The Firekeeper Founder Selects His Top 40 Heavy Music Records of 2024
Disclaimer! This extremely tasteless and crass post was created by Charlie, our founder and board president, and does not necessarily reflect the values or musical tastes of our entire board of directors. Some of the language may be offensive to some. Continue reading at your own risk!
Happy Holidays to you, dear family and friends. One of my favorite annual traditions is to pollute the inboxes of my loved ones with my personal musings on the year’s best heavy jams.
In that spirit, I’ve compiled a list of my favorite releases of 2024 from the worlds of metal and hardcore, and present them to you here, for the first time ever, on the Firekeeper Alliance website. If you’ve been following our feed (or our bff’s over at Fire in the Mountains) you’re probably aware that we launched this brand new nonprofit organization earlier this year. It’s our great honor and commitment to take up the fight to create more protection from suicide for our family’s and friends in Indian Country.
One of our core beliefs here at the Firekeeper Alliance is that is that no matter what, we can never allow the sacred flames of life to extinguish. A big part of our mission is to promote coping mechanisms through the expressive arts. Finding as many ways as possible to cope with distress is key, because it increases our chances that eventually we’ll be able to transmute our pain into something positive. These coping skills can help us foster new reasons to live.
As an avid metalhead, I, like so many others have found purpose, meaning, connection, and salvation within the heavy music scene. Quite literally, a huge part of my self care routine involves music that many would probably consider abrasive noise. The opportunities for cathartic expression found within this world is a feature that means a lot to me. I truly don’t know where I’d be without metal, punk, and hardcore. And I know I’m not alone in that regard.
We at Firekeeper are extremely proud to be a part of the heavy music family. At the risk of sounding hyperbolic, our love for this music helps us keep going.
So, enjoy the list. Or don’t. But please, keep the fire burning.
Charlie’s Top 40 Heavy Music Albums of 2024
40. Iron Front - (Hooked) If you dig fight riffs, and not the kind that are trying to be smart like Knocked Loose, then you need to get in here right now! This stuff is belligerent in the best way possible, and as soon as this record begins it’s immediately time to get in the pit and fuck someone up. Honestly, there’s a world that exists where any one of the albums on this list could be my number one, especially this record. I just love jams like this, and I don’t care what the transcendental assholes at discogs say, but when a song called “Burnt by a crack pipe” hits my speakers with bass booms and a tingy snare, you know I’m all the way in. Come to my house and jam this with me and my kids, and prepare to take a size 11 Birkenstock right to your motherfucking face. For fun!
39. Porcupine - (All is Vapor) This is super creepy hardcore that reminds me of old Atriarch. Dude goes kinda angsty-spoken word sometimes but then tears his chest open the very next moment with blood boiling screams. Pretty sure all these songs are about confronting personal demons. At least that’s my take anyway. I’m a lifelong hardcore kid, and when a new band comes along that breaks the mold and does something truly unique within the genre, as Porcupine is doing, it’s comforting to know there is still new ground to break in heavy music.
38. Ritual Fog - (But Merely Flesh) Cool band name aside, this album is great cause it’s presented as is, warts and all, without the slick studio tricks and washed-out effects other records in the genre fall victim to. In fact, the dude on vocals is really just up there shouting. It’s pretty clear and unique for death metal, cause most of the time everybody sounds like Gozar the Gozarian. It's one of the reasons I dig this album so much, and it’s also just got great songs. Beauty (and brutality) in simplicity.
37. Extinguish - (One Less Enemy) A great mix of heaviness and super hard songs that’ll make those mosh pit dudes that start invisible lawnmowers completely amped. Metallic hardcore will always be special to me, as it’s one of the first heavy music styles that caught my ear during my juvenile delinquent/terrorist days. Extinguish utilizes adept songwriting chops and powerful beats to maximum effect while creating one of the best hardcore records of the year. Believe me, this album packs a shit ton of intensity into its’ short runtime.
36. Devenial Verdict - (Blessing of Despair) Dissonant was a really popular word this year in death metal, and it perfectly captures the glitchy yet thoughtful pummel you’re about to experience when you press play on this bad boy. There’s actually a ton of melody too. By the time you get to the second track you may hear whispers of old Decapitated and Suffocation rumbling through your speakers. Also, I admit I had to look up the word devenial to know what their band name referenced…..fyi it means “forgivable.” With technical riffing and intricate drumwork, these dudes know how to craft a dreadful vibe. Pretty good chance you won’t hear this playing at your neighborhood Applebee’s.
