For 2024, I am once again only providing my top 5 albums of the year, rather than the usual 10. There were many records that came out this year but only a few really moved me from start to finish. The albums listed below were the strongest and most cohesive efforts I heard this year. Without further adieu, my top 5 albums of 2024.
05) Candy, It’s Inside You (Relapse)
“I Want Candy!”
Fortunately, Aaron Carter’s song has nothing to do with this vitalizing record by Candy. This was the first I heard of the band and immersed myself with their blend of industrial and hardcore. “Dancing To The Infinite Beat” is definitely not my style but I caught myself continuously going back to that song. Perhaps it was the hint of nostalgia towards the end of the song where I start to reminisce about playing my GameBoy Color. The album is littered with genre changes with the nu-metal and grindcore beatdowns as my favorites. Clocking in at only 30 mins, It’s Inside You is a quick listen that has huge replay value.
Rec Track: “Dancing To The Infinite Beat” & “You Will Never Get Me”
04) Knocked Loose, You Won’t Go Before You’re Supposed To (Pure Noise)
Knocked Loose is just so dirty, and I mean that in the most sincere way. Their 2019 album, A Different Shade of Blue, was such a massive hit, I didn’t think they could follow it up.Yet, they go ahead and release their, A Tear in the Fabric of Life EP, and prove me wrong. But surely, they can’t do it again, right? Bam, the appropriately titled, You Won’t Go Before You’re Supposed To hits the street and I am engrossed and impressed once again. The Kentucky natives still bring the heavy on their third record while continuing to keep their signature sound fresh and stimulating. Prominent guest appearances by Poppy and Chris Motionless help add to the strength of the record. The only thing better than this record is their live performance, but that’s a blurb for another time.
Rec Track: “Blinding Faith” & “Thirst”
03) Better Lovers, Highly Irresponsible (SharpTone)
It was hard not to get excited when guitarist Jordan Buckley posted the thrilling video of fellow Every Time I Die bandmates, drummer Clayton “Goose” Holyoak, and bassist Stephen Micciche, with producer Will Putney. To further fuel the fire, the terms “monster riff” and “mosh build” were tastefully teased in the post, too. It only got better when they announced that ex-Dillinger Escape Plan’s Greg Puciatto would be fronting the band. Three distinct heavy bands came together to form a supergroup that only seemed real when discussed amongst fans describing their dream collaborations. Better Lovers quickly put forth a short and sweet EP that only left fans yearning for more. Fortunately, Highly Irresponsible takes off where the EP left off and dishes out driving heavy riffs for a pit-fueled good time….Read my full review here!
Rec Track: “A White Horse Covered In Blood”, “At All Times” & “Love As An Act Of Rebellian”
02) Fit For An Autopsy, The Nothing That Is (Nuclear Blast)
If you guys know me or are familiar with my taste, you know Fit For An Autopsy was making an appearance on this list. What can I say that I haven’t already said about these guys? They constantly write banger riffs and hooks that rev you up from start to finish. “Lower Purpose” had me chanting their tagline, “I am the product of my fucking environment!” for days. That intense lyric coupled with that stomp-driving chug gets me every time. This album contains ten tracks but they all stand on their own. They keep things subtly grim with “Lurch” and “The Silver Sun” and test out Joe Badolato’s high pitch singing with radio songs, “Hostage” and “Savior Of None / Ashes Of All”. I did like the throwback sound of The Great Collapse in “Red Horizon” and personally believe Will Putney’s production work has a huge hand in that. If you ever need to kill 45 minutes, The Nothing That Is will pass the time effortlessly.
Rec Track: “Lower Purpose” & “Spoils of the Horde”
