We’ve officially hit the peak of summer, which can only mean one thing: it’s time to unpack July’s absolute best releases. Welcome to the latest installment of Noteworthy Nods, our monthly round-up of the 20 tracks currently blasting through our office speakers.
As always, this edition is a relentless mix of urgent underground discoveries, reader recommendations, and fresh cuts from heavy-hitting regulars we’ll never turn down. (Got a track that deserves a spot? Don’t hoard the good stuff—drop your submissions HERE).
Here’s a taste of what’s dominating our July rotation:
Leading the charge are South London’s Sunset Ruins with a masterclass in mixing heavy distortion with swaggering Brit-rock sensibility. New single “Save Your Soul” marries raw, abrasive guitar sludge to an infectious, swaggering melody 100% designed for massive crowds to sing back at full volume.
Next up are Aerial Salad with “Everybody Needs Somebody” which nails the balance between bratty three-chord aggression and sheer catchiness. Sweat-soaked and frantically urgent, the track hinges on an instantly unforgettable chorus and a massive, cathartic guitar riff.
Keeping the momentum going are indie heavyweights Pit Pony with “Thunder,” a bruised, slow-burning piece of dark grunge that pairs abrasive, feedback-heavy noise with angular British post-punk precision. Raspy, venomous vocals cut through murky distortion, driving toward a tense, hypnotic hook that’s as sinister as it is hopelessly catchy.
Elsewhere,built on frantic guitar work and raw, working-class swagger, “Best Night of His Life” finds South Yorkshire’s fiercest DIY outfit delivering one of their most undeniable hooks to date. It’s a surging, arms-in-the-air banger that guarantees one thing: if you get the chance to catch them live anytime soon, you’re in for the best f**king night of your life.
And these highlights are just the threshold so hit play and let it soundtrack your August, and we’ll see you at the end of the month with a brand-new batch.
Alongside our weekly track picks,Noteworthy Nodsalso brings you regular videocast interviews with the artists we’re genuinely excited about. You can catch every episode on the playlistHERE, featuring everyone fromThe EnemyandKula ShakertoStanleys,Bilk,The Subways,Lottery Winners,The Slow Readers Club, andShed Seven, alongside a deep archive of essential voices.