accomplished creating our version of the ultimate Beavis and Butthead couch music. This is like our Thunderkiss '65 or Existence is Punishment."

The new single arrives with a music video by multi-disciplinary artist Matt Rosenbaum. Stin comments, "The patient, static nature of the video fighting against the frenetic energy of the song makes for a cool and queasy juxtaposition that I personally love. Matt was able to tap into a very specific uncomfortable feeling that conjures those depressive semi-conscious dream states that we've all experienced but can't quite articulate."

Besides being the name of a largely forgotten (and panned) 90s film, Cool World makes for an apt title of CHAT PILE's sophomore full-length record. In the context of a CHAT PILE record, the words are steeped in a grim double entendre that not only evokes imagery of a dying planet but a progression from the band’s previous work, moving the scope of its depiction of modern malaise from just “God’s Country” to the entirety of humankind. “Cool World covers similar themes to our last album, except now exploded from a micro to macro scale, with thoughts specifically about disasters abroad, at home, and how they affect one another,” says Busch. “If I had to describe the album in one sentence,” he continues, “It’s hard not to borrow from Voltaire, so I won’t resist – Cool World is about the price at which we eat sugar in America.”

Cool World is out October 11th via The Flenser [pre-order].

CHAT PILE were recently announced to perform at the 2025 edition of Roadburn in Tilburg, The Netherlands. More live performances will be announced in due course.

Cool World Tracklisting:

I Am Dog Now

Shame
Frownland
Funny Man
Camcorder
Tape
The New World
Masc
Milk of Human Kindness
No Way Out

Links

Facebook | X (Twitter) | Instagram | BandCamp

Thanks to Pioneer Music Press for all of the details.

Cave In - Heavy Pendulum (Album Review)

Release Date: May 20th 2022. Record Label: Relapse Records. Format: Cassette/CD/DD/Vinyl

Heavy Pendulum - Tracklisting

1.New Reality 04:41

2.Blood Spiller 04:01

3.Floating Skulls 03:39

4.Heavy Pendulum 05:09

5.Pendulambient 01:58

6.Careless Offering 04:55

7.Blinded by a Blaze 07:39

8.Amaranthine 04:27

9.Searchers of Hell 03:53

10.Nightmare Eyes 07:05

11.Days of Nothing 01:50

12.Waiting for Love 04:32

13.Reckoning 04:33

14.Wavering Angel 12:08

Members

Stephen Brodsky - Guitar/Vocals

Adam McGrath - Guitar/Vocals

John-Robert Conners - Drums

Nate Newton - Bass/Vocals

Review

Legendary Rockers Cave In return with their new album Heavy Pendulum and it sees the addition of Nate Newton (Converge) for this record. This album also sees Cave In honour much missed member Caleb Scofield's memory by using music and lyrics that Caleb wrote on tracks New Reality and Amaranthine for this record.

Cave In have a “master storyteller” approach for this album with the band playing a multitude of different styles they’ve played throughout their legendary career. Heavy Pendulum glides through the areas of Stoner Rock. Sludge Metal, Hardcore, Punk Rock, Psych and Prog Rock but all with the majestic Space Rock focus the band embraced at the start of their career.

The album opens up with the excellent opening songs - New Reality and Blood Spiller. Two songs that have a Psych Sludge/Stoner Rock sound with a dynamically powerful Psychedelic drive which is quite emotional on New Reality. Blood Spiller follows a similar path but with a more visceral Hardcore edge.

Nate Newton’s bass is a prominent force on this record with a powerful progressive sound we haven’t heard from the band in such a long time. The whole instrumental work is impressive with perhaps each band member's “spin-off” projects having a slight influence on this record. 

Heavy Pendulum has a more Progressive Metal feel compared to other Cave In records and maybe the perfect companion piece to Mastodon’s Hushed & Grim. Both records are on similar lengths and venture into the same musical backgrounds as each other. However, this is still a brilliantly powerful and original record in its own right.

Cave In are wonderfully diverse on this record with their use of different styles of music that even has shades of Classic Rock, Arena Rock and Hard Rock running through its DNA. The album can be downright “groovy” and “uplifting” on songs such as Heavy Pendulum, Pendulambient, Nightmare Love and Waiting. 

The standout track for me personally is the epic final song “Wavering Angel” which runs past the twelve minutes mark. This is perhaps the most personal song we hear from Cave In and blends Acoustic Rock and Sludge Rock with heavier levels of Psyched Out Space Rock giving this song an extra layer of true heaviness.

Heavy Pendulum is Cave In looking back over their extraordinary career and also allowing the band to lay down the foundations for future successes they ultimately and richly deserve. KUDOS to Relapse Records for allowing Cave In another shot at the mainstream ever since their ill-fated 2003 album Antenna (which I’m a huge admirer of). 

Iconic underground producer and pioneer Kurt Ballou produced this album and he lets Cave In be themselves whilst also allowing them to expand their musical journey into new areas of Hard Rock and Metal. The production values are first rate with this album sounding exciting, bold, vivid and with a rich dynamic sound that allows this to be one of the best sounding releases I’ve heard this year.

Heavy Pendulum is perhaps one of the best albums Cave In have released to date. This is a genuinely exciting and brilliantly original album that only CAVE IN can deliver. 

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Becky at Pioneer Music Press for the promo.

Heavy Pendulum is available to buy now on Cassette/CD/DD/Vinyl via Relapse Records

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Twitter

40 Watt Sun release second single from upcoming album, 'Perfect Light'

40 Watt Sun release second single from upcoming album, 'Perfect Light'

40 Watt Sun has today released the second single from their upcoming album, Perfect Light. Until is streaming on all digital platforms from today, and follows the first single, The Spaces in Between, which was released in October. Perfect Light will be released on January 21 - digitally via Cappio Records and on physical formats via Svart Records. Pre-orders are live now. Joining Patrick Walker (guitars and vocals), the track features guest musicians Andrew Prestidge on drums, and Roland Scriver on bass guitar (both also of The Osiris Club). Backing vocals are sung by Nicola Hutchison.   LISTEN TO UNTIL Spotify | Apple Music | Bandcamp | YouTube Perfect Light is a collection of eight songs recorded across a year, in Hertfordshire (Chat Bizarre Studios) and London (Holy Mountain Studios). Whilst Patrick's vivid melodies remain as powerful as ever, and his familiar lyrical themes and fixations continue to haunt this new album of material, the music itself marks another transition in the development of his songwriting.  The well-crafted, personal songs range from sparse, unaccompanied voice and guitar, through gently layered instrumentation featuring piano and delicate brush work, to moments more reflective of the warm, subtle overdrive of the band's previous album, Wider than the Sky (2016). Like Patrick's best work, the songs quietly build with emotion, and ache with a darkness and melancholy beauty.

Perfect Light track list  1) Reveal   2) Behind My Eyes  3) Until  4) Colours  5) The Spaces in Between  6) Raise Me Up  7) A Thousand Miles  8) Closure

Perfect Light will be available as a 2CD numbered digibook containing a 38-page booklet of lyrics and photography by Patrick Walker bound within the gatefold. The second disc contains a 26+ minute live EP recorded at United Reform Church, Hertfordshire.  The vinyl edition will be available as a 2LP gatefold set on black vinyl, with a 28-page booklet featuring lyrics and photography. There will also be a limited edition pressed on yellow vinyl.   The first vinyl pressing will also include a bonus 12” single in a unique picture sleeve, featuring two alternative versions of album tracks, including a version of Reveal recorded with Emma Ruth Rundle.  Signed/personalised copies are available direct from the band web store. Thanks to Pioneer Music Press for all of the press details.