Chat Pile – Who Loves The Sun (Review)

One band that has made huge waves over the last few years is definitely Chat Pile. Whether it’s their distinctive lyrics, their nerdy appearance or the very unique sound of the Oklahoma group, there is simply no way around this band right now. That makes it even more exciting that Chat Pile will release their third album Who Loves The Sun on September 4th via The Flenser.

Once again, the band manages to make their songs so interesting and weird from the very first second that you simply want to keep listening. Of course, the extremely deep bass sound and groovy drums from their previous records are still there. But with Who Loves The Sun, Chat Pile put a much stronger focus on melodic elements inspired by indie and alternative rock. Tracks like “Deep Blue” feel more catchy and easier to digest at first than some of their older material.

Social criticism, or to put it more dramatically, just how fucked up our world is, remains the lyrical foundation of the band. Chat Pile hold the ugly face of our society right in front of us with songs like “Same Rules” or “PEN I S MALL“. Even when the songwriting becomes more melodic or emotional, there is still a harsh reality hiding behind every line and every riff.

It’s also interesting to hear how vocalist Raygun Busch spreads new nuances of his voice throughout the album. A track like “Shrine” showcases this really well during a few short moments and adds another side to his already unique vocal style.

The guest appearances from Claire Hannah and Brittany Sawtelle feel especially refreshing. Both are a great addition and it’s impressive how naturally they fit into Chat Pile’s sound. Already well-written tracks like “Intruder” and “Influence” become even better because of their contributions. With “Intruder“, the Oklahoma group manages to create the perfect kind of chaos. The way its more harmonic parts slowly develop into an absolute noise rock thunderstorm is simply insane.

Who Loves The Sun is another great album. Chat Pile manage to stay true to themselves while bringing new elements into their sound at the same time. It probably won’t work for everyone, but you have to give the band credit for continuing to separate themselves from the grey mass around them. At the same time, they address social issues in a way very few bands are able to.

Chat Pile completely won me over with this one and remain one of the best and most interesting bands around the globe in 2026.

“Everything will be fine.” – Chat Pile

Max Transcended

Name: Max Transcended
From: Weimar (Germany)
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