35. Noroth - (Sacrificial Solace) I didn’t know much about these guys before this record came out. It’s 100% OSDM in style and sound - the Morbid Angel worship is palpable. Noroth would have slotted in perfectly as the opening act on some stateside Sepultura tour back in the day. I’m gonna see these guys next May in Seattle, and you know I go into complete fangirl mode when I hear double bass blasting and mic pukes. Speaking of which, Noroth produced some of the best Blegghhh’s put to tape this year. These dudes clearly appreciate nostalgia - and even though I assume they dress in modern stylings my hope is they’re still rocking Raiders jersey’s, stonewashed jeans, and bangs.
34. Cosmic Putrefaction - (Emerald Fires Atop the Farewell Mountains) Now that’s a motherfuckin heavy metal album title! The heaviness CP generates here is almost subtle, like it’s shrouded in some mysterious veil, only to stand before you at the altar all mellow-like and then suddenly lunge at you to suck your eyeballs out. As is the theme this year, there’s dissonance and atmosphere galore throughout this LP. It’s also brutal af, never relinquishing its death grip from your puny throat. Listening to this is like being trapped on Event Horizon. You’re just so fucked to begin with because the vessel you’re aboard is haunted, and then you remember you’re in fucking SPACE too! If the “It’s All Over” vibes are your thing, you’re gonna totally love this record.
33. Diabolic Oath - (Oracular Hexations) I caught their set at Barboza’s at NWTF last May, and It. Was. Awesome. They play hard and fast, with an emphasis on grimy yet technical flourishes. They got the crowd moving too, generating one of the more intense mosh pits from that whole fest. Violent, dark death metal is just the fuckin best, as music this epic tends to result in some sort of hallucinatory experience for the listener. The fretless bass adds to this disorienting vibe. I always enjoy when bands look and sound like their moniker too, which is absolutely true for Diabolic Oath. These tracks are meant to hurt you in a torturous way, kind of like if one of your friends took some diabolic oath to the dark lord and made a pact to murder you and your family.
32. Witch Vomit - (Funeral Sanctum) This was a landmark year for death metal, and this band imbued our world with an absolute ripper. Now on their third LP, they have perfected their putrid blend of OSDM mixed with thrash leads with sinister precision. Witch Vomit’s riffing here is biting and formidable, and the vocals seemingly emanate from a mysterious beast. These tracks command us to bow down before them while they collectively cast upon us their vomit-ridden incantations. This music is dark, aggressive, and violent - pretty much exactly what you’d expect from a band called Witch Vomit.
31. Anciients - (Beyond the Reach of the Sun) I still don’t know why they have two I’s in their name, but I get that in today’s music scene you gotta distinguish yourself. I actually like the clean vocals more than harsher tones here, which is not my typical reaction. Anciients have been around for a while, I remember seeing them in Missoula way back in 2013 after Heart of Oak came out. It’s taken eight years to pump out a follow-up to 2016’s Voice of the Void, and I’m happy to say they haven’t lost any steam - even after a god damn pandemic AND a lineup shuffle. This records makes a strong nod to Crack the Skye-era Mastodon, which is a compliment I don’t offer lightly. Prog metal bands run the risk of being self indulgent and overly techy, but Anciients stay humble here by exercising restraint to ensure each one of these tracks stands tall on its own.
30. Brat - (Social Grace) I dig their schtick…bimbocore or whatever the fuck they call themselves is a little silly, but once the Shania Twain samples plunge you face-first into absolute hardcore punk/deathgrind hysteria, you immediately know what Brat is all about. Gimmicks aside, these riffs will rip a hole in your guts faster than, well, fast food. These are quick, chaotic, neck snapping tracks designed to melt faces and destroy living spaces. Don’t get distracted by that Britney Spears intro, cause as soon as you let your guard down you’ll take a crescent kick to the temple from the singer, a gal that bucks the tradish frontperson framework in the best way possible. Savage is the best word that comes to mind to describe their sound. Hit play and you’ll instantly see what I mean.
