2024 has treated our ears with a whole lot of great music. Here are my go-tos in no special order. They all just plain slap.
Blood Incantation: Absolute Elsewhere
Timewave Zero was one of my favorite Corona records. When Absolute Elsewhere came out and masterfully combined both sides of Blood Incantation, this band had me for good.
Infant Island: Obsidian Wreath
Released on Jeremy Bolm‘s Secret Voice label, this is Screamo par excellence. At times melancholic, at times raging, all the time fascinating.
Kanonenfieber: Die Urkatastrophe
Since Roman Trancended loved their debut, I decided to give this one a spin. All Quiet on the Western Front put into various styles of Metal: get educated while banging your head and fists.
Knocked Loose: You won’t go before you’re supposed to
For me, Knocked Loose are one of the next big gateway bands of our time. You won’t go before you’re supposed to is very accessible and heavy at the same time, paving the musical way for many people.
Soft Kill: Escape forever
Another year, another Soft Kill album. This band and their work ethic are unstoppable. The quality of their output remains consistently high. More favorite songs for many more years.
Outlander: Acts of Harm
Outlander make music for grainy black-and-white slow-motion films. Rarely has an album brought me so much inner balance.
Spectral Wound: Songs of Blood and Mire
It still amazes me how Canadian band can be this grim. Black Metal at its most catchy and Rock and Rolly. A definitive highlight in 2024.
Förfallet: Ve
Förfallet are one of the big surprises for me this year. We already loved their debut, but this one is a huge step forward in every instance.
Touché Amoré: Spiral in straight Line
Touché Amoré are back with Ross Robinson at the production helm. They haven’t lost an inch of their passion and this records cements their status in modern Hardcore.
A Burial at Sea: Close to Home
I didn’t know that I needed Post-Rock with horns in my life, but here we are. A Burial at Sea have released a beautiful, calming album that serves as a faithful companion.
Conrad
Great list and I found some extra stuff I missed this year that I’ll have to check out!