The Lead Sheet ~ 9/16/25

The Lead Sheet is your guide to this week’s new music - taking a look at newly released albums, who made them, and how listeners are responding. 

Alt-rock duo 21 Pilots are back this week with a new LP, titled Breach. Breach is a narrative conclusion to the band’s current era, which began with their 2015 album, Blurryface, which held several chart-toppers, received widespread acclaim, and went platinum six times. Breach takes a maximalist approach to rock, and the LP is rife with catchy melodies, electronic sounds, and well thought-out lyrics that callback to 21 Pilots’ early discography. The album is getting great praise and is also the first to feature vocals from Josh Dun, the duo’s drummer, who can be heard on the track “Drum Show”. 

Manchester based post-rock group Maruja released their first studio album, Pain to Power, after previously releasing six EP’s. The new album has been receiving high marks in reviews since its release on Friday, with recognition for its primal atmosphere, use of dramatic silence, and blending genres like rock, jazz, punk and rap. An exciting debut for the group, who is currently on tour in the UK before coming to the United States for a leg this fall. 

This week doom metal girl-group Die Spitz released their debut studio album, Something to Consume to great reviews. The Austin, Texas based band had previously released 2 EP’s, but fans and critics agree Something to Consume showcases Die Spitz in peak form. The group’s energy is off the charts, and any of the new album’s eleven tracks has a place in a workout playlist, teeming with overdriven guitar chugging and thrashing drums. It seems the consensus is that Die Spitz nailed their first act, and will be one to watch as they develop their sound further. 

It’s hard to think of contemporary pop musicians with less influence than Ed Sheeran – his new album Play has been getting positive but somewhat lukewarm reviews. Play’s criticism is mainly that the album is bland and takes few risks, staying within a safe zone for the artist, and listeners don’t feel an authentic connection to the music. Play is the singer-songwriter’s eighth studio album to date, and Sheeran is stylistically deviating from the previously “math-titled” records Plus, Divide, Subtract etc. Still, average Sheeran is still a cut above, and Play still has some radio appeal. 

English post-punk rock band The Chameleons put out a surprise album this week, titled Arctic Moon. This is the group’s fifth studio album since their debut Script of a Bridge in 1983, and first record in 24 years. Despite having plenty of time to prepare, the album isn’t quite the triumphant comeback some had hoped for, and is getting somewhat mixed reviews. Fans tend to rate the new project higher than critics and casual listeners, but there seems to be some agreement that the new songs just don’t have the same power and punch of the band’s earlier days. 

21 Pilots- Breach

Released Sep 12, 2025

Fueled by Ramen

Maruja - Pain to Power

Released Sep 12, 2025

Music For Nations

Die Spitz - Something to Consume

Released Sep 12, 2025

Third Man Records

Ed Sheeran - Play

Released Sep 12, 2025

Gingerbread Man, Atlantic UK

The Chameleons - Arctic Moon

Released Sep 12, 2025

Metropolis Records