Oklahoma City noise rock outfit Chat Pile has been on a meteoric rise since they broke onto the scene with dual EPs This Dungeon Earth and Remove Your Skin Please in 2019. The band then dropped critically acclaimed albums in 2022 (God’s Country) and 2024 (Cool World), cementing their place as one of the most exciting bands in the alternative rock scene.
Chat Pile hasn’t just experienced critical success but has also attracted a growing legion of fans interested in the group’s grotesque soundscape. The band’s continued success makes the release of their next album, Who Loves the Sun, an anticipated release.
Dying Scene had the opportunity to check out the album before its releasing September 4th release, and we’re happy to report the release is another gripping chapter in the group’s catalog.
From the album opener, “Creature,” it’s clear that Chat Pile is committed to delivering an abrasive, unpleasant experience. The track is immediately recognizable to those familiar with the group’s output. Vocalist Raygun Busch gives a ferocious performance over an oppressively heavy instrumental.
That isn’t a criticism. The inherent ugliness of Chat Pile’s sonic palette is a feature, not a bug. The band uses the distinctive sound to mirror the bleakness of their lyrics. Simply put, the world can be a profoundly ugly place. On Who Loves the Sun, as they have on previous albums, the band holds up a mirror.
Fans of Chat Piles crushing repertoire and bleak songwriting will be glad to find that in spades on Who Loves the Sun. Cuts like “PEN I S MALL,” “Deep Blue,” “Christabel ’26,” and “Intruder” are particularly frantic and heavy, making them highlights for those who are drawn to the band’s crunchy and desperate sound.
On the lyrical front, the band’s work explored the decay and blight of American society and the world at large. This record expands upon those themes to aim at the epidemic of indifference. Listeners will find explorations of climate change, modern work culture, and the over-optimization of data particularly incisive.
While Who Loves the Sun is authentically a Chat Pile experience, that isn’t to say that there isn’t a lot of innovation on the record. On the contrary, the band continues to push their sound in ways they haven’t on previous outings. Bassist Stin commented on the band’s varied influences and how they played out on the album.
“I feel like this album has more of a classic alt rock or indie rock vibe than our previous records. Luther’s guitar work is the most XTC-sounding it’s ever been, and (lead singer) Raygun is definitely approaching this album with more hooks in mind.”
As Stin says, some of the most apparent changes come from the vocal performances and guitar work. There’s far more singing vocal work put onto this album than in past work, with genuine craft being put into the hooks. The approach brings more balance to the project and accentuates the moments when Raygun devolves into his distinctive primal-screaming passages.
The album’s indie rock and new wave influences are also fairly evident. The guitar work on “Shrine” and “Same Rules” would sound at home on a Chameleons UK record, and the excellent post-punk production brings out a very impactful quality.
Overall, the band has another real winner with Who Loves the Sun. Check out the record if you enjoy bands like Big Black, The Jesus Lizard, Shellac or Unsane. Whether you’re looking for crushing noise rock, infectious hooks or a stomach-churning sonic experience, Who Loves the Sun has plenty to offer.
