The Top 10 Post-Punk Albums of 2024

 It's that time of year again. It might seem a little early to begin sorting through the year's best post-punk albums, but record labels have already sent me most of what this year has to offer. After I sort through sorting through the top 10 albums of all the respective genres, I use those lists to compile the top 10 albums of the year. 2024. Perhaps it was marginally better than the previous year, though given the current climate of the world, we are progressing on a downward spiral, making dark music more important as a soundtrack for this.   As far as 2024 goes for post-punk, there were strong albums, especially those in the top 5, though the influx of new material from the genre is beginning to slow.  The very fact these bands made it on the list speaks to how great these albums are, so it's not a slight that the number 8 album is above the 9th album, there is something that just gives it an edge that makes me want to listen to it more. After all, we can try to look cool and pick the hippest bands for a list, but at the end of the day what makes an album the best is that it makes you want more, you look forward to listening to it again. Perhaps you can find your next favorite on this list; and have included links to reviews of these albums if you want to check out the audio on these guys. Anyway here are the top 10 post-punk albums of 2024.

10-New Model Army- "Unbroken" 

At 67 Justin Sullivan is keeping New Model Army going. With their 16th album "Unbroken" they are going with great vigor. Powerful anthemic choruses that ring out. It does not take you back to their punk days, though they come close at times. The guitars have more jangle to them here. There is plenty in the world for Sullivan to angrily ponder and these songs express that in full. The key to their success is not the sound they have cultivated, which is distinct to them as much as their songwriting chops.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/01/new-model-army-unbroken.html

 

9-Rosegarden Funeral Party- "From the Ashes" 

This band might have dialed up the Siouxsie influence on this album, but they did it oddly.  Rather than just pay tribute they pondered what if Siouxsie fronted Roxy Music during the Brian Eno years. It's dramatic and glammed out while basking in the indulgences of cocaine-fueled art rock, almost to the point of taking them out of the post-rock revival,

 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/07/rosegarden-funeral-party-from-ashes.html

 

8-Fourth Dominion-"Diana's Day" 

This New York-based band's sophomore album feels like a cross between AFI and older REM. This means we are combining organic jangle along a more 90s-influenced goth rock. Lyrically there is a great deal of occult metaphor. The production works for what they are going for here as it gives this more of a rock edge. The bass rumbles harder on their more palm-muted grooves to add a bit of balls. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/06/fourth-dominion-dianas-day.html

7-Negative Gears -Moraliser" 

Dark moody punk from Australia. They are big on the tension and the vocals are more punk, though not yelled in the typical fashion.  One of the things this album is mad about is how Sydney wants to be America which has turned it into a shit hole.  I am fine with not really into political punk unless it's just focused on anarchy. There are some early Cure-sounding guitar melodies in the mix. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/10/negative-gears-moraliser.html

6- the Chameleons- "Tomorrow Remember Yesterday" 

As long as both Mark Burgess and guitarist  Reg Smithies then this is the Chameleons. Having formed in 83, it puts them behind other British bands like the Cure or Joy Division as the forerunners of post-punk. This album puts melody before punk tension. Burgess's voice sounds great, and it captures who they were and who they are now in a genuine manner. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/10/gothtober-chameleons-tomorrow-remember.html

     

5-Vision Video - "Modern Horror" 

 2022's "Haunted Hours" took the top spot in our end-of-the-year post-punk top 10, so the bar is set high for this one. The 3rd album from this Athens, Ga, based band finds, them opening things up with the moodier organic sound that earned them their place here. All of this comes together thanks to the smooth melodies and great vocal performances of  Dusty Gannon. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/10/gothtober-vision-video-modern-horror.html

4-Louse -"Passions Like Tar" 

The album is crisp. It pays tribute to the era this music evolved from without being a straight-up tribute band to it.  There is a hopeful brightness to the shimmer of their sound and the vocals are not totally despondent. They marry the sound of two of my favorite bands, the Smiths and the Cure, so how can I complain about that, is. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/10/gothtober-louse-passions-like-tar.html

3-the Jesus and the Mary Chain -"Glasgow Eyes"

