The sprawling expanse of the American heartland is many things: picturesque as it is desolate, familiar as it is alien. Very few settings manage to capture such contrasting characteristics in equal measure, so it’s no wonder that the endless roads and forgotten towns of the deep countryside are practically synonymous with the general concept of a “post-apocalypse.” Although there’s a bleak horror to the very real rural decay of “Flyover Country,” there’s a tragic beauty in its stillness, something which OKC noise rockers Chat Pile and Texas-raised, Oklahoma-based fingerpicking guitarist and composer Hayden Pedigo masterfully capture on their new collaborative LP, In The Earth Again.
The album unravels new, yet-to-be-explored layers of complexity for Chat Pile and Hayden Pedigo’s artistic visions. Despite their works occupying what seems like completely opposite ends of the genre and tonal spectrum, Hayden Pedigo and Chat Pile radiate a genuine synergy with one another that extends far beyond their music. Each residents of rural America with a penchant for the weird and eclectic, it was only a matter of time before their paths crossed in OKC’s underground/DIY art scene, first as friends during Hayden’s relocation from one panhandle state to another, and eventually as artistic collaborators as that bond crystallized.
In The Earth Again sees both Chat Pile and Hayden Pedigo explore latent yet previously untapped aspects of their sounds. For Chat Pile, this meant an opportunity to explore moodier arrangements, indulge in sample and tape manipulation, and pen among the most sincere and personal lyrics in their entire discography. In Hayden’s case, this collaboration enabled the visionary guitarist to translate the masterful craft of his typically tranquil, deep country soundscapes into something more sinister, tinged with a visceral, metallic grit that is no less evocative on a sensory level than their solo material. “We all wanted to avoid the downfall you see in a lot of collab records,” explains Hayden. “We didn’t want this record to either end up primarily sounding like one of us more than the other.” Stin from Chat Pile adds, “For the album, every decision made was in support of each other’s ideas and making sure that everything we did was in service of a greater vision.”
Framed through a loose yet ever-present narrative soaked in apocalyptic subtext, In The Earth Again presents a portrait of societal decay, characterized by the brutality of the active apocalypse and the eerie stillness that follows in its wake. Throughout its entire thirty-six-minute runtime, In The Earth Again cycles between rustic tones, snarling aggression, and crescendos of tragic catharsis.
In The Earth Again will be released on October 31, 2025 and will be offered in multiple editions featuring a cover art by Malcolm Byers: Standard gatefold format, with 180g vinyl and colored variants in black, silver, and gold. Deluxe version with black vinyl featuring a massive double-sided poster and presented in the label’s sealed aluminum sleeve with black print. CD, cassette and digital versions will be released in their most essential form. A Limited edition, packaged in a matte aluminum sleeve, with oxblood print and oxblood vinyl will exclusively be available through the label’s website here. More news soon.
