I listen to a lot of music. No, really. If I’m not catching up on what my fellow writers are putting down or doing homework for the Crushed Monocle Podcast (remember that?) I’ve always got my ear to the ground. There’s so much music out there that it’s hard to keep a cohesive list. While the podcast is a great way to discuss a few records each month, I feel I’m undercutting some of the other records that got repeated spins. What’s the remedy? This column! This is The Showcase, October 2026.
First off, a big super-sized shout-out to my dude, Adam P. Newton. Not only for taking over The Showcase last month, but also because he’s a great friend.
Between Riot Fest and prepping for BGM’s annual horror month, I’ve been swamped for the past few weeks. Adam came in and kept the machine running by recommending some killer albums! I mean, I would’ve loved to have a little more goth and metal, but what can ya do?
Like it or not, your boy Coop is back like a vertebrae, so let’s get on with the music!
Tankerlow – SLAGROOM
When I say I like “noise rock,” I’m usually met with the question: “What’s noise rock?” And while the answer could be just about anything, I feel like SLAGWOOM is a good answer. Tankerlow is a band that doesn’t fit into a singular genre, but this sophomore record is a mission statement. Erratic guitar lines, ominous vocals, and sprawling bars of dissonance, the album is everything I love about this definition-defying genre rolled into a single release.
Veilburner – All That Glimmers is Gloam
It wouldn’t be an installment of The Showcase without some ugly experimental metal. On this go-around, we have the legendary Veilburner. I probably shouldn’t have to explain this band’s legendary status, but if I did, you probably wouldn’t like them very much. To humor the word count (or the curious), All That Glimmers is Gloam is probably the weakest record in the band’s catalog, but some people find comfort in consistency. Oh, you wanna know what it sounds like? Basically, it’s experimental (and probably) satanic drama metal that’s ugly, horrific, and could easily fit as the soundtrack to later levels in a DOOM game. Rip and tear!
Helen – Linda’s Head
I can’t believe it’s already been a decade since The Original Faces! Helen returns with Linda’s Head, a hazy, noise-laced trip through shoegaze and dream-pop. While familiar territory for fans of Liz Harris’ work as Grouper, these songs carve out a bleary-eyed identity of their own. It’s a welcome reunion that proves some things are worth waiting for.
Early Grave – Violent Winter
With song titles like “Sewer Baby’s Revenge”, “Corpse Oil” and “Scalping,” you aren’t gonna find make-out music with Early Grave. But aside from the gnarly song titles and cover art, Violent Winter is actually… well, it’s pretty much what you’d expect. Give me a break, it’s the Halloween season! Besides, we all need evil goth punk, right?
Gilla Band – Pugnello
If the records above are consistent with what you’d expect, Gilla Band takes the opposite approach. Not only is this album nothing like anything on this list, but it’s nothing like anything the band has ever released! Pugnello moves from aggressive hardcore to electronic to droning horror, shifting sounds on a song to song basis. Sometimes even in the same song! This is a band where fans haven’t the slightest clue happening next. I mean, the band probably doesn’t either, so it’s okay!
Wishy – Nature’s Pill
With every record in this edition of The Showcase sounding like it’s from the pits of Hell (not to mention the world outside), a little diversion can be nice. Wishy is a power-pop outfit from Indianapolis that don’t really care much for brooding or angst. Instead, their songs about hurt, pain, and existentialism also ask you to throw your phone in the lake, burn your mail, and jump on the bed all night. By encouraging you to throw caution to the wind, Nature’s Pill is the audio equivalent of the manic pixie dream girl. It’s here to make you feel better, if only for a short time. And you know what? It does, actually.
Youth Valley – As Passive Aggressive As It Gets
Somewhere between dark wave and post-punk comes Youth Valley. While As Passive Aggressive As It Gets is meant to explore the small moments of tension that eventually eat away at relationships, I find it a little more haunting than that. Beneath all the Joy Division-esque layers sits a vulnerable piece of music of its own. The group’s sophomore record is light when it needs to be and heartbreaking where it should be, making it a solid choice for perfect autumn listening.
Blondshell – Violins
On her third album, Blondshell chills on the romantic wreckage that colored so much of her earlier material. Here, she starts picking apart the bigger stuff like friendship, spirituality, violence, healing, and what it really means to exist in a world that can be both breathtaking and, well, look around.
The Last Tsar – Nevermore
Seeing that it’s Halloween season, is there a better time to listen to an album that sounds like a horror movie? To be fair, I’m rocking that brand year-round. But for you normies out there, Nevermore is the perfect blend of murder, intrigue, and seduction, all wrapped up in a sweet little gothic package. The Last Tsar is a pretty interesting band, but they’ve really knocked it out of the park with this one.
Scumb – Scumb
And speaking of the stuff I’m rocking all year, The Showcase always has to feature a local Chicago act! You knew it was coming. But this isn’t just hometown pride: Scumb is a killer band! Hardcore, grindcore, powerviolence, or whatever. I don’t know or care about genres. All I care about it that this self-titled record is the prime example of the city’s underground metal scene. Let’s go, Chicago!
Imperial Teen – All Over You
I discovered Imperial Teen just about 30 years ago when I was a kid. I watched 120 Minutes religiously and kept seeing their video for “You’re One.”Aaannnd I hated it. How’s that for a recommendation? I dunno, it just had a bratty generic vibe that didn’t gel with my pretentious 13-year-old brain obsessed with fuzzy alt-rock. But the wild thing is, I never forgot it and always found myself checking out whatever they released. Was it hate-listening? No, I think I just honestly liked it back in the ’90s and didn’t want to admit it. Fast forward to 2026, and I’m still checking out releases from Imperial Teen. They’re still bratty and oddly infectious, and I still not-so secretly love it.
Landing Craft – Drift
For someone who brags about hating nostalgia, isn’t it odd how much I love bands that sound like they’re from the ’90s? Okay, I’m a hypocrite. Get bent. I don’t know what to tell ya. Anyway, Drift is a stellar record that sounds influenced by HUM, Failure, Shiner, and maybe Local H sometimes. Just raw guitars, honest vocals, and a live drum kit that sounds like it was recorded by someone who knows how much streaming sucks.
Krime Slugs – We Got The Beets
If it’s from the Knuckles On Stun label, you already know it’s gonna be delightfully weird. But any band that covers “Banging On A Trashcan” from Doug, all bets are off. What more can I say?
FURTHER LISTENING
- The Sewing Club – Sew
- Danielle Ponder – Everything Has Changed
- Cristiana Love – SONORA
- The Drin – I Lost My Way For Centuries
- Fat Dog – Cancel Me (I’m Tired)
- The Operator Sound Inc. – Esoteric Audio For Spaceage Witchcraft
- Vic Monroe & Tone Spliff – Native Science
- Sofie Royer – before/after
- The Van Pelt – Remain Obscure
- Orville Peck – Mule
Thanks for checking out The Showcase for October 2026! Check out previous installments of The Showcase here!