29. Chained to the Bottom of the Ocean - (Sisyphean Cruelty) Not only are they indebted to Thou in name, but CTTBOTO honor those very legends with the swampy vitriolic muck of their sound. Truly, there’s great tone on this beast…..sometimes you just need some misanthropic sludge to get you out of bed in the morning. It’s the perfect mix of slower passages, but they also know when to up the tempo for maximum bludgeoning effect, a method in full display on title track Sisyphean Cruelty. I always appreciate an album that makes no effort to appeal commercially on a grander scale, and this band embodies that vibe while being devoid of clean vocals and major tonality…..which translates to; my wife fuckin hates it.
28. Vicious Blade - (Relentless Force) Pittsburgh based Vicious Blade, featuring the gal from Castrator, plays deathy/crossover thrash metal. They definitely represent immediacy in their songwriting as the tracks fly by you like a fire breathing falcon. With impressive chops, vibrant solos, and meticulous percussion tighter than a bolo tie, Vicious Blade rides the lightning created by the esteemed elders who paved the way before them. They honestly sound like a bunch of death metal punks playing Slayer riffs. It’s also extremely heart warming to hear the enduring Chuck Schuldiner influence across all of heavy music. For the record, there must be something virulent floating in those toxic rivers in Pittsburgh that’s helping birth all these under-the-radar ripping metal bands. Hails to VB!
27. Houkago Grind Time - (Koncerto of Kawaiiness: Stealing Jon Chang’s Ideas, A Book By Andrew Lee) This record is just so fuckin creative - any dude that rips ear-bleeding grindcore with some niche-ass anime themes, as a solo act no less, is a winner in my book. As the mastermind behind several innovative acts across the metal universe, Andrew Lee personifies the intellect, sheer passion, and total dedication required to make such extreme music. Grindcore is not for the faint of heart, and the anime interludes here as well as the overall insane presentation will probably not serve as an on-ramp for many new fans of the genre, but fuck me you never know. People are weird, and so is this amazing record.
26. Oxygen Destroyer - (Guardian of the Universe) I saw these guys last year, and was instantly struck by how they never broke character live. The banter between songs was delivered via death growls and panic-inducing declarations. This album isn’t about Godzilla directly, rather it’s about some other Kaiju that'll step on your house and kill your whole bloodline in seconds just the same. OG packs enough notes and tempo changes into their songs to feed an entire Asian nation, which coincidentally is about to get trampled by the beasts they sing about. If thrashy death metal about world-eating monsters played at hyperspeed is your thing, get on board right now.
25. Fulci - (Duck Face Killings) No doubt this is the record that most wants to kill you this year. Literally, the album is about some fucked up serial killer from the 50’s that sounded like daffy duck or something. And there’s a song called Fucked With a Broken Bottle, so yeah this band hates you and wants to do artwork with your insides. It’s also the closest thing on this list to brutal slam death metal without being fully entrenched in that particular subgenre (see my Top Slamz and Skramz of 2024 list for those recs!). I’d recommend doing neck and shoulder stretches before listening to this, so as not to create an aneurysm with the violent headbanging you’ll certainly experience. Actually, fuck the yoga, it would make Fulci extremely pleased to know their music harmed you.
24. Upon Stone - (Dead Mother Moon) I feel like I read somewhere that these guys sound like the love child between Converge and At the Gates. And I actually think that’s a perfect description of the sounds they create. They nail the triumphant melodeath of the Gothenburg greats, yet also know how to batter you with more serrated metalcore leanings. I caught their set last weekend at Decibel Metal and Beer fest, and I came away feeling extremely impressed with the energy they brought to their performance. Carrying the torch created by forefathers Arch Enemy, In Flames, and Heartwork-era Carcass is no easy task, and time will tell if Upon Stone is up to the challenge. But if this debut is any indication, they may very well be melodeath’s next big thing.
