Features

2024 was another good year for music. New bands, up-and-comers, established powerhouses… they all churned out solid releases. Read on  to find out which 24 releases I listened to the most over the course of the past 12 months. The list is in random order because my favorites keep on changing.

 

Implants - Annihilation (Cyber Tracks)

 

Featuring members from iconic SoCal punk bands Strung Out, Pulley, No Use For A Name and Face To Face, Implants are ready to melt your face off with an updated take on the melodic punk rock that harkens back to the heydays of the Epi/Fat sound. The band’s debut album, ‘From Chaos To Order,’ was solid. ‘Annihilation’ is better. Quality punk rock, spit-shined *hawk tuah* to perfection.

 

 

 

 

Love Letter - Everyone Wants Something Beautiful (Iodine Recordings)

 

‘Everyone Wants Something Beautiful’ takes a confronting look at uncomfortable subjects like insecurity and self-awareness, things we’d rather not talk about and swipe under the rug when we get the chance. New England’s Love Letter on the other hand lay it all out there over the course of ten powerful and brutally honest post-hardcore cuts that are downright beautiful. But honestly, I didn’t expect anything less from a band that features the founding members of Verse and Defeater. Devastatingly beautiful.

 

 

 

Bats & Mice - PS: Seriously (Lovitt Records)

 

In 2012, two of the founding members of the seminal punk trio Bats & Mice stepped into the studio to start work on the follow-up to their 2010 album 'Back In Bat' EP. Then, between babies and careers, life happened, and the project went dark for almost a decade. I for one am very grateful that in 2023 the band suddenly continued where they left off and finished what would become ‘PS: Seriously’. The songs still show the members’ hardcore roots, but you can throw words like soaring, subtle and atmospheric at them as well and all of them will stick. Ridiculously good.

 

 

 

 

The Dopamines - 80/20 (Rad Girlfriend Records, Brassneck Records, Bearded Punk Records)

 

If you like your punk rock sweaty, dirty and beer-stained, then The Dopamines have released the album for you in 2024. ‘80/20’ is a more than solid return to form for the Cincinatti-based band. Think classic Lookout! Records, Dillinger Four or Banner Pilot on a bender.

 

 

 

 

Hot Water Music - VOWS (Equal Vision Records, End Hits Records)

 

30 Years into their career, Hot Water Music more than delivered with ‘VOWS,’ their tenth album. Once again produced by longtime collaborator Brian McTernan, ‘VOWS’ finds the Gainesville legends teaming up with everyone from Thrice to The Interrupters. Yet it still ends up sounding like Hot Water Music. Such is the power of this band. While The Flatliners’ Chris Cresswell’s influence could already be felt on 2022’s ‘Feel The Void,’ the triple vocal threat of Chuck Ragan, Chris Wollard and Cresswell is nothing short of amazing this time around.

 

 

 

 

Bad Nerves - Still Nervous (Suburban Records)

 

On their sophomore album, ‘Still Nervous,’ the UK’s Bad Nerves still sound like an anxiety attack midway a HIIT-workout. Just check out the jittery ‘Antidote’, a short blast of energy that hits you harder than ten shots of espresso.

 

 

 

 

Wild Spelks - A House Full Of Strangers EP (self-released)

 

I was sold the second I heard ‘Take It From A Friend’ for the first time. Wild Spelks started out as a solo project by producer/songwriter/musician Jonathon Sabiston, but has since grown into a full-fledged band. On their debut EP, ‘A House Full Of Strangers,’ the Newcastle-based band needs just five songs to make a lasting impression. Melodic punk meets alt-rock done the right way. Fans of The Menzingers, Hot Water Music, Guided By Voices and even Grandaddy should take notice.

 

 

 

 

Split System - Vol II (Legless, Goner Records, Drunken Sailor Records)

 

Featuring members of Stiff Richards and Speed Week as well as vocalist Jackson Reid Briggs (who has some great solo albums as well), Split System released their sophomoric album early on in 2024 and I haven’t stopped listening to it since. Gloriously dirty, back-to-basics punk rock from Down Under.

 

 

 

 

KMPFSPRT - Aus Gegebenem Anlass (Rookie Records)

 

I have no idea what these guys are singing about half the time, but with ‘Aus Gegebenem Anlass’ KMPFSPRT outdid themselves. Over the years, the Cologne, Germany based band has become ever more crafty at mixing melodic hardcore with pop and it never sounded better than on the band’s fifth album. Think Kid Dynamite meets fellow countrymen Donots.

 

 

 

 

Touché Amoré - Spiral In A Straight Line (Rise Records)

 

How do you follow up on five excellent albums? Well, you release another one. With ‘Spiral In A Straight Line,’ post-hardcore powerhouse Touché Amoré makes it look easy. With a little help from Lou Barlow and Julien Baker along the way, the band dishes out eleven slices of devastating beauty with some of their most memorable choruses to date. There aren’t too many bands out there that can make sadness sound this good.

 

 

 

 

Drug Church - Prude (Pure Noise Records)

 

If you like sardonic wit and clever observations, there was already no going around Drug Church. On the band’s fifth album, ‘Prude,’ the band comes at you with ten songs worth of bulldozer riffs, melodies that are poppier than what you expect to hear on a hardcore album and of course, Patrick Kindlon’s excellent lyricism.

