Rising Tempers, Boiling Beats to Deal with Heat Aggression this Fall
Fall officially started with the autumnal equinox on September 22, but the cozy outfits and hot pumpkin spice latte might have to wait. You can not spell sweater without sweat, and that pretty much sums up the frustration of living in a location experiencing an early fall heatwave when you’re more than ready for blissfully cool days and crunchy leaves. If you are feeling serious heat aggression as we head into autumn, here is an angry, simmering playlist to match your mood. Let us heat things up by diving into some of the stand-out songs.
“Certain Death” by Certain Death
This self-titled track from the NYC-based rock band Certain Death has smoldering riffs and heavy rhythms to fuel your cathartic rage. Although Certain Death is fresh on the scene—they have released four singles and have an upcoming EP—their retro, heavy metal meets 70s rock tone gives this song a sense of familiarity that instantly makes it feel like a classic.
If there is ever a time to think about death and mortality, it is when you are on the verge of a heat stroke, and the lyrics deliver: “Everything must die / death is creeping by.” This slick, dark song will stay in your listening rotation as we head into Halloween and the cooler months.
“Gone” by IX of Swords
The IX of Swords tarot card, traditionally depicted by a man sitting up in bed with his head in his hands, represents anxiety, worry, and general mental anguish. If you were expecting to get an emotional break with this song, sorry. Like the unbearable heat, the intensity of this playlist is here to stay.
The reserved delivery of the lyrics—“I’ll wait for it, no matter how long”—are at odds with the impatient riffs, raspiness, and screaming outbursts that make this song one hell of a ride. While you might play it cool and pretend the heat doesn’t bother you, behind your mask of indifference your patience simmers and explodes like the pace of this song.
“One Step Further” by Longheads
Can you make it one step further before the temperature cools off? From the album Mars Doesn’t Feel Like Home Anymore, this track by the British psych-rock band Longheads will turn a casual walk into an epic journey that might make the heat a little more bearable. If you are going to be sweaty and miserable, you might as well romanticize your situation to give you the motivation to push forward.
While braving the heat to run errands or commute to work, imagine you are wading across a sweltering desert on an alien planet during a sandstorm, trying to outrun an army on horseback chasing you. If you would also like to pretend you are Timothee Chalamet in Dune, I do not blame you.
“Hidden Entrance” by Earth Tongue
With fuzzy guitar and heavy rhythms, this song sounds like when you are ripping your sweatshirt off over your head, accidentally knock out your earbud in the process, and angrily shove it back into your ear. Sure, you could opt for headphones, but it is too hot out to wear what are musical earmuffs.
Earth Tongue is a psych-rock two-piece from New Zealand consisting of guitarist Gussie Larkin and drummer Ezra Simons. The duo broke out with their 2019 debut album Floating Being, where you will find this hard-hitting song nestled amidst Earth Tongue’s signature in-your-face sound and adventurous, esoteric lyrics.
“center of the sun” by Kitty Coen
I can not agree more, Kitty Coen: “The heat will tear you apart,” indeed. Burn out your last bit of summer nostalgia by dancing to the blood-pumping rhythms of this country/rock hybrid song.
The subtle 80s synth tones make this feel sexy in only the way that 80s synth can, like night rides in a convertible while you are drenched in the glow of neon lights. You might as well feel hot in both senses of the word, right? Forget about following someone else to the center of the sun—when you embody this song, everyone else will be chasing you like a moth to a flame.
“Catch the Breeze” by Slowdive
Let the calming harmonies and echoed synths of Slowdive cool you off with this track. From Slowdive’s debut 1991 album Just for a Day, this track inspires you to do just that. Close your eyes, take a few deep breaths, and chill out after indulging your heat aggression.
“Hey are you feeling something new / Just watch the rain / it helps in all you do.” Okay, so you might not be lucky enough for a much-needed storm to cool things off, but you can always find ambient ASMR videos of rain on YouTube and look forward to the moody, rainy days of autumn.