23. Gutless - (High Impact Violence) Man, Dark Descent does a lot of cool shit. This album hits all the right notes; it’s got a gory album cover featuring some visceral form of murder, evil riffs summoned from the depths of the Earache basement (circa 1989), and wicked-ass vocals that are completely indecipherable. Old school death metal will always hold a revered place in the hearts of extreme metal lovers. That’s what glory days do to us. Gutless tugs at those same heart strings by combining Altars of Madness-era Morbid Angel influences with notes of the Lefthand Path, recreating those demented tones into something modern and grotesque. If you’re a twisted metal freak like me, that probably sounds delicious.
22. Pyrrhon - (Exhaust) While I try not to make a habit of outright comparing bands to one another cause it seems a little reductive, I must say I get strong Ulthar vibes from Pyrrhon. And I mean that as the highest compliment. That’s not to say they sound like Ulthar necessarily, they both just do the batshit crazy, never-guess-where-it’s-going style of death metal, with creative guitar flashes and spicy signatures all over the goddamn place. There’s hordes of death metal bands out there that all sound the fuckin same, so when a group like Pyrrhon comes around sounding like one of one, you gotta tip your cap to ‘em. It’s tough to stand apart from a pack as insular as death metal, and these guys deserve massive accolades for being unique and thought provoking.
21. Teeth - (The Will of Hate) I have to admit, while Teeth may not be the most dynamic death metal band around, they make up for it in sheer brutality with ever-churning riffs and guttural vocals galore. It sounds as though the singer is belching at you from the bottom of the toilet. I’ve been on board since 2014’s Unremittance, which IMO is one of the most underrated death metal records of the last decade. These dudes sound pissed, and that emotion is strongly conveyed through endless non-human barks and growls, sledge-hammering blasts, and nihilistically caustic tones. Also, Teeth is such a strong yet simple name for a death metal band. And I was thinking since it’s the Christmas season, Teeth’s overall sonic vibe, coupled with the extremely dark imagery they employ would make for one hell of a holiday card theme.
20. Undeath - (More Insane) You gotta have some self confidence to call your new metal album More Insane. Fortunately, Undeath has the songwriting chops to justify such a bold title. Bandcamp recently described these guys as a combo of Cannibal Corpse and Judas Priest, two absolute legends in the extreme metal universe. “Holy shit,” I thought, “what an honor.” And I couldn’t agree more as these miscreants from Rochester plow forward with face smashing beatdowns that somehow have a Breakin’ the law sort of vibe. I know it’s been said before, but Undeath brings a party vibe to death metal. I think that’s cause they genuinely just seem to be down to earth music junkies that dig horror movies and face melting riffs. Fundeath, motherfuckers.
19. 200 Stab Wounds - (Manual Manic Procedures) I read somewhere that some people out there were disappointed about the lack of vocal arrangements on the front half of this record. I couldn’t disagree more. I think the space between vocal sequences only shows an evolution of maturity from these dudes, who have left a trail of sweatpants-clad corpses in the wake of this monster LP. The hype is admittedly high for 200 Stab Wounds, and while not exactly underground anymore, they stay true to their hardcore flavored death metal roots by ensuring every note absolutely brutalizes the listener.
18. Inter Arma - (New Heaven) At this point, Inter Arma have basically mastered every subgenre of the heavy metal universe. These guys gave me a poster after a show a million years ago in Missoula (they’re one of 7 high profile heavy bands to ever play in our state) and now framed, it adorns my living room wall to this day. I’m endlessly inspired by heavy bands that opt not to pursue more commercial styles of art for the sake of it, and Inter Arma truly personifies that ethos. Their songs take you on a journey that sometimes ends in a similar place as it began, and other times it doesn’t. But Inter Arma never lack for adventure in their compositions. It seems as though there is nothing this band can’t do, and I won’t be surprised to see them headlining massive tours in the very near future.
17. Antichrist Siege Machine - (Vengeance of Eternal Fire) This duo crafts anthems rooted in the ancient art of battle. Whom are they battling, you may ask? In case their moniker didn’t give it away, God, that's who. And after seeing these dudes live I know who I’m putting my money on. Their songs are aggressive, violent, and lunging for your forehead like the fucked up monster-tongue of a salivating xenoporph. The blasts are tight and powerful, and dude’s riffing feels completely claustrophobic. While your conservative relatives may grow concerned to see this pop up on your playlist, if War Metal is your jam, do not hesitate to enlist in this army of darkness.
