I have to confess: I was not as excited about new music this year. Thinking through what was going to make the cut for 2024, I realized that I might honestly have been more enthusiastic about some of last year's runner-ups than I am regarding a few picks from this actual list. And—more so than ever before—there are so many 2024 releases that I simply haven't heard. I've always been a bit scattered and random when it comes to what I do and don't pay much attention to, but this was also a year in which I was most noticeably affected by the dominance of increasingly high-priced vinyl, and therefore my own weird hangups about how I prefer to collect and listen to music. In more than a few cases, I was so frustrated by going to purchase a vinyl-only release and being met with a near-$40 price tag after shipping (or more, especially if international postage came into play), that I simply never bothered to even listen to the release in its entirety.
While some of this is absolutely a "me problem," I also know that I'm not entirely alone on this. But, while I could easily waste thousands more words ranting in greater detail, I'll stop whining and get to the point. Following are my personal favorite releases of the year. Top three in order, the rest alphabetically...
Surrender the Weapon, Surrender the Weapon (Self-Released)
I knew this was gonna be #1, proclaimed as much before the EP was officially released, and here it is in the top spot. One of the only releases all year that had me truly, genuinely excited during the lead-up. Former members of Elements DEC and For the Love Of... (not to mention ties to Agents of Man, Man Destroyed Man, and Strength 691, amongst others) presenting a technical and progressive form of epic, melodic metalcore that certainly strays from the norm and has far more than average to offer. My initial feature from last month received a stronger response than the bulk of what I cover, so I hope that will bode well for the future of Surrender the Weapon—though they remain criminally underrated at the time of this writing!
Hear this masterful EP in one continuous run, as it was intended, via Bandcamp. Otherwise, find the tunes through Spotify, Apple Music, etc.
Schedule 1, Crucible (Council Records)
Earlier this year, a number of people recommended Vancouver, B.C., Canada's Schedule 1 and their dark but very catchy (and unique) post-punk that leans a little harder on the punk than the post-. It definitely has that vibe texturally in terms of the watery bass tone, shimmery guitar melodies, and occasional washes of keyboard accents; but the vocals have more life than many such acts, as do a number of the tempos. The songwriting is simply phenomenal in terms of carrying an atmospheric edge into truly hook-filled territory that's still completely authentic. Fantastic work, all around.
Pick up Crucible on pink-ish coral or black vinyl through Council Records in the U.S., or turquoise or black vinyl through Mendeku Diskak in Europe. You can also experience the greatness of these tunes via Spotify or Apple Music or whatever.
Walled City, World Pain (Post Reality)
I discovered St. Petersburg, FL's Walled City through a post on Instagram and was immediately impressed by their raging-yet-melodic hardcore/punk with an occasionally crusty edge, not to mention some absolutely scathing vocals. The tracks cover a good range of tempos and often sit in that driving, D-beat sweet spot, while the faster fare touches on classic hardcore and the "slower" moments can lean into that His Hero is Gone/Tragedy level of dark heaviness. Easily one of the most underrated hardcore releases of the year, still deserving of far wider attention.
World Pain is available on LP or digital straight from Walled City on Bandcamp. Those who stream, there's always Spotify, Apple Music, etc.
Alien Ant Farm, Mantras (Chick Music)
Not unlike Blink-182 landing on my year-end list in 2019: ridiculous, but true. I've long-enjoyed Alien Ant Farm (the band name is damn-near an insult to their talents), and this "comeback" disc got a lot of playtime over here in 2024. It's a return to form in terms of catchiness, and adds a little exploratory shimmer to their not-exactly-nu form of alternative metal. I personally feel that more people would appreciate this band if they'd actually give 'em a chance, but... say what you will.
Mantras is a widespread enough release that you'll find better prices from evil mainstream sources than the band; or you can stream using Spotify and Apple Music and such.
