October has officially arrived, meaning that the most wonderful month of the year is here. Grab your fave Halloween candy, whip up some pumpkin-flavored treats, and hang your creepy decor as you listen to the latest alternative, indie, and metal drops. Girl Tones deliver grit and groove, while Speed brings high-energy hardcore for your October playlist.
Looking for even more new music to fuel your haunted season? idobi Radio is your soundtrack for spooky season, delivering your favorite songs and the future of alternative. Download the free idobi App for new music every minute, every hour, every day. Did we mention it’s totally, 100%, always free?
Speed — “Ain’t My Game”
While on their massive run with Turnstile, Speed just dropped their full-throttle new track, “Ain’t My Game.” The single is set to appear on their All My Angels EP, due out October 23 via Flatspot Records and Last Ride Records. — Maria Serra
In Color — “Snow Day”
Nashville-based alternative-pop ensemble In Color has officially signed with Big Loud Rock and just launched their new EP Snow Day, featuring the bubbly, acoustic-laced track “I Want You.” The band explains, “Snow Day has been our journey of exploration and discovery. It’s us learning who we are as a collective, weaving our different talents and inspirations into something that feels alive—something that moves us both sonically and lyrically. In creating this music, we’ve found the ground beneath our feet, a place from which we’ll keep reaching, stretching, and growing together.” You can catch In Color on the road with The Band Camino this fall. — Maria Serra
Liily — “Boom Boom”
Los Angeles rockers Liily dropped a total knockout with their new track, “Boom Boom.” The blistering single pulls no punches and will melt your face off. Fans of Turnstile and Idles are sure to adore the ensemble and better get on board fast, as Liily is poised to blow up. Check out the group’s recently released self-titled EP here. —Maria Serra
Girl Tones — “Burnout”
Girl Tones is rocking and rolling on their new release “Burnout,” which is also set to appear on an upcoming episode of High Potential. Vocalist Kenzie Crowe shares, “‘Burnout’ is about our attention spans shrinking and the need for instant gratification. The pressure of constantly producing and consuming. How do we keep up without burning out? This song inspires me to slow down and enjoy the smaller things in life and preserve the creative spark at all costs.” Coming up this fall, you can catch the artists on the road at various festivals as well as supporting Cage The Elephant. —Maria Serra
Thrice — “The Dark Glow”
Ahead of their new album Horizons/West, which arrived on October 3, Thrice dropped “The Dark Glow” earlier in the week. The singles and full LP show the band at their very best. Vocalist Dustin Kensrue says, “Every time we make a new album, we give it everything we have. We immerse ourselves fully in writing and recording, we have a blast, we pull our hair out a bit, and we come through it all with something we are really proud of. But sometimes you stumble into something special — I think we all feel that with this record.” Check out Thrice on tour and grab your copy of the record here. —Maria Serra
Her Leather Jacket — “Death Train feat. Kellin Quinn”
Produced by Underoath’s Aaron Gillespie, Her Leather Jacket’s new track “Death Train” is good, old-fashioned rock and roll with a modern metal edge. Plus, it features a verse from Sleeping With Sirens’ Kellin Quinn. The Nashville duo shares, “‘Death Train’ is a reflection of the chaos and trauma we all can carry—those heavy emotions that can make us feel misunderstood and alone. But at the same time, it’s a story everyone can relate to. No matter what car you’re riding in on this train of life, we’re all headed to the same stop.”
The band adds, “Having Kellin Quinn join us on this track made it even more special, bringing a whole new layer to a song we already love. This is just the beginning of a new chapter for Her Leather Jacket, and we can’t wait to share more of what’s coming.” Catch the band at When We Were Young Festival this October 18 and 19. — Maria Serra
Customer Service — “Picture This”
Hailing from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Customer Service is helping shape up your emo playlists in the best way with their new single “Picture This.” From their upcoming EP, If You’re Here, You Must Be Fine, due out on Halloween, the four-piece tackles the grief of heartbreak on the track. They sing, “Well picture this/Picture-perfect-you/Your picturesque expectations are tearing us in two.” Preceded by the release of “Never Meant To,” it’s clear that Customer Service has the heart, humor, and pure talent to boost the genre to new heights. — Maria Serra
Tribe Friday — “Teeth (1)”
Tribe Friday, your fave Swedish bubblegum emo band, is back after a brief break, and we couldn’t be more thrilled. The duo, Noah Deutschmann and Isak Gunnarsson, made their grand return with not one, but two new singles, “Teeth (1)” and “Springtime 2160.” Their melancholy indie tunes will haunt your playlists and demand to be repeated. For all you early and mid-20s listeners, “Teeth (1)” will become your anthem for growing pains and mortal contemplation. We missed Tribe Friday this past year and are so excited to have them spinning again. — Maria Serra
Dogpark — “I Don’t Mind”
Indie-rockers Dogpark know you hate your corporate job and want to give you the anthem to curb those cubicle thoughts. Of the track, the quartet says, “‘I Don’t Mind’ is a song that taps heavily into the energy of New York City and is sonically inspired by a combination of our favorite influences. It’s about the two sides of the city, the corporate world and the artistic world. These are reflected in the music industry, where the artists are working alongside the suits. At the end of the day, though, the song is just a fun time and establishes the direction of the next batch of songs.” Preceded by the release of their single “September,” this new Dogpark offering just proves that the band is ready to change indie rock as we know it. Dance-inducing and fresh, gritty and self-aware—we will be streaming it on loop. — Maria Serra