16. Glassing - (From the Other Side of the Mirror) There’s something really triumphant about this band. They know how to write an epic melody, that’s for sure. While they often get lumped into the post-metal scene, their black metal proclivities make a strong showing here. Perhaps my favorite element of this band is when they get all shoe-gazey and pretty like on the song Nominal Will. It’s just a fuckin explosive and poetic and extremely beautiful song to me. It’s almost hard to believe all this noise comes form a three-piece, but I’m guessing they must have eclipsed some sacred plane when constructing this opus. Plain and simple, this album plum rips.
15. Hyperdontia - (Harvest of Malevolence) Hyperdontia is an international wild animal, with members hailing from Denmark and Turkey. Though in this day and age it may be tough for them to secure American Visa’s, what is clearly not difficult for them is conjuring otherworldly old-school riffs with shifty, impeccable axe-work. The mix here is marvelous, as the bass and drums are woven together with the guitars like a comfy cashmere sweater. Hyperdontia is definitely an important player in the death metal universe, with adoring fans all over the world. Their mastery of this style and commitment to creating such evil music is an infernal gift to us all.
14. Feral Forms - (Through Demonic Spell) Demons are awesome. Anytime they appear in movies, stories, or pop culture, everyone dealing with them knows they are completely fucked. You can’t beat them. As a supernatural entity, demons always win. So it’s fitting that Feral Forms (which would be a great name for my gaggle of kids) honored these malevolent entities with this album title. And true to form, these tracks sound downright horrifying. The blasting is violent; the riffing jagged and primal. Songs twist and turn and contort into morbid shapes. This band is comprised of former members of The Secret, a blackened hardcore band from Italy that crushed all in its path back in the day. And just like my kids, I expect big things to come from Feral Forms, as their rabid ascent in the world of extreme music is only getting started. And also just like my kids, I’d expect a band named Feral Forms to greet me by punching me in the balls, demanding snacks immediately, and trashing my fuckin house.
13. Gigan - (Anomolous Abstractigate Infinitessimus) Alas, the weirdness is palpable. I’ve been following these guys for a while, and remember reading about them way back and being impressed with the personal commentary on their music. With A+ song titles, unorthodox time signatures, and absolutely pulverizing blasting, Gigan packs as much into these tracks as inhumanly possible. These dudes may look like friendly, cloaked Jedis from afar. However, as you cautiously approach they reveal their true monstrous form as nonhuman parasitoids primed to pull your fuckin face off your skull. Look no further than Ultra-Violet Shimmer Permeating Infra-sound to bear witness to what Gigan is all about. The sheer intensity is almost disorienting at first, but as they settle into the violent groove we soon learn that they’re not fucking around. Be sure to turn up the volume, just make sure your brains don’t leak out of your cratered noggin.
12. Black Curse - (Burning in Celestial Poison) If Fulci wins the “Most Desiring to Filet You” award this year, Black Curse takes the blackened cake for creating the most evil sounding album of the year. This is the record you play to scare your coworkers. These dudes hail from Denver, which seemingly has produced like 10,000 amazing metal bands for some fucked up reason. This album wastes no time and starts off like a raging tempest, primed to uproot forests and villages in its deafening wake. Black Curse pulls sounds from the most extreme corners of the metal universe, at one moment riding galloping blast beats calling to early Emperor, only to suddenly veer into completely new territory more akin to Concrete Winds. It’s a compelling listen, that’s for sure, and one that’ll probably require some light therapy afterward.
11. Full of Hell - (Coagulated Bliss) One of the most prolific bands in all of metaldom, Full of Hell’s staying power is absolutely undeniable. Seems like every time I fire up the world wide blogosphere I see a new release from these guys. They continue to hone their craft and sharpen their scalpels, sometimes barely resembling the hardcore punk outfit they started as teenagers. I’ve been a fan since day 1. They released not one but two full lengths this year, cementing their status as some of the hardest working dudes in heavy music. Dylan’s Walkers maniacal roar sounds as tormented as ever, while Spencer Hazard’s guitar work shines for its’ ingenious simplicity. Full of Hell are clearly hardcore/metal lifers and continue to tear down barriers and genre constrictions in their pursuit of the absolute, blissful truth.
