Chat Pile has been grinding out sludgy Midwestern noise rock for years, while Hayden Pedigo has spent over a decade roaming the Texas panhandle, dismantling fingerpicking folk traditions with his seamless blend of American Primitivism and avant-garde experimentation. Now, the two worlds collide: “Radioactive Dreams” from their album In the Earth Again.

On paper, it’s an unlikely collaboration, but in practice, it’s a revelation. The pairing not only draws out the best in both artists, but also forges an entirely new sound. Together, they sketch a fresh chapter of American music, where desolate rural decay bleeds into post-apocalypse. Or as the label perfectly describes it as music that “cycles between rustic tones, snarling aggression, and crescendos of tragic catharsis.”

A fitting portrait of two artists pushing each other into uncharted territory

Originally published on tidal.com/magazine August 29, 2025