I really can’t tell anymore what is going on in the musical landscape – especially when taking a look at the underground scene. I’d be able to start off with 20 absolutely amazing releases that I didn’t even have the time to listen to fully. However, since we’re talking about favorites, I’d rather focus on the releases I listened to a lot and highly enjoyed!
Rejoice – All Of Heaven’s Luck
[Delayed Gratification Records]
[Lower Class Kids Records]
When taking a brief look at the labels involved releasing this gem, you can probably tell already how I got into the music of Rejoice. Obviousy, our boy Nino (Lower Class Kids Records) dropped this recommendation and it absolutely captured me by storm. If you take the savage energy of Integrity and mix it with the riffing and speed of Trap Them, you’d be able to at least guess what this sounds like. All Of Heaven’s Luck grasped my attention throughout the entire year and surely marks one of my best discoveries of 2024.
Unhallowed Deliverance – Of Spectres and Strife
[Self-Released]
I don’t think that this comes as a surprise. Having fallen for Unhallowed Deliverance right from the start, instantly writing about the release (Review) and having the pleasure to interview these Tech Death maniacs right away probably shows the amount of interest that came up. What a fucking amazing debut release. Song-writing, lyrics, intention, production, riffing, energy, overarching theme – everything done right on this album.
Amber – Room for Understanding
[Room 11 Records]
Similar to Unhallowed Deliverance but moving in entirely different spheres, Amber also got me with their debut release Room for Understanding (Review; Interview). On this release, Amber succeed to intertwine various different genre styles thus coming out with a very unique tone. Cherrypicking from styles such as Post-Punk, Shoegaze, Emo and Alternative, this album brings along an amazing variety.
Dungeon Keeper – Chaos Sorcery Strike at Midnight
[Fucking Kill Records]
[Lower Class Kids Records | Low Fidelity Assaults]
[Iconoclasm Conquest]
The true masters of Chaos Sorcery emerged from the cellars of the Fortress of Evil with the release of their full-length debut. With their first album, Dungeon Keeper clearly showed that they are able to uphold their mastery of 1st Wave Black Metal on full length. The furious energy that this album brings forth is best to be experienced live!
Pöbel MC – Dr. Pöbel
[Audiolith]
I really enjoyed pretty much all of the releases Pöbel MC brought out during the last years. Having followed his music right off starting with the Pöbel Sports tape, I was incredibly surprised by the release of Dr. Pöbel. While there was a certain type of sound that followed throughout a lot of the prevalent releases (excluding the Pöbel Sports Tape II), the sound on this album differs a lot, bringing in fresh air and thus dropping one of the best German Rap releases in 2024.
Sun Worship – Upon the Hills of Divination
[Vendetta Records]
I wanted this so bad. Sun Worship’s Elder Giants has still remained one of my most favorite Black Metal releases and since having discovered this album (~2020) I have been following this band. After Emanations of Desolation that marked a slight tone shift, it took a few years for them to return. If there is one thing that is better than being in awe of a band you favor releasing new stuff, it is a release that fully matches your expectations. This album caught me by surprise and had me hooked right away. These guys still know how to set up intimidating soundscapes and succeeded once again.
Gewohnheitstrinker – Schlägerei
[Randale Records]
What a drop! Once again, Lower Rhine Underground brought me back into listening to Gewohnheitstrinker due to the upload of their singer’s other projects Collaps and RumpelstilSkin – and then this dropped. The intensely gritty guitar sound alone is reason enough to get into this album. However, the rawer sound that builds the foundation of the album combined with the high energy that is delivered on all of the tracks – plus the incredibly well-written lyrics – brought me back to this album a damn lot times.
Prehistoric War Cult – BARBARIC METAL
[Fucking Kill Records]
[Kellerassel Records]
[Iconoclasm Conquest]
We were all waiting for this to happen, weren’t we? I feel as if Prehistoric War Cult have become a major highlight at least in my musical bubble and starting off with their first demo, almost everyone was waiting for following releases and especially their full-length debut. The sound was excactly what we expected, straight to your face!
Deathrite – Flames Licking Fever
[Into Endless Chaos Records]
[War Anthem Records]
With their last release Delirium, Deathrite already showed in what direction their heading. With the still very present amount of Roll all over their approach towards 1st Wave Black Metal, this release seems to have worked in order to pave the way for Flames Licking Fever. On their latest full-length, Deathrite dive way deeper into the spheres of the aforementioned Black Metal, intertwining it in different ways. What a feast!
Die Verlierer – Notausgang
[Mangel Records]
I got slightly hooked on the debut release by Die Verlierer, especially on the track “Plastic Life.” I really didn’t know that a new full-length was supposed to be released but I was even happier when I came across this information. On this release, Die Verlierer (The Losers) return with highly catchy NDW / Post-Punk vibes that come along with a perfectly raw production.
Leave a Reply