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Top Tracks of October 2019 - Tame Impala, Milk Teeth, The Darkness and more!

October was a pretty busy month for me, so that's why I'm only just getting round to posting this month's Top Tracks feature, along with the fact that there was such an influx of new music last month that this has been my hardest list to compile yet. Still, I persevered and finally my work is done! Read on to hear about my picks for the top five tracks of October...

 The Darkness - Heavy Metal Lover

Well this was a surprise. The Darkness were the first rock band that I ever loved, with their debut album Permission to Land still holding a firm place amongst my favourite albums. Since their 2011 reunion, the band have released a string of fairly strong albums, but their latest effort, Easter is Cancelled, is quite possibly their best since that glorious debut. One of the standout tracks is undoubtedly 'Heavy Metal Lover', an audacious and confidently daft mix of tranquil balladry, tongue-in-cheek lyrical witticisms and blistering thrash metal riffs that only a band with as few inhibitions as The Darkness could effectively pull off. If you have ever been a fan, definitely check some of this new material out.

Milk Teeth - Given Up

No, this isn't a cover of the Linkin Park tune, but rather another dose of explosive, grungy punk from UK trio Milk Teeth. This track didn't make quite as quick an impact on me as did the ferocious 'Stain' from last year, but 'Given Up' remains another strong addition to the Milk Teeth discography and has me excited to hear the full-length album the band have long been working on. Milk Teeth tour the UK with Nervus this November, so hopefully I will be able to bring you a review from the tour soon.

Foals - Neptune

 Another month, another great track from Foals. Well, several great tracks actually, since the indie-rock megastars have just dropped the anticipated second half of their Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost album duology and scored their first Number 1 album in the process. Closing track 'Neptune',  one of the most expansive and atmospheric tracks Foals have ever recorded, is my top pick for now. This 10-minute epic has a huge sense of scale, building brilliantly from the somewhat-subdued intro and verse to a booming chorus, before dipping into a tranquil bridge section complete with Pink Floyd-esque guitar work. 'Neptune' is sure to be mesmerising in live settings and is a fitting finale for the latest chapter of Foals' career.

Dream State - Twenty Letters

 Winners of the 2018 Kerrang! Award for Best British Breakthrough, post-hardcore/alt. rock outfit Dream State have been earmarked for big things for a little while now, but I have to admit to not taking more than a passing interest in their output until recently. The second single from their first full-length album, 'Twenty Letters' is an emotional ode to overcoming personal difficulties in life, featuring an impassioned vocal from frontwoman CJ Gilpin and probably the best hook I've heard from the band yet. Recommended for fans of Linkin Park, Pvris and Bring Me the Horizon.

 Tame Impala - It Might Be Time

Following the excellent 'Patience' and 'Boderline' from earlier this year, Kevin Parker has delivered yet another intoxicating dose of electronic psychedelia, along with the announcement that Tame Impala's next album will be dropping in early 2020. In certain respects, 'It Might Be Time' is a bit more in-your-face that the laid-back vibes of the preceding two singles, with the chorus featuring crashing, reverb-laden drums, a thick, distorted bassline, and a razor-sharp synth hook. Lyrically, Parker takes an introspective look at his own career and his place in the industry in 2019, seemingly questioning whether to accept that he may no-longer be the 'hot new thing'. Whatever Parker's concerns, this fantastic track proves that Tame Impala still has plenty to offer as the outfit's fourth studio album nears release.
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Looking ahead to next month, we have a new pop banger on our hands, with Dua Lipa having just dropped her comeback single. Not to spoil anything, but there's a very good chance that the dance-flavoured new tune will land a place on my November top tracks article. In the meantime, check out my review of 'How to be Famous', the latest single from rising indie-pop outfit The Seamonsters. You can also read my September Top Tracks article, featuring Charli XCX, Foals, Ghost and more, here.

Thanks for reading!

- Danny
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