Flycatcher — “Man On The Run feat. Brianna Collins”
Flycatcher just released their debut Will Yip-produced album, Wrench, and it is a true masterpiece of emo. From singles such as “Down” and “Truth” to the album offerings like “Man On The Run” featuring Tigers Jaw‘s Brianna Collins, the New Jersey quartet delivers delectable hooks, bluesy guitar strums, and earnest vocals for alternative lovers of all kinds. On Instagram, Flycatcher says, “We poured everything we have into this record and we hope you love it as much as we enjoyed making it. Thank you for being here and always supporting us.” Grab your copy of Wrench here. — Maria Serra
Edgehill — “17 Hours”
Need a good cry? Edgehill has you covered with their new single, “17 Hours.” The delicate acoustic chords effortlessly complement lead singer Chris Kelly’s mournful tone. He says of the raw offering, “’17 Hours’ put a lump in my throat the first time Jake [Zimmermann] played it. It captures, with brutal honesty, the nightmare of watching a relationship fall apart. The whole thing came together in one night, and honestly, it couldn’t have come together any other way.” Edgehill’s haunting indie tones will soon rule your playlists, and we wouldn’t want it any other way. — Maria Serra
Inner Wave — “CHILD”
Inner Wave just released an experimental pop banger with their new track, “CHILD.” “This is one of those songs that deserves to be on Song Exploder,” bassist Jean-Pierre Narvaez notes. “I think super fans, music nerds, and musicians alike will be psyched on figuring this number out. There are only so many songs that work in the ‘pop structure’ context that can hold down a weird time signature and be as fluid as this one.” Plus, this is just the beginning of more to come for the indie-rockers. The act also announced their fifth album, SEE YOU WHEN I GET BACK, is arriving on February 27 via Nettwerk. — Maria Serra
CARR — “Hardcore!”
CARR is back with her second single of 2025 with “Hardcore!” Preceded by “Vampire Teeth,” the high-energy new single sees the artist begging for more. “‘Hardcore!’ is about someone I was seeing who just wasn’t giving me enough. I crave relationships that are fast, messy, and all-consuming — and with him, I started to wonder if maybe I was just too much.” This is just the start of an exciting new era. Stay tuned for more. — Maria Serra
If Not For Me — “Retrograde”
If Not For Me proves once again why they’re one of the most exciting bands in alternative and metalcore right now on their new single, “Retrograde.” With an opening build-up into a massive chaotic breakdown straight into a soaring anthemic chorus, they’ll be winning new fans over in less than a minute and have longtime fans of the band headbanging and singing along. The Harrisburg, PA quartet has knocked it out of the park once again with a track that will leave fans wanting even more! — Patrick Walford
AVOID — “Sour Apple”
The new single off their newly announced EP, Creature Of Habit, dropping November 14, “Sour Apple” is another example of AVOID being all gas, no brakes. From bouncy riffs to vocalist Benny Scholl’s signature sound and one-of-a-kind lyrics filled with passion and angst, listeners will be bumping this track right into the EP release. — Patrick Walford
Dayseeker — “Crawl Back To My Coffin”
A standout track off their mesmerizing new album, Creature In The Black Night, and one for anyone who’s had their heart broken, and put it back together just to have it smashed into a million pieces once again…this song is for you. From catchy synths perfectly paired with a spacey instrumental and vocalist Rory Rodriguez’s crooning in ways only he can, this is a textbook track for Dayseeker. Not only will it draw in new listeners going through hard times romantically, but it will also make longtime fans feel right at home. Not only on the song but also on this record, Dayseeker has made it perfectly clear; they’re going to become one of the next bands in rock and metal to headline amphitheaters and arenas for years to come. — Patrick Walford
The Acacia Strain — “I Don’t Think You Are Going To Make It”
Like a fine wine, The Acacia Strain seems to be getting better with age. There is no greater example of this than their new album, You Are Safe From God Here. A true no-skips album, songs like “I Don’t Think You Are Going To Make It” will have listeners everywhere turning their surroundings into a moshpit, no matter where they are. The Acacia Strain aren’t just an awesome heavy band, they’re one of the best to ever do it. With unmatched consistency throughout their entire catalog, it’s time people start talking about TAS the same way they do other legendary heavy bands. — Patrick Walford
Electric Callboy — “TANZNEID”
Everyone’s favorite electro-metal band is back with a spooky banger that will have all the monsters moshing this Halloween! From infectious synths, a catchy chorus, and an even catchier breakdown, this will have fans even more hyped for their upcoming world tour of the same name. — Patrick Walford
Currents — “Rise & Fall”
A surprise treat on Halloween for metalcore fans everywhere, Currents dropped their new EP All That Follows, which features this seismic track. “Rise & Fall” is the definition of a melodic metalcore masterpiece. The quintet is truly a runaway train, picking up even more momentum with every single release. — Patrick Walford
Like Moths To Flames — “Salting The Earth”
Teaming up with longtime friend, producer, and vocalist of The Plot In You, Landon Tewers, on this track, Like Moths To Flames sounds bigger and better than ever. The sonics are familiar, yet fresh for fans who’ve been around since day one. From Chris Roetter’s soaring melodies and choruses to a gnarly breakdown, this track will remind fans it’s always the “Year Of The Moth! “— Patrick Walford