10. Tzompantli - (Beating The Drums of Ancestral Force) Coolest album title of the year. And wouldn’t you know they’re playing in my backyard next July? Fronted by Brian Ortiz (the Obsidian Bear) of Xibalba fame, these dudes conjure the ancient ones with their unique blend of death metal, doom, and fuckin death whistles. Incorporating Indigenous themes and instruments into their unique sound, their name literally means “skull rack” in Nahuatl. Everyone in Indian Country knows you don't whistle at night, cause if you do the bad spirits will find you and fuck you up. Listen to this record and you’ll immediately learn that Tzompantli are those spirits. This record is just absurdly heavy and filled with expressive anguish. It’s got slow dirges intermingling with ripping fast parts, it’s pretty much the perfect soundtrack to the ongoing colonial apocalypse.
9. Atrae Bilis - (Aumicide) This bastard of a record is absolutely pummeling and slightly nerdy in the greatest way possible. Which is fitting since the concept involves torturing some poor test specimen by exposing them to different versions of Hell. Not exactly the lightest topic to tackle! And they’re Canadians, which automatically means they’re cool dudes. Sometimes progressive metal doesn’t hit hard enough for me. Riffs tend to wander and lose their steam. Fortunately, that’s not an issue for Atrae Bilis, which (fun fact!) translates to Black Bile in Latin. They maintain blunt force at all times, and even when songs veer in new directions, we’re never far away from an absolute bloodbath of a riff. I had the pleasure of visiting with them for a while after seeing their set last May, and they were genuinely interested in my opinion of their set. Great dudes, great record. Now excuse me while I puke black liquid all over my kitchen floor.
8. Infant Island - (Obsidian Wreath) Quick confession, I’m just so intrigued by this band. The tension they generate through endless, cacophonous blasting is enough to induce a panic attack. Contrasting that energy is the enveloping atmosphere they create. This album came out in early January, and I knew about 5 seconds into Another Cycle that it was gonna be a favorite of the year for me. I’ve been a fan of all of their releases, as they bridge the gap between the worlds of extreme metal and screamo. You need a real wizard at the soundboard to capture the many layers of this band, because the nuance and structure of these songs can easily get lost in the overwhelming racket they create. Fortunately, the sound quality is clear and crisp giving us the ability to hear the instruments with the breadth and space each deserves. Infant Island just keeps getting better, and lucky for us they are a band whose intensity only seems to increase with each album.
7. Blood Incantation - (Absolute Elsewhere) Perhaps the “biggest release” in the metal world this year, and the album most often described as psychedelic. And as many others have noted, there’s a Pink Floyd part buried in opening track The Stargate, further cementing these dudes as the torch bearers of Hunter S. Thompson-approved metal. A while back I watched a “What’s In My Bag” video with these guys from Ameoba Records. No surprise, they’re into some weird shit. Seeing this whole album played through live at their album release show in Boulder, CO was the clincher for me. Because at that performance I witnessed these dudes just absolutely slaying their set where the heavy parts were poetically enmeshed with the spacey and atmospheric sections, and everything seemed to fit together exquisitely. And there were fuckin lasers, man. With their unparalleled song writing chops and boundless creativity, Blood Incantation is positioned to carry the heavy metal flame for many years to come.
6. Civerous - (Maze Envy) I’m biased, but there’s just nothing like the mid-paced bludgeoning that death-doom bands provide. This excellent record by California based Civerous, their third full length, is monolithically heavy. Seriously, this album packs so much seismic punch that I fear I may have accidentally caused a fissure in the tectonic plates under the Blackfeet Nation when jamming it the other day. For those that appreciate high IQ songwriting, fear not, because Civerous executes this neanderthallic beatdown with thoughtfulness, complexity, and precision. Labyrinth Charm is a perfect example of everything that makes this band fuckin awesome. The clean intro that bleeds from Eternal Symmetry transitions like a staggering caveman into knuckle dragging death-doom chugs. Levitation Tomb may be the single heaviest song of the year. This is a thoughtful, impressive record, and if dexterous death metal mixed with massive doom is your jam, do not miss this one.
