I’m sharing an extra update to ensure that the singles from September and October get the attention they deserve before moving on to part 6 of this year’s playlist. I didn’t do this between installments 5 and 6, so I felt that tracks released in July and August may have been overlooked. I wasn’t making that mistake again.
As always, please visit all of the portions of 2024’s playlist! You could just find your new favorite song and band.
It has been a doozy of a month, and not in a good way. That’s very unfortunate, since October is typically my favorite month of the year. I still found time to read, though. I’ve been on a streak of interesting books, but I actually had one that I quit without finishing. The story was shaping up to be okay; however, the author couldn’t leave their personal opinions about racism out of the equation – which is fine to an extent, I just don’t need to read about it once every freakin’ paragraph.
Here are the books I did finish in October. I’m in a rush as I write this, so I will rate them but won’t bother with a short review.
Rune (Christopher Fowler)
Rating: 4/5
The Only One Left (Riley Sager)
Rating: 5/5
The Dead Children’s Playground (James Kaine)
Rating: 4/5
As someone who is from Alabama, I had to read this novel that focused on the stories surrounding Maple Hill Cemetery and the Dead Children’s Playground. Let me tell you – it did not disappoint.
The Cotton Candy Massacre: Part Treats (Christopher Robertson)
Rating: 5/5
Buried in a Good Book (Tamara Berry)
Rating: 4/5
***
I am currently reading One of Us is Lying (Karen M. McManus), Finale (Stephanie Garber), and Chaos at the Lazy Bones Bookshop (Emmeline Duncan).
It has been 25 years since the world was introduced to Disturbed’s debut album and the infamous “Ooh, ah, ah, ah, ah!” (Admit it, you imitated it.) To celebrate The Sickness reaching this milestone, Disturbed is hitting the road in early 2025. The band will be performing two sets each night: The Sickness in its entirety and the greatest hits. Special guests vary by city and include the pairings of Three Days Grace/Sevendust and Daughtry/Nothing More.
Alt-metal band Carbonstone is back with new music. The Maryland-based outfit is set to release their latest single, “Echoes,” on October 26th, and after my first few listens, I have to say this one hits hard.
Carbonstone has never been a band to shy away from the darker side of self-reflection, especially the negative views we as humans often have of ourselves. “Echoes” puts words to that moment we peer into the mirror with complete honesty. It dives unflinchingly into the feeling of being trapped in your own head, succumbing to the belief that you are not enough and have failed in some immeasurable way because things didn’t work out as planned.
According to front man Corey James, the song is about heavy reflection and looking back at “fucked-up tragic events, or ‘echoes,’ that ultimately shape us into who we are.” For better or worse, life happens, and we are molded by external factors beyond our control. “Failed dreams, failed goals and aspirations, failed relationships,” James lists. “Substance abuse, and so on.”
The track is penned as a note to oneself. “You take the time to watch me bleed/Over and over/It’s like you love my suffering/This pain is contagious…” It is only too easy to spiral into the abyss once the narrator begins listening to those internal voices. “I see my ghost, it’s echoing/Repeating my failures/When I’m alone, it’s so haunting/The shadows consume me…”
“Bury me underground, I’ll lie with you/’Cause alone I’m nothing/Searching for anything to get me through/I’m so self-destructive.”
“The hook/chorus is basically about just giving in and submitting to everything, as it’s the only alternative to facing yourself alone,” James explains.
“Echoes” is a juxtaposition of hauntingly melodic singing and heavy, gritty music: an audio presentation of the emotions poured into the song. The choice of clean vocals for the majority of the track works on multiple levels. James was able to masterfully color his lyrics with the pain and resignation expressed in the words. Raging screams threaded throughout are the cries of hopelessness. Meanwhile, the other band members – guitarists Josh Provencio and Steve Junkins, bassist Eric Dee, and drummer Ted Hile – intricately weave together a sonic manifestation of anger and frustration. One final scream and the closing chorus are the last ounce of fight poured forth before our narrator ultimately accepts his/her fate and throws in the towel.
“Echoes” hooked me in from the first note and is a song that is well-crafted, relatable, and holds its listeners in thrall from start to finish. Carbonstone nailed it on all fronts. The song will hit streaming platforms at midnight. Meanwhile, the official music video drops tonight, October 25th, at 8 p.m. EST! Make sure to tune in to the band’s Facebook live at 7 p.m. EST for some drinks and other shenanigans.
If you haven’t already, visit Carbonstone’s socials and follow them on your favorite streaming service so you never miss a release – starting with “Echoes.”
I don’t have much to say with this post. We lost my grandmother yesterday morning and honestly, I’m running on autopilot. Be sure to visit all of the 2024 playlist segments, including part 5 in its entirety. The sixth and final installment will be starting soon!
It’s the most wonderful time of the year – spooky season!!!!!!! And WOW, 2024 really is racing by. I know I’ve already made that observation, but sheesh!
Anyway, this year’s playlist is moving right along. And remember: there will be a top 50 at the end of December! Bands/artists, y’all are already making those choices extremely difficult to narrow down.
Please be sure to check out parts 1-4, along with the entirety of part 5.
Iron Maiden is trekking across North America this fall with The Hu as part of their The Future Past World Tour. The 23-date run starts October 4th in San Diego and reaches its conclusion November 17th in San Antonio. Tickets are available at ironmaiden.com!
10/4 – San Diego, CA – North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
Mostly Music 