2024 Album Reviews
A short review of albums I liked in 2024.
Coagulated Bliss - Full of Hell
The album art reminds me of the Dillinger Escape Plan. This is another solid album from Full of Hell. The sound feels like a continuation of Garden of Burning Apparitions but maybe a bit of a step back to a warmer sound to the mixing. Overall, I really like this album!
Favorite track: Fractured Bonds to Mecca
I Got Heaven - Mannequin Pussy
I wasn’t sure what I’d think of Mannequin Pussy when I first heard of them, I Got Heaven blew me away. They manage the energy of their hardcore punk association while blending more indie and even a little emo into it. This album has been on repeat a ton over the year.
Favorite track: I Got Heaven
The Healer - Sumac
Heavy is an understatement. This album has some of the most incredible, gnarly bass tones I’ve ever heard Brian Cook make. You can also hear the influences Keiji Haino has had on the band after two albums and I think it really adds to the album. Between crushingly heavy parts, the song will open up to Aaron Turner howling and wild guitar and drums. Each time I’ve listened to the album I hear something new and exciting.
Favorite track: World of Light
She Reaches Out To She Reaches Out To - Chelsea Wolfe
I love Chelsea Wolfe’s more electronic side and this album leans heavily into it. A lot more grooves and deep bass than many of her other albums.
Favorite track: Tunnel Lights
Your Fathers Rage Evaporated In The Sun - Collapsed Skull
Stripped down grind with noise and hip hop beats delivered by a three piece. This hits all the things I love about Full of Hell but adds more noise and raw aggression combined with a heavy dose of political fury. There is a lot of really bad grindcore but this is quality grind. You can definitely hear the influences of Man is the Bastard and Bastard Noise on this band.
Favorite track: Sniping Pigz
Dune: Part Two
I’ve listened to this album a ton while working just like I did with the original Dune soundtrack. I love how Hans Zimmer is able to create an absolutely otherworldly sound that has moments of familiarity. I had never heard of a Duduk before but in many ways its the star of the album. The Duduk and Synth combo in A Time of Quiet Between The Storms is so incredibly moving. It really becomes the Paul and Chani motif and it changes over the course of the movie a Paul moves towards his Terrible Purpose.
Favorite track: A Time of Quiet Between the Storms
Umbilical - Thou
Absolutely heavy but surprisingly fast. Sludge gone hardcore punk. This album is a nice return to the original heaviness of Thou. I love all the experimentation they’ve been doing, and you can hear it in this album too. They’ve got the crushing tsunami of heavy noise but the drums drive the songs ever faster. This album had my heart pumping through the entire thing.
Favorite track: Emotional Terrorist
My Method Actor - Nilüfer Yanya
I love the grooves and guitar on this album. I didn’t think I’d like the album as much as I did but its a really nice album to listen to. The combination of pop, fuzzed out guitars and soul is a really great combination.
Favorite Track: Method Actor
The Great Bailout (Deluxe) - Moor Mother
This album is incredible. It creates an intensly heavy atmosphere but uses other means of achieving that heaviness. The vocals are mostly spoken in almost a spoken word cadence but also very witchy. The music is a mix of electronics, noise, avant-garde, jazz and soul. The whole album should be listened in a single sitting as its an experience. The three additional tracks on the Deluxe version are alternate versions of songs on the album and I love listening to how different they are.
Favorite Track: Death By Longitude
All Born Screaming - St. Vincent
I hadn’t listened to St. Vincent until this year. What a mistake that was! I’ve worked through her back catalog of albums and they’re all so good.
All Born Screaming was produced by St. Vincent herself and it sounds so good! I love the sonic textures of her songs, they’re a mix of glossy, fuzzy refined and raw. I love the rock swagger of this album mixed with the pop, disco and electronics. So good.
Favorite Track: Big Time Nothing
Dreams on Algorithms - Escuela Grind
More metalcore this time around and a really damn fun listen. What I love about this album is that you can tell the band had so much fun recording it. The whole album pummels you the entire way and then surprises you with clean singing on Turbulence. I wasn’t a huge fan of Turbulence the first time I heard it but it has grown on my over a few more listens.
Favorite Track: Always Watching You