The Month That Broke the Scale
September was pure chaos. Normally, when we hand out five-star reviews, it’s a rare and precious thing. This month? We were throwing 5s like Oprah throws free cars. “You get a five! You get a five! Everybody gets a five!”
And yet, the rules are the rules. No matter how many flawless releases hit our inbox, only three can step onto the podium. That meant some jaw-dropping artists who would’ve easily walked away with gold in another month are left clapping politely from the sidelines. Brutal? Yes. Necessary? Absolutely.
So who survived this bloodbath? Let’s break it down.
3️⃣ Third Place: Blacklist Union – Slay the Dragon
Genre: Hard Rock / Sleaze / Spiritual Rock
Echo Scale™: ★★★★★ (5/5)
Blacklist Union didn’t just release an album. They exorcised demons, drank ayahuasca, and came back swinging with the biggest record of their career. Slay the Dragon is swagger and soul, sleaze and salvation all bundled into a rock resurrection that feels arena-sized and mythic.
From swampy spells in Mississippi Moonhound to the cinematic punch of the title track, Tony West and co. have crafted an album that isn’t just impressive it’s definitive. The fact this sits in third place tells you everything about how stacked this month was. Any other time, this masterpiece would’ve worn the crown.
2️⃣ Second Place: Palejoy – What a Sad Little Life, Jane
Genre: Emo / Post-Hardcore / Rock
Echo Scale™: ★★★★★ (5/5)
Back in June, Palejoy nearly stole Artist of the Month with Next Goal Wins. This time, they’ve outdone themselves with What a Sad Little Life, Jane a song that turns a TV burn into a modern emo anthem.
Jamie Reid’s vocals shift from fragile apathy to desperate catharsis, the guitars shimmer with unmistakable Palejoy identity, and yes, those toms once again sound like they’re trying to punch through the floor. It’s hilarious, it’s heartbreaking, it’s unmistakably them.
Palejoy are fast becoming the band that makes misery sound magnificent. Another ★★★★★ but once again, the crown eludes them.
1️⃣ Artist of the Month: The Veer Union – Caught In The Crossfire
Genre: Metalcore / Modern Metal
Echo Scale™: ★★★★★ (5/5)
Every now and then, a submission detonates in our inbox and leaves us arguing over who gets to review it. The Veer Union’s Caught In The Crossfire did exactly that. Honestly, it wasn’t even a fair fight this track is one of the best we’ve ever covered.
Lyrically, it’s an emotive wrecking ball: the chaos of love and war wrapped into one devastating anthem. Musically, it’s a precision strike flawless production, meaty riffs, drums that hit like artillery, and synth textures that heighten the drama without drowning it. Vocally? Crispin Earl delivers one of the most staggering performances we’ve heard this year, balancing clean and harsh vocals with an emotional range that’s nothing short of jaw-dropping.
This isn’t just a single; it’s a blueprint for how modern metal should sound in 2025. Relentless, heartfelt, and obsessively replayable. The kind of track that makes you skip the playlist shuffle and hit repeat until your neighbours beg for mercy.
Make no mistake: Caught In The Crossfire didn’t just win September. It obliterated it.
🏅 Artist of the Year Update
With their September win, The Veer Union now join Eliza Delf & The Wilderness, Saint Senara, The Guillotines, and Hopes Avenue in the official shortlist for Echo Rebel UK’s 2025 Artist of the Year.
Five finalists in, and the competition has never looked nastier.
Final Thoughts
Blacklist Union delivered their magnum opus. Palejoy proved they’re writing the new emo gospel. But The Veer Union? They reminded us what it feels like to be flattened by a song in the best possible way.
September was a month where perfection still wasn’t enough only the most unstoppable force could wear the crown. October, you’re up next. Good luck topping this.
Echo Rebel UK For the bold. For the real. For the rebel.