The Reid Brothers are back for the 8th album of their 40-year career. This album does touch on their more depressive side at times but finds them employing a wide range of moods. An upbeat pulse lasks the melancholy,  It is experimental in different ways, as they toy around with synths and effects. Jim's voice sounds ageless, with his hushed dusky muttering. Lyrically things are brilliant. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/03/jesus-and-mary-chain-glasgow-eyes.html

  2-Metz - "Up On Gravity Hill" 

 The band once again shifts the sonics of their attack, and amid its weirdness, the album proves to be accessible to a wider audience. Woozy guitar counterpoints punk-inflected vocals smoothed out by overdubbed harmonies. The normally rough edges of noise-rock, are less abrasive thanks to the refined nuances of their songwriting to create a more 90s style atl-rock not unlike the bar-room brooding of the Afghan Whigs.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/04/metz-up-on-gravity-hill.html

 

1- Crippling Alcoholism - "With Love From a Padded Room" 

This band beautifully captures a darkly honest misery, that has not been done this well since  Planesmistakenforstars was a band. The singer's raspy voice makes you imagine what it might sound like if Tom Waits fronted Interpol. It took the top spot because not only are the song uniquely engaging, but this album can be played countless times without getting tired of it. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/06/crippling-alcoholism-with-love-from.html

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April's Top 10 Albums

Already time for April's top 10 albums. Staying abreast on the month's highlights might help casual readers see what they missed, and give this the option to check these artists out. I am not doing little blurbs on them, just linking the reviews. This will help me organize my lists for the end of the year, by listing the genre of music the album falls under. This does not mean that these albums have been released this month, but it is a list of new or upcoming albums I have enjoyed the most, I have albums in my in-box that are not coming out til July, so I am normally way ahead of the curve in this regard. They are ranked in order of what I have listened to the most. This month there is a wide variety from Shoe-gaze to pop to hard-core, so you may find your new favorite among them. Here are the Top 10 albums for April 2024.

10-Darkthrone-"It Beckons Us All" 

Metal

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/04/darkthrone-it-beckons-us-all.html

9- Ride - "Interplay" 

Indie rock

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/04/ride-interplay.html

8-Terminal Nation - "Echoes of the Devil's Den

Hard Core

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/04/terminal-nation-echoes-of-devils-den.html

7-Pallbearer-"Mind  Burns Alive" 

Doom -gaze

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/04/pallbearer-mind-burns-alive.html

6- Pearl Jam - "Dark Matter" 

Rock

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/04/pearl-jam-dark-matter.html

5-Whores- "War" 

Noise Rock

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/04/whores-war.html

4-Snow Strippers -"Night Killaz Vol 2" 

 Pop

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/04/snow-strippers-night-killaz-vol-2.html

3 METZ- "Up On Gravity Hill" 

Post-punk

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/04/metz-up-on-gravity-hill.html

2-Glassing- "From the Other Side of the Mirror" 

 

Post-metal 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/04/glassing-from-other-side-of-mirror.html

1- Taylor Swift -"THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT" 

Pop

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/04/taylor-swift-tortured-poets-department.html

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METZ : "Up On Gravity Hill"

 The band once again shifts the sonics of their attack on this album, though even amid its weirdness, proves to be more accessible to a wider audience. Woozy guitar counterpoints punk-inflected vocals that are smoothed out by overdubbed harmonies on the chorus. The normally rough edges of noise-rock smoothed out by the more refined nuances of their songwriting to create a more 90s style atl-rock not unlike the bar-room brooding of the Afghan Whigs. The vocals serve a greater purpose than they did even on the last album.  

They return to their more grunge-influenced side on "Entwined" though the cadence of the vocals and some of the guitar tones carry a more Brti-poppy mood, like a more angular and discordant take on the Stone Roses. "99" is more experimental in the ways its sounds are introduced, as the song invokes multiple moods just in the verse and chorus. This is one of the band's most dynamic moments yet. The multiple vocal tracks that chime in on the chorus, is the moment that is puzzling but still works. The drummer just keeps hammering things perfectly and might be the strongest drumming performance I have heard on an album so far this year.

