2025 is here. It sounds like a line from a random sci-fi movie set in the future. But it’s not. As I type this it’s only day two of the new year and seemingly every corner of our country is under attack in some form or another. And of course judgement day is only a mere eighteen days away. Not many things to look forward to so let’s look back in time instead at the best music of 2024 (Music I think is the best, calm down).
A top ten list sounds daunting at best so I’ll keep it to five. Five is bearable I think.
This list will consist of my Top Five (Full Length) Albums of the Year (2024) and a single extra entry for my favorite EP of the year. So yeah…
5. ‘PENITH’ by Lil Dicky
Okay you can judge me all you want for this one but I’m a fan of Lil Dicky. Sue me. He’s not just a talented musician, he’s also of course damn funny. But despite his preoccupation to be the funny, comedian rapper, he isn’t afraid to drop the bravado and “stand-up” nature of his music to deliver the more raw side of his life story. Songs like “Ally’s Song” describing his failed relationship in the name of pursuing his career as a musician. “Harrison Ave” is about young love from his days in junior high to high school and the pitfalls that come with such powerful emotions at a young age.
Then of course there’s tracks like “Mr. McAdams” where he hilariously shoots his shot with the gorgeous Ms. Rachel McAdams. Whether he’s trying to be funny or tell a true life story from the depths of his soul, it’s catchy as hell, creative to no end and it feels like individual stories pieced together for an overall saga of Lil Dicky’s life, even if told from the perspective of his character from his FXX series, Dave. It just works, comedy and all.
4. ‘The Black’ by Imminence
“From Sweden with love.” A Swedish metalcore band that absolutely brings the heat in every single, in every full length release. Add in the key element of a violin acting as a juxtaposition to the aggressive nature of heavy music and you get Imminence. Somehow, when layered together, the drums, guitar, screams and violin meld together making them stand out in grand fashion. They bring a massive, angry sound mixed with ethereal elements making a complete picture of the album’s themes of mental health, depression and the darkness of the human mind. There is an orchestral aspect mixing with ferocious metalcore as the album journeys from the light to the dark. This is Imminence at their most angry, aggressive, desperate and unhinged. It’s dramatically epic.
3. ‘Death Is Little More’ by Boundaries
To begin, Boundaries’ third full length is the band at its most confident and most focused. Despite the focus however it feels wholly manic and angrier than ever. The themes of death, grief, rage and the difficulties of life are highlighted and heightened by a massive sound that feels as pissed off as any release in 2024. For life, it is inspired by the 14th century poem, Inferno, Canto I, which describes how dying would be no worse than living in a bitter black forest of existence.
It is a huge record giving in to the darker side of our humanity. It is an existential journey grappling with bitterness, resentment, wrathful vengeance and anguished self-reflection. These topics are dark and reside within our more tormented nature as human beings but if never addressed they can become all-encompassing which leads to nothing good. So if anything, this record is an outlet to unleash in a safe manner, all of our darkest thoughts, desires and frustrations.
2. ‘The Nothing That Is’ by Fit For An Autopsy
Long involved and never afraid to voice their opinions, Fit For An Autopsy continues their timely message that includes aggression, melody, human suffering, political violence and dark dystopia. With a strong social conscience, certain songs address political issues such as “Red Horizon” which confronts the genocide in Gaza with strong, unminced lyrics. Lyrics like, “The bodies burned so bright that God closed his eyes” touch on the subject of human suffering. There is also a look into the future, dark, dystopic themes of tyrannical governments, environmental disasters and oppressive societal control. And it’s delivered angrily, and with an enormous sound like very few in their genre can deliver so convincingly. This is FFAA at their best and shows signs of only getting better.
1. ‘Highly Irresponsible’ by Better Lovers
My first ever entry of “Metal Music Musings” featured the debut single of Better Lovers. They are the remnants of a band I have loved and revered for the better part of two decades. Unfortunately they called it quits and it gutted the metalcore community. But like a phoenix rising from the ashes, Better Lovers, featuring members of the aforementioned Every Time I Die as well as The Dillinger Escape Plan, renowned music producer Will Putney lends his guitar work and Clayton Holyoak who has played drums for ETID as well as the great Norma Jean.
This is their debut full length and it is an amalgamation of everything that made, in particular, ETID and TDEP so beloved in the heavy music scene. While the loss of ETID and TDEP will be felt far and wide for many years to come, this is a prime example of one door closing as another opens. It is an epically powerful concoction of what made those bands legendary mixed with new elements and strong lyricism to create something truly inspiring, something hopelessly raw and undeniably amazing and in absolute demand of being heard with volumes set to eleven. Its greatest achievement however is the enticing taste it leaves in your mouth that is screaming to hear this record live, with a rowdy, raucous crowd all singing, screaming and unleashing everything they have in chaotic unison. It is my favorite full length of 2024.
Favorite EP of 2024
‘Heaven Let Them Die’ by Counterparts
These days, if you asked me if I have a favorite band I wonder if I would be able to definitively answer yes and if so, who? It can vary as often as day to day but if I was pressed for an answer, I think the best choice is without question, Canada’s metalcore heroes, Counterparts. I have seen the band close to ten times and every time is as epic and enduring as the previous only with time equals them getting better and finding their true sound. As frontman Brendan Murphy puts it, “This EP is the most authentic representation of Counterparts—honest, harsh, and without restraint.”
With hints of Murphy’s other band, END, this version of Counterparts is without a doubt their most audacious, aggressive and angry release ever. Although only six tracks, seventeen minutes long, it utilizes every single second creating an unforgiving and urgent sound that demands to be heard. I didn’t ever expect something this aggressive from Counterparts but now that I’ve heard them this way, I can say this is my favorite version of what has been one of my favorite musical acts of the last decade.
As for the themes of the EP - grief, loss and a desire for revenge against a higher power, I find them quite relatable. Counterparts has always been a safe haven to look within at the demons in us all and have a very frank conversation, progressive or detrimental, it’s all on the table with Counterparts. It’s a kind of catharsis.
That’s it. What music did you enjoy this year? Do you partake in any heavy goodness like me? Let me know. It’s all good and as long as it speaks to you, embrace it.
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