5 New Bands to Disturb your Playlist this October

We’re back with another selection of bands worth adding to your playlist. October’s picks feature emerging alternative acts. From heavy riffs to more melodic sounds, there’s a bit of everything in this month’s line-up.

Flatwounds

Flatwounds thrive on the friction between melody and mayhem. The Albany four-piece, featuring Colin O’Hare on vocals, Matt Degnan on guitar, David Granger on bass and Wade Coonrad on drums, have spent the past few years shaping a style that feels familiar without falling into nostalgia. Their sound draws on the abrasive edge of ’90s noise rock and post-hardcore, while weaving in the darker, heavier textures of alternative metal. There are shades of Acid Bath in the band’s murky intensity, the brooding weight of Godsmack in their heavier passages and the melodic sensibility of early grunge acts like Stone Temple Pilots and Alice in Chains.

Since coming together in late 2022, Flatwounds have developed a clear musical identity, balancing abrasive guitar work and shifting rhythms with choruses that stick around long after the noise dies down. Rather than leaning exclusively into grunge, hardcore or alternative metal, they draw from the tension between all three. That refusal to stay in one lane is central to their appeal, allowing the band to sound both immediately familiar and distinctly their own.

With Blue Grape Music behind them, the band have already taken their explosive live sound across North America and shared stages with Mastodon, Sunami, Glassjaw, Superheaven and more. Their upcoming EP, Chain of Command, marks the next chapter in that progression. Lead single ‘Emulator’ offers a taste of what’s ahead, capturing a band increasingly comfortable with its own identity and unafraid to make its hooks hit just as hard as its riffs.

Soulsick

Soulsick is a Norwegian metal band formed in 2024, bringing a bold, uncompromising approach to modern heavy music. Blending metalcore, deathcore, progressive metal, industrial textures and electronic influences with the legacy of Norwegian black metal, the band delivers a sound defined by technical precision, crushing breakdowns and raw intensity.

Formed after meeting at Graspop Metal Meeting in Belgium, Soulsick’s music explores dark, existential themes, including injustice, human suffering, destruction and grief, reflecting the darker realities of the modern world.

Since debuting with their singe ‘Breach’ in 2024, Soulsick have continued to build their identity through songs such as ‘Violence > Reason’, ‘Stabwound’, ‘Harbinger’, ‘Fraud’ and ‘Malignant’.Their sound combines aggressive vocals, intricate guitar work and electronic elements while embracing the musicianship and energy of traditional metal.

The band’s latest album, Symptoms of a Dying World, was released in July 2026, marking another milestone in their musical evolution.

Soulsick will bring their intense live sound to London on 4 February, 2027, performing at the iconic New Cross Inn. Tickets are on sale now.

Sincerely Yours

Hailing from Las Vegas, Nevada, Sincerely Yours blend the melodic cleans and harsh screams of post-hardcore with the aggression and crushing breakdowns of metalcore. The band draws from the early sounds of both genres, taking influence from bands such as Underoath, Misery Signals, Vanna, Beloved and La Dispute.

Lyrically, Sincerely Yours tackle the heavier side of life, exploring mental and emotional struggles, broken families, betrayal and heartbreak. Their songwriting is a collaborative effort, with one member often bringing a blueprint that the rest of the band builds upon together. Working alongside producer Jonas Vece of Roman Candle, they push each track to its fullest potential, refusing to settle for mediocrity.

Since their debut EP, Acclimate to The Sounds of A Beating Heart (2024), the band have followed up with Box of Matches and a Fear of Light (2025) and Nothing Happened Here (2026), a split EP with Echoes Of Amara. Tracks like ‘2008 Chuck E. Cheese Pizza Party’ and ‘I Can't Stand the Sound of Your Face or the Sight of Your Voice’ showcase their balance of melody, aggression and raw emotion.

With NoSleep Fest 2026 in Houston, Texas, on the calendar, Sincerely Yours are continuing to play shows, tour when possible and write their first full-length album. The next chapter is already taking shape.

TakiroLotus

Chicago-based independent alternative metal artist TakiroLotus blends the raw intensity of early 2000s nu-metal with electronic textures and cinematic storytelling, creating a sound that balances nostalgia with a distinct artistic identity. Drawing inspiration from bands such as Linkin Park, Blindspott and Sevendust, the project combines heavy instrumentation, melodic vocals and atmospheric layers, shifting between crushing riffs and introspective, emotionally charged passages. Tracks like ‘Just Like You’ channel the aggressive hooks and infectious energy of Papa Roach, reimagined through a modern production style that bridges the genre’s early 2000s roots with a contemporary alternative edge.

Beyond the music, TakiroLotus is evolving into a fictional universe of its own, exploring different eras, emotions and visual identities. This wider creative vision gives the project room to move beyond genre conventions, connecting its music to a larger world of imagery and storytelling. Balancing familiar influences with an expanding artistic vision, TakiroLotus is building a project that looks to the past while carving out its own future.

Denouement Unfound

Blending raw emotion with the weight of modern heavy music, Denouement Unfound is a five-piece post-metalcore band from Nashville, Tennessee, making their mark with a sound that balances aggression, atmosphere and melody. Drawing from modern metalcore, post-hardcore, and alternative metal, the band combines crushing breakdowns and powerful riffs with melodic hooks and introspective lyrics.

The lineup features guitarist Kyle Duncan, co-vocalist Brandon Estep, drummer Jackson Tsukahara, and co-founders Aidan G.W. Ross on lead vocals and Josh Rwehumbiza on guitar. Together, they channel intensity and vulnerability into music that feels both confrontational and deeply personal.

With a commitment to authenticity and a sound that continues to evolve, Denouement Unfound is focused on building a genuine connection with listeners through emotionally charged songwriting and high-energy performances. As they begin expanding their live presence, the band is preparing to enter its next chapter.

Their sophomore EP, If This Is Love, Then I Don't Think I Want It, arrives 19 October 2026, marking another step forward in their musical evolution.