Catch-Up: Top 10 New Releases, Week of Sept 4

We missed posting this one on time, so here's a catch-up on the week of September 4th, back-dated so you don't miss what dropped. (Cover art coming shortly, same upload hiccup as last week's post.)

1. ADÉLA — PRIMA

Label: Capitol Records  |  Critics: 70 vs Fans: 67

The Slovak pop star's debut album, executive-produced by Dylan Brady and Blake Slatkin, and built around her breakout hit "Ain't In LA," which became the first song by a Slovak artist to chart on the Billboard Hot 100. Eleven tracks of confident, maximalist pop that plays like a coming-out party for a genuine new star.

Tracklist: 1. KGB, 2. Nicole Kidman, 3. I'm The Man, 4. Boys, 5. Red Bottoms, 6. Hitachi, 7. Fantasize, 8. Starving Artist, 9. Marijuana, 10. Therapy, 11. Ain't In LA

2. Rebecca Black — Age of the Exhibitionist

Critics: 63 vs Fans: 81

Fifteen years on from "Friday," Black's second full-length leans hard into campy, sleazy dance-pop, all glossy hooks and unapologetic exhibitionism. Fans are far more into it than critics this time around, and honestly, watching her fully own this lane after everything is kind of a great story on its own.

3. AKRIILA — lucy miró al mundo y notó que está girando

Label: Atlantic Records  |  Fans: 83 (no critic score yet)

Chilean singer-rapper Akriila's latest, 14 tracks deep in plugg, reggaeton and digicore influences, with a guest spot from Guitarricadelafuente. One of the best fan scores of the week, and a good pickup if you're into the current wave of Latin American internet-native pop.

4. Chat Pile — Who Loves the Sun

Label: The Flenser  |  Critics: 82 vs Fans: 82

The Oklahoma City noise-rock quartet's third album, and easily one of the best-reviewed releases of the month, universal acclaim across the board. Crushing, grimy sludge metal that stretches into shoegaze and trip-hop without losing any of its bite. If you like your rock uncomfortable and confrontational, start here.

Tracklist: 1. Creature, 2. Deep Blue, 3. Same Rules, 4. PEN I S MALL, 5. Shrine, 6. Intruder, 7. Christabel '26, 8. Influence, 9. Family Funeral, 10. October All the Time

5. Ellie Goulding — I Know Too Much

Label: Polydor Records  |  Critics: 60 vs Fans: 66

Goulding's sixth album, shaped by her separation from her ex-husband and the years that followed, moving from anger through to a more hopeful place by the closing track. More guitar-driven and stripped-back than her festival-EDM era. A personal, journal-like record even if the reviews are mixed.

Tracklist: 1. Black Prada Dress, 2. Jealousy, 3. Loser, 4. 4 Seasons, 5. Nobody Dances, 6. Always Think of You, 7. For Your Entertainment, 8. Misremember You, 9. I Know Too Much, 10. Ravers

6. Movements — Happier Now

Label: Fearless Records  |  Critics: 80 vs Fans: 76

The SoCal post-hardcore band's fourth album, produced once again by Grammy winner Will Yip, folding their earliest angular sound together with the more polished approach of their last record. Heavy where it needs to be, melodic where it counts. A strong, cohesive listen front to back.

Tracklist: 1. Pulse, 2. Dissolve Me, 3. Everything Is Fine, 4. Happier Now, 5. Flowerbed, 6. Back in My Ways, 7. Spellbound, 8. Ill At Ease, 9. Live by the Sword, 10. Everyone I've Ever Been, 11. Fragile Hands, 12. Separate

7. PRESIDENT — Blood of Your Empire

Label: Atlantic Records  |  Critics: 68 vs Fans: 46

The masked, anonymous English metal act's debut album, wrestling with religion, mortality and existential crisis across a genre-blending mix of EDM, R&B and crushing metalcore. Divisive so far between critics and fans, but a genuinely ambitious and heavy debut statement.

Tracklist: 1. Angel Wings, 2. DOOM LOOP, 3. dark heaven, 4. Pink Noise, 5. Mercy, 6. Sleepwalker, 7. Dionysus, 8. This Will Divide Us, 9. Hate Figure, and more

8. Nails — Fear Based Life

Label: Closed Casket Activities  |  Fans: 81 (no critic score yet)

A brutal, no-frills 2-track EP from the California powerviolence outfit, marking their move to a new label after years on Nuclear Blast. Short, vicious, and exactly what longtime fans want from these guys.

Tracklist: 1. Dollar Bin Generation, 2. Fear Based Life

9. 156/Silence — From A Distance

Label: Pure Noise Records  |  Critics: 60 vs Fans: 76

The Pittsburgh metalcore band's sixth album and first for Pure Noise, positioned as a spiritual successor to 2024's People Watching and dedicated in part to their late bassist Lukas Booker. Guest spots from Mike Hranica of The Devil Wears Prada and Alex Reade of Make Them Suffer round out a record that mixes heavy breakdowns with genuinely tender moments.

Tracklist: 1. Control Burns, 2. No Arms, 3. Order & Entropy, 4. Swept From Under (Call of the Void), 5. An Early Exit, 6. Collateral (feat. Tony Castrati), 7. Cannon Fodder (feat. Mike Hranica), 8. Secret Room, 9. Proxy Idols, 10. Phoenix Dies, 11. From A Distance (feat. Alex Reade), 12. After Dusk

10. Nemzzz — LOCKED IN

Label: Atlantic Records  |  Fans: 55 (no critic score yet)

The Manchester rapper's third mixtape, and his most internationally-minded yet, featuring Travis Scott, Lil Yachty, Latto and Cash Cobain alongside fellow UK talent Tunde. Fan reception has been a bit mixed this time, some pointing to a lack of curation across seventeen tracks, but the ambition and the guest list alone make it worth a spin.

Tracklist: 1. 4AM, 2. TODAY, 3. GEEKIN (feat. Lil Yachty), 4. PRINCE OF THE SCENE, 5. EXPANSION, 6. BRB, 7. TRICK (feat. Cash Cobain), 8. HATE ME LOVE ME, 9. OK (feat. Latto), 10. GET READY, 11. GASS (feat. Travis Scott), 12. KILLIN EM, 13. CLIENTELE (feat. Tunde), 14. CAPTAIN HOOK, 15. TOKYO DRIFT, 16. WHERE YA GOIN, 17. 101

That catches us up on the week of September 4th. Cover art getting added to this one and last week's as soon as our image pipeline issue clears up!