5. Spectral Wound - (Songs of Blood and Mire) This album is very rock and roll. Spectral Wound clearly has a lot of hype at the moment, and when you listen to Songs of Blood and Mire you can see why. This record was playing in the background as I was visiting with one of my students the other day, and they suddenly shushed me and said, “Oh damn, that’s fire.” They were referring to the melodic tremolo sweeps at the end of Fevers and Suffering. The whole record is black n’ roll at its finest. There’s also a fantastically creepy vibe permeating throughout these tracks, keeping the overall climate nice and dangerous. Extreme Metal is not for everyone, nor should it be. Those of us that have found solace, community, and salvation in these extreme styles of expressive art get to feel like we’re in on some special secret. I imagine playing this cathartic and complex music has a lot of emotional benefit for the individuals in Spectral Wound. Can’t wait to see them at NWTF. 10 out of 10 fucking stars.
4. Replicant - (Infinite Mortality) Riff after riff after delicious and tasty riff. It’s what life is really all about for fiends like me. Replicant clearly feels the same way, as they waste absolutely no time at all in introducing a bonafide world opening scorcher to commence this cacophonous chorus. Something about their guitar lines feels serpentine, as though these riffs are slithering toward you, striking, and swiftly wrapping you in a deathly embrace. Replicant is from Jersey, go figure. And because every single person from New Jersey is a total asshole (just kidding, Vinny) they must have mountains of antagonistic inspiration in their everyday life to write such unholy hymns. They put the D in Dissonant Death Metal (no pun intended) that’s for sure, as this album practically bleeds with brooding atmosphere. Also, these vocals are absolutely tortured. Dude is screaming with such ferocity, you can almost hear his voice breaking as if his throat is literally imploding on itself. It’s a compelling listen, though not an easy one, and when the record is done you feel like you just climbed a hard-ass peak in winter conditions.
3. Immortal Bird - (Sin Querencia) Every song on this instant classic is an absolute banger. This album just oozes with passion and creativity, and after the first single got released my stoke for this record reached a fevered pitch. Due to my obsessive fangirl-ness of IB, an ace homey in the biz slid me an advanced digital copy to review, and I spent countless hours hiking through my home mountains with this beast just blasting from my bluetooth speaker….all the while thinking to myself, “Man, they just don’t let up.” And that my friends is one of my favorite elements of heavy music….when a band Namaste-style meets your emotional energy and decides to just fucking go for it, to literally throw themselves into the music and the proverbial wind by unleashing as hard as they possible can.
There’s no wasted space here. No interludes. No filler. Every second of Sin Querencia is intentional and completely fuckin epic. Even though it’s not everyone’s flavor, we are all better off because of records like this. With so much muck permeating our airwaves and brain spaces, it’s just so refreshing to be greeted by a band that only cares about their emotional output - the truest form of the craft. In a parallel universe I imagine a scenario where Immortal Bird plays this record in full, at ear bleeding volumes of course, and then upon the last note just douses themselves in expectorant fluid and self immolates before the audience has time to process what the fuck is happening. It’s really the only way a performance of a record this beautiful and intense could suitably end. Fuckin bravo, Immortal Bird. For real.
2. Necrot - (Lifeless Birth) Necrot is the Motorhead of death metal. Every song on Lifeless Birth is a god damn barn burner and I someday hope to befriend every member of this band because on an entirely unrelated note they just seem like fantastic guys. In truth, there’s not a second of recorded Necrot music that I find dull. Quite the contrary, this is pure American death metal with all the classic trimmings. Technical yet tasty riffs. Uh huh. Blast-tastic drum work with flashy fills. Absolutely. Anti screen-time manifestos? Fuck yes. And shout along-choruses to boot? You do the math, cause by my count that’s all the ingredients we need for an absolute death metal masterpiece. As far as I’m concerned, Necrot sits atop the USDM throne, and with several European tours now under their belts, they’re primed for world domination.
The limitless chemistry of this trio serves as the foundation on Lifeless Birth, as the thoughtful yet succinct arrangements beg for repeated listens. Sonny Reinhardt is an absolute riff machine, and seemingly taps a bottomless well of thought provoking and killer axe passages to craft these hymns of otherworldly brutality. I was lucky enough to catch these guys in Seattle at NWTF last year, and their performance absolutely blew the roof off the place and immediately shifted the entire tone of the festival. Luco (vocals/bass) dared folks in the mezzanine to jump into the crowd. “Are you just gonna stand there and fuckin stare at us?” The crowd responded by going absolutely apeshit, and when Necrot unleashed the final world ruining notes upon us, everyone just stood there and stared at the stage in complete amazement.
