The October Sweatdown 2K25 reminds you that October is for more than just Halloween! It’s more than just for the spooky!

The Sweatdown has existed since April of 2018 as a monthly collection of music I’ve been listening to. Sometimes it’s old tracks but it’s usually new music. Everything from indie to synthwave to rock to alternative and more. Every December is a culmination of the music I’ve listened to. These playlists may move off Spotify at the end of 2025.

What’s Here For October

You can read my review of seeing Nine Inch Nails in August here. I might even see them in February in Hamilton just because Nine Inch Nails in Hamilton is wild to me.

I really like the new album by Tyler, The Creator. It only takes a half hour to listen to but I love the songs on it. This and Big Poe are my favourites.

You should absolutely check out Kanadia‘s new album The Fire That’s Tearing Through Our Home. I think it’s my album of the year, at least right now it is. Really great band. Hope they play in North America sometime. Might not fit the sweatdown feel but the song is too good to deny.

Never thought I’d hear Alexisonfire cover Tragically Hip. Apparently it came from watching their performance at Woodstock 99. Crazy.

LEAP is one of those bands I keep going back to. I mean there’s a lot of returnees on this month but I absolutely love their sound. They also just released a new album called Entropy so check it out.

Another great album this year is Pink Skies record American Mood Ring. This is my second favourite song from it.

You can’t have October without spooky and DEVORA always brings the spooky.

Just to spice things up I tossed Since When by 54-40. Why? Honestly it’s one of those songs I always think about loving back in the day but I could never remember the name or who did it. And then I saw it on a 90s Canadian rock playlist and was like OH THAT SONG. It also breaks up the list.

Little Miami by HARBOUR, Enrose really changes up the vibe with the sax but it’s a great tune.

I thought it was right to end with Filter if I was starting with Nine Inch Nails. It’s nice that both bands are still kicking.

October Sweatdown 2K25 Features:

Nine Inch Nails – Shadow Over Me
Tyler, The Creator – Mommanem
Kanadia – How Do You Sleep?
Alexisonfire – Fully Completely
LEAP – I was Never There
Hotel Mira – Re: Valentine’s Day
Pink Skies – Twisters
The Amazons – Love is a dog from hell
DEVORA – Cocaine Karaoke
Anberlin, Matty Mullins – Ready Fuels
54-40 – Since When
HARBOUR, Enrose – Little Miami
MODERNS – Grey
almost monday – lost
Cold War Kids – Hyperempathy
The Technicolors – I Miss My Friends
Filter – A Sort of Homecoming

Thank you for reading and thank you for listening. Photo by me at Nine Inch Nails in Detroit on August 22, 2025. You can read my review of the show here.