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Colorado creatives released a scary amount of new music this month, treating listeners to everything from melo-death to mountain goth — perfect for Halloween. So dig in and grab as many as you want from our favorite releases from local musicians in October:
Blackberry Crush
My Own Backyard
Denver art-grunge trio Blackberry Crush shared a five-song EP, My Own Backyard, on October 4 via local label Mean World Records.
The group, known for its dissonant, emotive alt-rock and post-shoegaze, perfectly captures the thinning thread between innocent adolescence and sobering adulthood with such tracks as “With/Without” and “Botulist.”
“My Own Backyard recalls one’s childhood,” according to the band — guitarists-vocalists Charlie Laxague and Pyper Tiffany, and drummer Nicholas Schell. “Different songs explore child and adult perspectives, one reminiscing on what they hope the future will be, and the other on what once was.”
In other words, the type of nostalgia and longing that fits the season.
Bleed The Vain
“Failure to Thrive”
Bleed The Vain has been on the come-up recently, including providing local support for a few Suffocation shows over the summer after releasing the single “Commodity Of Poison” to start the year.
As 2026 approaches, the Denver melo-death outfit of guitarists Brandon Daniels and Nick Rich, vocalist Payden Browning, bassist Adrian Montoya, drummer Dennis Schaudt dropped latest track, “Failure to Thrive,” on October 3.
A dirge of catchy riffs and pummeling beats, the nearly six-minute song is pure aggression. So next time you see Bleed The Vain on a bill, check ’em out.
Broken Record
Routine
Routine, the latest from Denver indie-emo band Broken Record, is a surprising demonstration of how inspiring power-pop can be when wielded effectively.
The band’s third record, which came out on October 14 via local label Power Goth Recordings, sees guitarist-vocalist Lauren Beecher, bassist Corey Fruin, drummer Nicholas Danes and new guitarist Larson Ross ramp up the reverb.
“We leaned a little bit more into the power-pop thing…more the 90s-alternative type of situation,” Beecher, who runs Power Goth with partner Fruin, previously shared with Westword. “But I also think we got faster and increased our sense of urgency a little bit.”
“Drag,” “No Vacation” and “T-60” are standouts here.
Cheap Perfume
Don’t Care. Didn’t Ask.
Colorado Springs feminist-punk powerhouse Cheap Perfume put out a particularly pissed-off record, Don’t Care. Didn’t Ask., on October 3 via Denver label Snappy Little Numbers.
Vocalist Stephanie Byrne, vocalist-guitarist Jane No, bassist Geoff Brent and drummer David “Hott Dave” Grimm go for the jugular on such songs as “Probably It’s Capitalism,” “Woke Mind Virus” and “Down To Riot.”
“Don’t Care. Didn’t Ask. is an uninhibited call to anti-capitalist revolution presented as a collection of punk rock protest songs, breakup songs and party songs,” vocalist-guitarist Jane No shares. “It stays true to Cheap Perfume’s signature angry-yet-melodic sound, while railing against systems of oppression and America’s descent into fascism.”
Well said.
Destiny Bond
The Love
Denver hardcore vet punks Destiny Bond are feeling all warm and fuzzy on its latest, The Love, released on October 17 via local banner Convulse Records. But don’t expect any ballads on the band’s sophomore effort.
Instead, vocalist Cloe Madonna, guitarist Amos Helvey and Emily Armitage, bassist Rio Wolf, and drummer Adam Croft, who also founded Convulse Records, rage through ten tracks of breakneck punk, raucous rock-and-roll and hardcore breakdowns, particularly on such songs as “Peace as a Punchline,” “Can’t Kill The Love” and “Out Loud.” A true love letter to the genre.
Elway
Nobody’s Going To Heaven
In nearly twenty years, Elway has accomplished a lot. But the FoCo indie-punk group’s seventh LP, Nobody’s Going To Heaven (released on October 10 via Red Scare Industries), marks a first.
“We didn’t set out to make a protest record,” guitarist-vocalist Tim Browne says. “But at some point, if you’re paying attention and you’re still making art, you end up making one anyway.”
It’s not necessarily an on-the-nose protest record, but more of a mirror of what Browne, guitarist Brian Van Proyen, bassist Joe Henderer, and drummer William Orender are experiencing around them.
The title track, “Down The Land And Far Away” and “The Cost! The Price!” are searing social commentaries set to a soundtrack of upbeat emo and roaring indie-rock.
Flahoola
Electric Scythe
Metal up your ass! Denver speed freaks Flahoola come out with all guns blazing on long-awaited debut, Electric Scythe, released independently on October 31. The power trio of bassist-vocalist John Napier, guitarist Cole Helman and drummer Jaydon Kershner play dirty biker rock and thrashed-out trad metal with such speed and ferocity that you can almost feel the sweat flying from the eleven tracks.
“Italia” is literally about being chased down by a bloodthirsty Formula 1 racer, while “TommyKnocker” is a Stephen King ode. It might have taken a decade to get a proper album together, but Flahoola has been out playing live and ain’t wasting any time getting anyone who might not be privy caught up with Electric Scythe.
GEN3
Anti
Boulder’s GEN3 used an unlikely vocalist to help bring its sophomore album, Anti (released independently on October 8), with the addition of former L.A. Guns frontman Scott Foster Harris.