Entropy, Dharmakāya (Crazysane Records)
Hamburg, Germany's Entropy remains one of the most underrated bands out there at present, and I can't help but feel like they'd have so much more of a buzz if they could just get in front of the right ears. Their post-hardcore-infused alt.-rock tends to draw fair comparisons to assorted pockets of Bob Mould's discography, and this album is loaded with the type of standout tracks that bear the infectious energy that made me fall in love with the band in the first place. If you've continued to sleep on 'em, cut the shit and get with it!
Dharmakāya is out on CD or LP (150 on an orange/blue smash, 150 on black, 200 on transparent orange) through Crazysane Records (and on Bandcamp), or in the U.S. via A Thousand Arms. Everyone else, fire up Spotify or Apple Music or something and hear what you've been missing...
Opeth, The Last Will and Testament (Moderbolaget/Reigning Phoenix)
As respectfully as possible, I would say that Opeth probably hasn't written a song that I would consider to be overtly memorable since 2008-ish. Shortly after that time, I kinda took a decade-long break after worshipping Opeth—and Mikael Åkerfeldt specifically—for quite some time. To my ears thus far, The Last Will and Testament still lacks that "memorable" quality of my favorites from the Opeth catalog, and I don't particularly care that the growls are back, but this is just such an ambitious and perfectly-executed album that I couldn't help but acknowledge it here. It's a lush and immersive experience that I'll be the first to admit I still haven't fully digested, and one that has had me feeling special about the band again for the first time in a good while.
Once more, you can probably get a slightly better price buying somewhere that sucks, but copies on all formats remain in the band's store, too. Streamin' types can head to Spotify or Apple Music or wherever else.
Producer, Deuce (Self-Released)
I had been missing out on Richmond, VA's Producer for a few years before stumbling onto their Deuce EP at the start of the year. These jams should be mandatory listening for any fan of classic rockin' fare—one can discern bits and pieces of everything from AC/DC to Skynyrd, and of course any number of heavier, more "modern" artists. They certainly touch on the staple characteristics, but steer the songwriting into more unique territory that's not at all generic. Excellent.
Grab a download of Deuce from Bandcamp. Stream via Spotify and Apple Music and all that.
Train of Thought, Bliss (Daze/Streets of Hate/Triple-B Records)
If I continue to allow myself one reissue per year-end list, this has to be the pick for 2024. Train of Thought remains one of my all-time favorite bands—amidst the first underground acts that I became obsessed with in the '90s, sending me on one of my earliest quests for an obscure demo, etc. I've previously described this post- Bulldoze outfit as delivering "an innovative form of introspective metallic hardcore that was years ahead of its time in combining soaring vocals and melody with dense heaviness and hard-hitting grooves." Even if it was only on vinyl, to see these songs given a new lease on life by a string of prominent hardcore labels kinda blew my mind. Much respect. Wish this would happen more often!
Vinyl is sold out through Daze, but black and splatter are both still available in limited quantities from Streets of Hate and Triple-B. CD lovers, there's one copy of the original release on Discogs right now, and that shit is rare...
Webbed Wing, Vol. III (Memory Music)
Who knows what the future holds for Webbed Wing now that Superheaven is releasing new material, but... they've been one of my favorites ever since stumbling onto their debut a few years back. Vol. III is perhaps not quite as immediate as prior efforts, but its wide-ranging alternative rock with great production and hooks aplenty is still a high-level winner in the end. I've long felt that they're one of the best out there right now—easily amongst my most-listened bands of the past five years—and, in my opinion, the best songs on this album are stronger than the new Superheaven tracks.
Pick up Vol. III on black and purple swirl vinyl or digital through Bandcamp; cloudy maroon, gold, or blue swirl from the label; or stream via Spotify, Apple Music, blah, blah...
***
Though ultimately not present herein, albums from The Cure, Dissimulator, Drug Church, Her Head's on Fire, and J. Robbins were in deep consideration and still deserve a mention...
