It's not July yet, but damn... it feels like 2026 is moving at warp speed.
I had an action packed weekend. I was looking extra fly this past Saturday at my friends Nick and Lizzie's wedding. What a magical evening filled with so much love and fun. Being around two people who are perfect for each other is amazing to witness. Effortless love is something you can't fake, and Nick and Lizzie are prime examples that people are made in pairs. It just takes some of us a little longer to find our other 50%.
Me? I have my one love, and it's New Noize.
After the wedding, I pulled a nine hour radio residency on Sunday, including the Reggae Sound Clash before wrapping up the night with New Noize.
This week's show was stacked with discoveries. After kicking things off with one of the heavier songs from Muse's new record, "Hexagons," we dove headfirst into mostly electronic and dance music. That stood in stark contrast to the much noisier, more abrasive indie heavy second hour, where both our Song of the Week and Album of the Week lived.
Chelsea Wolfe's "The Dark" is your New Noize Song of the Week. She released two new songs last week, and both are unmistakably Chelsea Wolfe. "The Dark" leans into an Americana feel and is one of her more atmospheric tracks, weaving her haunting vocals through acoustic guitar before slowly building. About two-thirds of the way through, everything blooms as the effects wash over the song. It's one of those tracks that somehow makes you feel better, even when you don't.
Before I get into the Album of the Week, I wanted to highlight a few records you should absolutely listen to from front to back.
GILT has released one of the heaviest, most soul grasping records of 2026. I Saw Myself In The Black Screen absolutely rips while playing with familiar rock clichés, all while building GILT's signature sound right in front of you. As you move through the record, you can feel the band's growth. Every track builds on the last, pulling from adjacent subgenres without ever losing its identity. By the end, you're left with a deep sense of satisfaction. I highly recommend listening to I Saw Myself In The Black Screen in order. Also... this was very close to being Album of the Week.
JJerome87 is Joe Newman from alt-J, and he just released an album called The Canyon. I LOVE IT. It is very alt-J, and I am not mad about that one bit. alt-J has these vocal harmonies that slip effortlessly into funky alternative grooves, and I can't get enough of them. Those same qualities are all over The Canyon. It has a distinctly American feel despite their British origins, and there's so much humor woven throughout the record. There are also some incredibly sweet moments of self reflection and gratitude that everyone should hear.
One of my favorite bands from the late 2000s is Ratatat. I LOVE THOSE TWO DUDES, so you already know I was all over Just Like Fire, the new solo album from E.VAX, aka Evan Mast (one half of Ratatat). WHAT. A. RECORD.
Sliding guitars, ambient noise used with purpose, obscure vocal samples, and, of course, that unmistakable Ratatat cool factor that's still ice cold. The difference between Ratatat and E.VAX is subtle but noticeable. It's smoother, more restrained, and a little more patient in its musicality. I'll definitely be spending more time with Just Like Fire and will report back.
The Album of the Week goes to Sea Moss/Miscomings' Big Tube Scene. I've heard of collaborative albums and 45 splits, but this kind of construction is rare. On Big Tube Scene, you get Sea Moss for the first half of the record, Miscomings for the second half, and only two songs where both bands cross over.
The album just came out, but I've had it for months and have spent a ton of time with it. It's easily one of my Top 10 records of 2026 so far. It's chaotic, noisy, unpredictable, and sends a bolt of electricity through you that reminds you of your own freedom. I can't stop listening to it. I've been hyping this record to anyone who would listen, and now that it's finally out, I can't wait to hear what everyone else thinks.
This past weekend was EVO, so I was locked in. I didn't get to cover EVO 2026 because of my current situation, which really sucks since I've covered it for various outlets over the past few years. Thankfully, the tournament absolutely delivered.
Arslan Ash won his eighth EVO title in Tekken. One more trophy and he'll stand completely alone in the history books. He's already shattered virtually every major Tekken record, and he'll forever be the guy who represents Pakistan in the best possible light.
Here's hoping No. 9 comes in 2027... and hopefully I'll be there to see it.
Until next write-up...
