Noise rock titans Chat Pile team up with avant-garde Texan guitarist Hayden Pedigo, for a full-length journey into a world of dark and intense rock music, fitting for its Halloween release date.
Release Date: 31st October 2025
Label: Computer Students
Formats: CD / LP / Digital / Cassette
A SURPRISING COLLABORATION?
The collaboration may seem surprising at first, however with both acts currently residing in Oklahoma City, they were able to get together in the studio to see what would happen. The result is the dense In The Earth Again, an album that sees a wonderful blend of both artists sounds and emotions. In the end, resulting in a fresh and ambitious record, that stands out in both of their discographies.
Outside opens the album, with a sombre and delicate spiral of strings. The track whilst short in its runtime, lurs the listener into its smoky landscape. The song is hypnotic, putting the listener in a trance-like state before going deeper into the album.
Demon Time continues the low-key, yet eerie atmosphere already set. It’s the first time on the album where Chat Pile frontman Raygun Busch is present. His voice is vulnerable and restrained, rather than wild and unhinged. This lets him set himself perfectly into the hazy and unsettling instrumental. The repetition of the lyric: “There’s no turning back now” keeps tensions high, along with the hints of the crushing bass tone that Chat Pile are known for. The song feels like they are almost taunting the listener. It’s haunting yet irresistible.
PURE TERROR
Never Say Die follows with a dramatic eruption of guitars right away. It’s the first track that feels like more of the Chat Pile sound we are used to. The juxtaposition of the signature screamed vocals from Busch along with the more held back performance layered underneath, is a wonderful detail. At parts, the track sounds like pure terror. After previously setting the tone, Never Say Die strikes at the listener. The beautiful closing section of the track is another highlight moment, with distant horns swirling around the mix.
As the album progresses, we go back to the more atmospheric, post-rock moments with songs Behold A Pale Horse and Magic Of The World. Fission/Fusion follows bringing the intensity to a new high. Straight out the gate, the track attacks the listeners senses with an onslaught of drumbeats and guitars. It’s a nice, unexpected moment after the serenity of the previous two tracks. Even in its sub two-minute runtime, it manages to pack an absolute punch.
What follows is The Matador, a track that takes the album to another level of extremity. The powerful and infectious groove that is released after the songs spine-tingling build up is possibly the most explosive moment on the entire record. Busch sounds utterly tormented throughout. The delicate guitars that decorate the madness sees the blend between Pedigo and Chat Pile at its best.
VULNERABLE AND SPARSE
The album closes out in a massively effective way with its most vulnerable and sparse moment. A Tear For Lucas feels unmistakably human in comparison to a lot of the more extreme and twisted sounds heard throughout the rest of the record. It’s a wonderful duet between Busch’s softer vocals and Pedigo’s masterful guitar playing. It’s truly something we have never heard from either act before. A fantastic way to round out the experience.
In The Earth Again is a truly wonderful combination of two different musical worlds that comes together to create an all-around unique experience. Neither artist feels like they are leading the effort, instead they are working together with such fantastic chemistry throughout. It gets under your skin at times, however there is a real beauty at the core of In The Earth Again, that will keep you going back to experience it over and over.
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