 

 

 

Her Head’s On Fire - Strange Desires (Iodine Recordings)

 

Take everything you loved about debut album ‘College Rock & Clove Cigarettes’ and ramp it up. That pretty much sums up Her Head’s On Fire’s sophomore album, ‘Strange Desires’. Featuring former members of luminary bands like Garrison, Small Brown Bike, The Bomb and Saves The Day, Her Head’s On Fire’s second album boasts ten songs worth of big riffs, solid melodies, propulsive rhythms and Joseph Grillo’s captivating vocals. Over the course of the album, they manage to dabble in everything from late 80s New Wave and early 90s indie to post-hardcore. The result? An impressive wall of sound

 

 

 

 

AVEM - Graham Cracker EP

 

Our favorite bird nerds from Canada flocked together earlier this year to record a new 6-song EP. ‘Graham Cracker’ packs six more excellent avian-centered pop punk tunes, this time with lyrics written by guitarist Ernie’s father. I also finally got the chance to see them live this year and they did not disappoint. Here’s to hoping they will migrate to Europe again soon. CAAAAAWWWWW!

 

 

 

 

Stand Still - Steps Ascending (DAZE)

 

Long Island has long since been a breeding ground for solid bands. And with their debut album, Stand Still simply carry on with that tradition. Fans of The Movielife, Saves The Day and Silent Majority alike will find plenty to gush over on ‘Steps Ascending’.

 

 

 

 

Chaser - Small Victories (Thousand Islands Records, SBÄM Records, Pee Records)

 

Southern California’s Chaser done did it again on ‘Small Victories’. Produced by Cameron Webb (NOFX, Social Distortion, Motorhead, Pennywise), ‘Small Victories’ is nothing but blistering drums, even more blistering riffs, huge choruses and more singalong parts than you can shake a stick at. Songs like ‘Brand New Enemy’, ‘Fault Lines’ and ‘Stay Gold’ would have anthemic written all over them if it was possible to write something on a song. Small victories? Bit of an understatement.

 

 

 

 

The Corps - Fractured Protocol (Thousand Islands Records)

 

Got room for some more lightning-fast drums, strong melodies and tons of shredding that occasionally crosses over into metal just for the fun of it? Well, The Corps has got you covered on album number two. ‘Fractured Protocol’ is the Canadians’ best album to date and if you have heard their previous releases, you know that means you are in for a real treat.

 

 

 

 

 

Alkaline Trio - Blood, Hair & Eyeballs (Rise Records)

 

Not only is ‘Blood, Hair & Eyeballs’ Alkaline Trio’s tenth album, it is also the last one featuring Derek Grant on drums. That makes this one pretty special. And with songs like ‘Scars’ with its propulsive drums and wavering guitar lines, the ‘Agony & Irony’ reminiscent ‘Break’, some Dan Andriano greatness on ‘Broken Down In A Time Machine’ and album closer ‘Teenage Heart,’ Alkaline Trio more than delivers.

 

 

 

 

Bad Year - Bad Year (Snappy Little Numbers)

 

On their self-titled album, Denver, CO’s Bad Year burns through ten songs worth of excellent pop-punk that made me think of Face To Face in the best of ways, but with the pop sensibilities of a band like Broadway Calls and the occasional wink of a mascara-lined eye to Alkaline Trio. Every single song on here delivers. But I guess that naming your band after a Sicko song, is already a tell-tale sign that you have good taste.

 

 

 

 

Loud Love - Bright Shadows (White Russian Records)

 

On their debut album, Belgium’s Loud Love sounds more versatile than ever. Sure, vocalist Dries Olemans can still deliver blood-curdling screams over a furious post-hardcore backdrop, but opener 'Renaissance' sounds like an 00's emo song on steroids, 'Cannonball' is downright poppy and with 'Shadowplay' they show that you can actually throw in some post-punk vibes and not end up sounding like every other post-punk band out there. Downright impressive album.

 

 

 

 

Death Lens - Cold World (Epitaph)

 

Death Lens started out as an instrumental band, before growing into an altogether different beast. On album number four, their fiery alt-punk shines bright on songs like ‘Fucked Up’, ‘Disturb The Peace’ and the title track, but it isn’t flawless. Yet I found myself reaching back to this one on more than one occasion throughout the year.

 

 

 

 

Celebration Summer - A Little Less Numb (Den Of Wax)

 

A late entry, but a good one. Celebration Summer released their new 4-song EP just earlier this month and it sees the DC-based melodic punk band taking their songwriting chops to the next level. Influenced by older Dischord bands such as Dag Nasty, Embrace, and Rites of Spring, along with the more gruff punk sounds of Leatherface and Hot Water Music, these tracks are more nuanced and accessible than anything they have done up to this point.

 

 

 

 

States Of Nature - Brighter Than Before (Sell The Heart Records, Little Rocket Records)

 

Hailing from Oakland, CA, States Of Nature come at you with a ‘danceable hybrid of Post-Hardcore and Rock N’Roll’ disclaimer. Which is actually a pretty solid description for the sounds they crank out on their latest full-length, ‘Brighter Than Before’.

 

 

 

 

Custody - III (Brassneck Records, My Ruin, Combat Rock Industry, Shield Recordings, Sell The Heart Records)

 

On ‘3’, Finnish melodic pop-punk band Custody dishes out a collection of songs that have all sprung to life over the past 3 years. It's still very much the Custody sound you have come to love from their past releases, but this time around the arrangements have been given a bit more leg space, making the bass and vocals shine even brighter than before. The result? A very coherent collection of catchy tunes that is guaranteed to make every self-respecting fan of bands like Samiam, Hot Water Music, and The Get Up Kids buckle at the knees

 

 

 

 

One Step Closer - All You Embrace (Run For Cover Records)

 

‘All You Embrace’ is an exercise in blurring the lines between hardcore, emo, and ‘90s alternative rock. On this new batch of songs, the Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania band sounds bigger, catchier, and moodier than ever before, all the while still feeling exactly like One Step Closer.