Indie rock collides with punk on "Superior Mirage". This is taken to a more shimmering place with a surreal dream pop element to its swirl of sound.  "Wound Tight" has a catchy almost pop hook to it despite all the jangling guitar colliding around it. It's more punk than most punk bands these days. They remind you that indie rock should actually rock. Echoes of Bob Mould's influence linger around the drive of "Never Still Again".  My suspicions of the influence shoe-gaze has on this album are confirmed when they fully commit to it on the last song.  Amber Webber of Black Mountain, lends her voice to the song, that I had to google to see if it was a long-forgotten Jesus and Mary Chain b-side. I will give this album a 10, as it's an impressive showing of growth that is also an infectious listen, this will be one of the album's to beat at the end of the year. 

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the Top 10 Punk / Hard-core Albums of 2020

Given the state of 2020 it might be surprising that punk was more atmospheric than angry this year. Not that I am into political punk. Those albums I gave up on after two songs.  These albums have more passion to them.  Ok now that that is out of the way , much like in years past sort through the genre lists before making the overall top ten of the year list. I know many of you are ready for 2020 to be over with. Hate to break it to you but nothing is getting better next year. As far as 2020 goes there is only a couple new bands on this list.

The fact these artists made it on the list speaks to how great these albums are, so it's not a slight that the number 8 album is above the 9th album, there is something that just gives it an edge that makes me want to listen to it more. After all we can try to look cool and pick the hippest bands for a list, but at the end of the day what makes an album the best is that it makes you want more, you look forward to listening to it again. Sure you can bitch and complain about your favorite band not being on the list. However I listen to five new albums a day so yes I heard your favorite album and was not impressed. No I do not care what you think about it .I do hope you can find your next favorite on this list and have included links to reviews of these albums if you want to check out audio on these guys. Anyways here are the top punk / hard core albums of 2020

10-Eyes- " Underperformer" -

Danish hard core with a metal sneer to the beating they throw at your ears. Riff wise they have more in common with Converge than not. I can live with metal core if this is what it really is and not some type of  Suicide Silence bullshit. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/09/eyes-underperformer.html

 

9-Coma Regalia - "Marked" 

This band from Indiana is more screamo than Eyes . That is not to say they do not have their fair share of hard core to them as they do. They offer more mood and melody than Eyes , which is why they are number 9.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/09/coma-regalia-marked.html

 

8 Svalbard - "When I Die , Will I get Better?"

The dark hard core out fit from Bristol still has plenty of shoe gaze to cushion the break neck speed of their sonic thrashing. Coma Regalia is pretty melodic this guys take both ends of the spectrum and make them more dynamic. 

 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/09/svalbard-when-i-die-will-i-get-better.html 

 

7- Infantisland - "Beneath" 

One thing I have noticed so far in this year's top 10 is atmosphere is a bigger factor from hard core. These guys have it , but they are also more chaotic than Svalbard. Sure screamo factors into what these guys do as well but they have their own twisted spin. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/08/infant-island-beneath.html

6- Spice- "s/t:

 A side project of the members of Ceremony that heavily embraces the indie rock / post hard core sound of the 90s. The singer of Ceremony lends his voice and does some of the best singing  of his career. to this and his singing is much better than it was on the last Ceremony album. It is more emotive. He comes much closer to singing. When it comes to the sound , they nailed it , but also care about the songs.

 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/07/spice-st.html

 

5- Pigs x7 -" Viscerals"

This band is influenced by sludgey metal , but at the end of the there is more Black Flag than Sabbath in their veins , if it confuses you then you just need to do more drugs. Because these guys are clearly high as hell. 

 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/04/pigs-pigs-pigs-pigs-pigs-pigs-pigs.html

4-Cro-Mags -" In the Beginning" 

Harley is helming this incarnation. He picks up where they left off with "Best Wishes". Even with their shit show drama , the Cro-mags will always be my favorite 80s hard core band. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/06/cro-mags-in-beginning.html

 

3- Higher Power - "27 Miles Underwater"

Ok so this album might not be for the zine reading punks with Integrity tattoos. This British band is like the love child of Snapcase and Sunny Day Realestate. It goes places that your normal hard core albums won't. That is because most of your normal hard core albums are boring . These guys bring new life into familiar old sounds.

 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/11/higher-power-27-miles-underwater.html

  2- Metz- " Atlas Vending" 

There is Am Rep quality of the 90s set against a more Stooges like swagger. Lots of attitude and angst but they still really care about the songs. I never really paid a great deal of attention to these guys before , but they have my attention now as this album really grew on me .