Bandmate David Cremin and Jace Allen found Harris found Harris after hosting an open audition earlier this year, while the Boulder band continued working on Anti. With the new singer in tow, such songs as “Game On,” “Animals” and “I Don’t Think You Love Me,” the record’s unabashed love ballad, give GEN3 a refreshing modern sound on a classic genre.
Pedestal for Leviathan
Enter: Vampyric Manifestation
Denver black metal minions Pedestal for Leviathan unleashed the perfect Halloween record, Enter: Vampyric Manifestation, released independently on the night of the witches.
Demons, vampires and werewolf Jesus haunt the band’s sophomore effort, as previously shared single, “Lycanthropichrist,” shows off exactly what Pedestal for Leviathan is all about. Vocalist-guitarist Kendrick Lemke, guitarist Mathew Meyer, bassist Noah Fithen and drummer Corbin Echtermeyer are hellbent on blending brutal death metal with symphonic black metal, to ghoulishly great effect.
Primitive Man
Observance
Another Halloween offering, Primitive Man’s Observance, released on October 31 via Relapse Records, is pure nightmare fuel. The Denver doom-sludge masters wail and wallow in a way that only vocalist-guitarist Ethan Lee McCarthy, drummer Joe Linden and bassist Jon Campos can.
“Natural Law,” one of the album’s singles, is a descent into the mouth of madness, as Primitive Man pummels along for over fourteen relentless minutes. While previous records focused more on unfiltered anger, Observance leans into distorted depression. Certainly not for the faint of heart.
Shadow Animal
Dreams We Build
Christopher Ryan, the multi-instrumentalist behind Denver project Shadow Animal, independently released a sobering yet uplifting record, Dreams We Build, on October 17. A mix of spoken word, neo-folk and singer-songwriter originals, Shadow Animal walks the line between hope and hardship with tracks “Follow Your Dreams,” “Trophy Room” and the title track.
Sun Jr.
The Many Moon Hex
Boulder psych group Sun Jr. ended spooky season by sharing a new album, The Many Moon Hex, released independently on October 31.
The tripped-out record featuring singles “Lovesick” and “Hot Red Summer” is more of a chill, toke-and-kickback kind of listen. Certainly something to help to the edge off after a month full of frights.
Talons
Shadow Work
Talons is Denver’s newest metalcore band, as the five-piece only announced itself publicly last month. But the group came ready, sharing debut EP, Shadow Work, independently on October 17.
Comprised of guitarists Brandon Morris and Addison Guidichessi, vocalist Cody Martinez, drummer Mike Nolan, and bassist Travis Sholder, Shadow Work shifts seamlessly between prog, modern metalcore and even nu-metal, at times.
Opener “Mannequin,” lead single “No Gods // No Kings” and “TMPST” are examples of this versatility, as Talons navigates heaviness and clean interludes effortlessly.
The Grahams
The Bridge
Boulder creative couple the Grahams give listeners an honest glimpse into their personal lives on new album, The Bridge, released on October 10 via 3Sirens.
For over a decade, Alyssa and Doug Graham have been playing pop-infused Americana. But The Bridge is the Grahams at their most vulnerable. Take song “The One Who Remembers,” which is about a loved one struggling with Alzheimer’s and the impact it has on everyone around them.
Then there’s “Found It In Us,” chronicling the duo’s life as artists chasing the dream. Similar sentiments can be found throughout the record’s eleven tracks.
Totem Pocket
CHUMP
Denver indie-rockers Totem Pocket are back after a few years of uncertainty with sophomore record CHUMP, released via local label High Plains Records on October 31.
Since its 2022 self-titled debut, Totem Pocket almost ceased to exist during a time of existential longing and lineup upheaval. But the trio of Aesop Adams, Aaron Dooley and Madi Menendez stuck it out.
Now, CHUMP, is a defiant alt album, featuring a raw approach and renewed sense of urgency, particularly on standout single “i hate you.”
Voidatlas
“DESCENT”
Voidatlas is at it again with new single, “DESCENT,” released independently on October 24, accompanied by a music video.
The Denver djent group of guitarist-vocalist Trent Heddings, bassist-vocalist Jake Juarez, guitarist Stephen Valeriano and drummer Joseph Morales quickly became one of the city’s most active players in the scene, and with “DESCENT,” the band isn’t messing around, further flexing why everyone into metal should take notice.
Volores
“The Huntress”
Denver dark alt-rock trio Volores announced its upcoming sophomore album, Shores of Scorpio, with new single, “The Huntress,” released under own banner Broken Stag Records on October 10.
Featuring husband-wife team Shelby Maxwell (vocals and guitar) and Nathen Maxwell (the bassist of Flogging Molly), along with drummer Art Brown, Volores makes what it calls mountain goth music, an amped-up eerie Americana, which is evident on “The Huntress.”
Woven Hollow
“Ten Feet Under”
Colorado folk duo Woven Hollow’s latest track, “Ten Feet Under” (released independently on October 29), is a haunting acoustic tome inspired by the very roots of couple Anna Murphy and Van Wampler’s romantic and creative partnership.
“It felt like I was writing two different songs, until I showed Van what I was working on. He got excited and helped me bring it to life,” Murphy shares. “I was thinking it might ultimately end up in the trash can, but he and I worked together to make it into something really special and unique.”
A true example of love and collaboration.
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