In the darkest of times, the world needs an extreme band capable of being intense, dangerous, yet inspiring all at once. Necrot’s time is now.
1. Chat Pile - (Cool World) This was the most complete album of the year for me, front to back, and it’s not even metal (or hardcore tbh). Cool World shows Chat Pile rounding into their true form. It admittedly took me a little while to board the Chat Pile hype train. Noisy, Am-rep type stuff doesn’t always do it for me. So at first glance, Chat Pile, replete with spoken word lyrics and activism and shit, struggled to pique my interest. But then they put out a split with one of my fave’s, Portrayal of Guilt, and I began to take notice. Shortly after that their debut record God’s Country came out, and after about 10 seconds in when Raygun Busch maniacally screams “Hammers and grease!” as the guitars finally explode, I knew I was ready to jump head first into the Chat Pile.
And now with Cool World, Chat Pile has upped their game considerably. This record just sounds massive. I can’t say enough about the production - it’s simply mixed to perfection, allowing each component of their deeply layered sound to shine brightly both independently and as a whole. The clarity of tones makes the harsh moments seem abjectly scary. How this bass rumbles like a freight train but doesn’t completely wash away the other instruments is purely masterful. The guitars ascend, descend, and transcend like inspired eagles, weaving their way through the skies of our collective consciousness.
Chat Pile is getting kinda big nowadays, and deservedly so. Though they aren’t a metal or hardcore band (I’m simply calling them noisy rock and roll), you can feel the pure anger of these songs. Truly, the song arrangement on Cool World is simply spectacular. They prove that you don’t need blast beats or walls of distortion to be emotive. In fact, the guttural vocals in the midsection of Shame hit even harder because they’re not occurring during break-neck blasts. And the crystal clear screams of “They don’t want to hear what I have to say,” during Frownland give me chills, and without the total desperation in those vocals it would almost sound like the Smashing Pumpkins.
Milk of Human Kindness has those classy old school verses with just bass and drums that ultimately lead into the louder sections. “I’d heard….nothing about the way they burn,” is noisy poetry in motion. No Way Out ends the way all records should - with Raygun absolutely shredding his throat over and over with pained shouts of “No escape. No way out!” And then things suddenly just go black…..
It’s contrasts like these that made this album my favorite heavy release of 2024. Congratulations to Chat Pile on a massive year, and I for one can’t wait to see how the Pile grows from here.
Top 10 Live Sets of 2024
Undergang - Seattle, WA
Wardruna - Red Rocks, CO
Yob - Denver, CO
Blood Incantation - Boulder, CO
Wayfarer - Missoula, MT
Undergang - Denver, CO
Chelsea Wolfe - Red Rocks, CO
Physical Wash - Seattle, WA
MVTANT - Seattle, WA
Dying Fetus - Spokane, WA
Top 5 Brutal Slam LP’s
Atoll - Inhuman Implants
Deprecation - Infected by Sexuality
Vomit the Soul - Massive Incineration
Mutilation BBQ - Amalgamations of Gore
Peeling Flesh - The G Code
Top 10 Ep’s
Gel - Persona
Gasket - Babylon
Agriculture - Living is Easy
Chelsea Wolfe - Unbound
Rest Assured - Delirium
Primal Horde - Self Titled
Dripping Decay -Ripping Remains
Stars Hollow - In the Flower Bed
Saintpeeler - Self Titled
Kruelty - Profane Usurpation
Top 5 Screamo/Emo/Post-hardcore LP’s
To Be Gentle - Inner Child Healing
In Angles - The Light We Can’t Escape
The Story So Far - I Want To Disappear
Southtowne Lanes - Take Care
Stay Inside - Ferried Away
Top 5 Horror Movies of 2024
Terrifier 3
Alien: Romulus
Smile 2 (a little dumb but whatever - everybody fuckin dies which is the way a horror movie should be)
VHS: Beyond
Fuck I guess I only watched four horror movies this year (#dadlife)