 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/11/metz-atlas-vending.html

1- Coriky-"s/t" 

Not the fastest punk album of the year. The anger is filtered through the wisdom of age. Some might cry out wait this is not punk and to them I would say... shut the fuck up this is Ian Fucking Mckaye...he eternally punk. This album is almost the second coming of Fugazi.

 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/07/coriky-st.html

Metz : "Atlas Vending"

 There is Am Rep quality of the 90s set against a more Stooges-like swagger. He is more Iggy Pop on the first song, he sings a little more on the second song. His voice has more of a rasp to it, yet manages to be more melodic on " Blnd Youth Industrial Park" . They get rowdier and more on "The Mirror". I like the angular dissonant nature of what they do it just does not hook me in for this song. Yes, it is very sonically rough around the edges but that only goes so far. These guys are good songwriters and things are allowed to progress in a more compelling direction. 

"No Ceiling " and " Hail Taxi" are both more punk in their direction with the latter having more of a Fugazi feeling which of course works well for me. They are more abrasive and noise-ridden than Fugazi with a grunge undertone.. "Draw Us in" has more of rambling punk feel, like the Afghan Whigs. "Sugar Pill" is a little more melodic though not a great deal as the pace picks up. The vocals are urgent and raspy. They kind of remind me of Drive Like Jehu here. It makes a few more listens for this one to grow on me. That Fugazi feeling I got earlier is lurking around but to a lesser degree. I really like "Framed By the  Comet's Tail" because is is darker and he sings more on it. He sings with a ragged desperation. They do explode out of this song with a big build up, so dynamically I am not sure where there has not been more of this but will take what I can get. 

The woozy "Parasite" is more disjointed and gives in more to a spastic noise tendency. We went from the most impressive song on the album to the least. I like the 90s Sonic Youth vibe of the last song. The vocals are rougher around the edges and more punk than Sonic Youth, but work really well.  I never really paid a great deal of attention to these guys before, but they have my attention now I really like this album and feel it will grow on me, so I will give it a 9. Out on Sub-pop

Fotocrime : " South of Heaven"

I would never name an album after the title of a Slayer album, and considering this project's metal past, I would think they are familiar with Slayer. Aside from that this is a solid release as Ryan from Coliseum continues down the dark road he began with this project. He is joined by the drummer from Metz . There is more of a dancey groove that makes this feel more like Love & Rockets than Joy Division. There is less of the punk like tension that colors most of the more modern takes on this genre. There is a little more kick to the burly bass of "Foto on Wire". "Love is a Devil" channels a more more gloom in the vein of Sisters of Mercy, though by way of Night Sins. The vocal doesn't get down as low as Eldritch. The drums sound more programmed and less organic here as well. There is more melodic guitar to "Up Above the World". They are not really bringing anything new to the wheel here. Given the genre's devotion to the 80s spinning it differently can diminish the feel they are going for. Though it's been proven by bands like Beastmilk that there is still life left in the corpse.

"Hold Me in the Night" has a more minimal pulse. It sinks into it's android atmosphere. I like the effects on his voice going into this. It simmer more like an interlude rather than committing to be a full on song.  There is a more "Pretty Hate Machine" like beat to "Never Fall Out of Love". Not the album's strongest song it kind of coasts on the synth wave pulse. The reverb & delay soaked 80s guitar sound is dialed in on "Expulsion From Paradise" .The vocals are more emotive and everything seems to just fall in the right place.  "Blue Smoke' has a hyper active bass line. The frantic under current of the song, makes it a little more manic than the songs up til this point. It reminds me a little of Devo.

There is a Killing Joke drive to "Chaos & Cosmos", but this second have of the album does take a more new wave feel than post -punk. U was going to say that the closing song reminds me of an electronic version of Joy Division, but that is really New Order, so that would be the comparison here. Upbeat and happier than my normal listening when it comes to this sort of thing, but it still works well enough. I will give this album an 8.5, I would prefer it to have been a little darker , but it has some really strong moment and is a welcome break from the run of the mill post- punk revival thing, This is being released March 13th on Profound Lore. . 



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